A day in the life of............

[Jocko]

A troubled young boy.....

Small town Texas (Somerville, if anyone cares) for a young boy in 1981 was not a happy place. His parents, divorced for 2 1/2 years of his short 8 years, had a bitter relationship. He often felt compelled to choose sides between an extremely abusive father and a distraught and struggling single mother. He was not a happy child, often getting into fights and always underachieving. His forays onto the baseball diamond were a welcome respite from the drudgery of his underpriviledged shattered world. He wasn't a gifted player, slightly below average would best describe his abilities. But he could crush the ball. Something about aluminum in his hands felt right, and all the pent up aggression he felt could be dispersed with every swing. He loved the game, in spite of all his shortcomings. His mother's brother, David, having no children of his own, was a sort of surrogate and a refuge from the turmoil. Often, Uncle David would drive him 100+ miles to the Astrodome. He grew up knowing the names Alan Ashby, Jose Cruz, Mike Scott, kevin Bass, Art Howe, Glenn Davis, and of course, the great Nolan Ryan. On a warm September day, Uncle and Nephew made the trek and, as usual, arrived in time to watch BP and warmups. Sitting by the bullpen, Uncle David reached wwwaaayyy over the rail and intercepted the ball Ryan and Ashby were warming up with. Alan and Nolan both shot him a hard look and moved farther away. It was cap giveaway night at The 'Dome. The cap was solid white with some sort of orange/blue/yellow circular patch. They had the usual nachos, hot dogs, sodas. The game itself was uneventful for the 8 year old, who was wont to be up and down and rambunctious as all hell. Uncle David, surely frustrated, never complained. The game ended and the boy slept on the drive home.

The cap was worn to ruin.

The Nolan Ryan/Alan Ashby baseball was, as all balls should be, used to play on a sandlot somewhere.

The boy had no idea, until some years later, that that game was a moment in history, for on September 26, 1981, Nolan Ryan became the 1st pitcher ever to throw 5 no-hitters.

31 years later, the game is just a game, but the memory is a cherished pearl in the resevoir of the now 39 year old nephew's mind. There have been 1000s of games since then, but this is the one he remembers most.

Thanks, Uncle David, for taking me to ball games, and giving me one of the few childhood memories worth remembering.

Take a kid to a ball game. You never know what impact it will have on him/her.

[mstaylor]

Great story, going to a MLB park as a kid can be great. I went to my first game as part of our LL. I can remember to this day sitting halfway down the RF line in Memorial Park. Leagues don't seem to do that anymore.

[cyclonehokiece]

My dad's company had Brewers season tickets through '03. 4 tickets right behind home plate, real great seats. It was on most nights my father, my brother, one of my good friends, and me. We had so much fun. We got these most of the time because no one wanted them because they were either day games (which dad would take off work to attend with us, but sometimes mom would take us) or weekday games against nondescript opponents with the Brewers down in the sewers. Got to go to many more games than if we had to get tickets ourselves. I still try to make it to at least one game in Milwaukee a year, and always enjoy it with my parents, especially my father. Got to do it this year when I went home when the Brewers were in their tailspin, dad calls me while I am connecting in the Atlanta airport and asks if I want to go since people are just dumping tickets on StubHub for next to nothing. I say sure, get on my plane to Milwaukee with my fiance and then went to the game. Never forget those memories.

Good topic.

[Dannytheman]

Wow, a warm, caring, loving side has been spotted! Very nice remembrance.

[Jocko]

I copy/pasted my OP in an email to Uncle David. Here is his reply:

"I remember that day very clearly, and am glad that you do also. Baseball memories are the best. DFS"

And people wonder why I love this game

[BRUMP]

Great story trout.