Got a pm from Backstop17 yesterday morning that he would be driving down to Port Charlotte Florida (from Tampa) to meet us at my son's minor league game. He actually beat us to the game as my wife and I left after batting practice to go have a couple of Margarita's at 11:30 in the morning before the 1:00 game was to begin
After we met up at the game, we proceeded to talk baseball the rest of the way. We talked about how he had met Coach May and knew floridafan as their son's are teammates at Univeristy of Tampa. We played the Red Sox yesterday and it became apparent how small the baseball world was. Every other kid it seems either him or me had a story to to tell. He would let me know all the kids his son had played with or against in high school and/or college. As another kid came up to the plate, I said "Watch that Derick Gibson kid as he is quite the player and I know that PGStaff (Jerry) loves him too" We talked about college ball and especially all the challenges these kids face everyday just to see their names in the lineup. We talked about teamwork and being great teammates and how that can help with individual performance as well.
As the game was ending, I had drifted over to chat with another parent for a minute who we had met years earlier. When I approached Backtop17 to say good bye, he gave me a book about Paul O'Neill and his father. I was thrilled to receive such a thoughtful gift. When I opened the book to read it this morning, it had a wonderful hand-written note to me on the first page and I want to say personally, how thankful I am for that. It was a great day talking baseball with a knowledgable baseball Dad. Just before leaving, my son walked over and I introduced them. I said, "His son plays at University of Tampa" My son immediately said, "Oh, do you know Koronis? (my son's teammate)" which of course he did as that player was drafted from Tampa University.
Each time I meet someone in baseball, I go back to that thought. Small world indeed.
Thanks Backstop17 (Eric) for coming down and watching the game and thanks for the nice gift and note!
