Fair 'ball

I became smitten with this depiction of baseball exhibited at the 178th annual Dutchess County Fair, so much so that I am sharing it here.

All This Time

... all I had to do was ask Melvin.

Melvin, Watson, Norton and I toured the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory during our soggy sojourn through Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana in 2013. The factory offers personalized bats for sale and at the time, I thought this might be the right medium to commemorate seeing every major and minor league team. That achievement wouldn't happen for another decade —

first pitch
Carolina Mudcats vs. Down East Wood Ducks
September 3, 2023

I was thinking that I could have the barrel inscribed with "Touch 'em all" and the dates of my first baseball game and the day I finally saw every team in affiliated baseball. Among other problems, which I will get to, I didn't know the earlier date.

School Tripping at the Ballpark

Last week, I attended back-to back-to-back day games marketed to school groups. All three contests were entertaining but I am sure that many of the young people will remember nothing that happened on the field. My first professional baseball game was a trip to Shea Stadium and I do not recall a single thing about the day; who else went, the bus ride there and back, the game itself. I don't fault my younger self or any of the kids who had a similar experience last week. So much excitement and nobody said there would be a quiz later.

first pitch in Reading

Remembrance with Tangential Introduction

For many Years, many years ago, I read a Weekly neighborhood newspaper. I read it for what would later be Termed hyperlocal news, but the gazette was quirky and so Also a source of entertainment. One of the most peculiar Characteristics was the inexplicable Use of capitalization. Fellow traveler Haldeman liked words and word-play — "Hold me closer, Tony Danza." — and I think he would have been delighted by the paper.