Roberto's 2024 Baseball Diary

Melvin and I took only one trip together this year, riding the 1 train from the former Little Syria to Kingsbridge, passing through all but the two southernmost stations and the terminus in the Bronx, 36 total. Quite a change from years past but honestly reflective of current circumstances.

the "West Side IRT local" for those of a certain age or semantic inclination

We met again shortly after Los Angeles won their second World Series in five years but for more on that — meeting up, not the Dodgers — you will need to scroll way down to the end.

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.

Wehler Walks Off

Byways Boys Grounded

"Walk-off wins hit different"

Our circuitous spring trip through the southeast ended with Jeff Wehler hitting a walk-off home run. If you know what to look for, you can spot Melvin, Haldeman and me in the stands as the third baseman rounds the bases. Wehler's heroics came 16 days after the Blue Jays purchased his contract from the independent Staten Island FerryHawks.

Post-game, Melvin, Haldeman and I headed to TPA where we learned that air traffic up and down the East Coast was a mess. My flight, scheduled to depart at 4:45, was delayed by over four hours. Haldeman didn't get home until 2:00 am on Monday morning. Oof! Let's go back to the beginning...

It Would Be So Nice If You Weren't Here

We've been told a few things over the years: "You were speeding" (Texas; I was); "There may be nudity" (Oregon; there was); "Hey! No photographs!" (Massachusetts; OK, fine). But this was the first time, I think, that we've been pressured to leave a public place. That place was Fuller Field, in Clinton, Massachusetts, on the back end of our recent Patriots Day Weekend trip.

I felt a little bad for the young and doughy camp counselor who asked us to leave. He seemed genuinely pained, confused, and maybe even a little scared. He was wrangling a cluster of, I don't know, maybe twenty little kids, and I get that the sight of a couple retirement-age dudes emerging from a dirty old sports car to wander around nearby wouldn't necessarily fill him with joy.

Patriotic (so to speak)

Melvin, Watson, Bragdon and I attended the Patriots Day game at Fenway, the middle game of the three that comprised the first tour of 2023.

Our day-trip to Boston was bracketed by minor league games in Worcester MA and Bridgewater NJ, the latter being the home of the Somerset –– wait for it! –– Patriots.

Hail, Hail, the Gang's All Here

Or many of them, anyway, when Melvin and I toured the Upper Midwest in late-August, early-September.

Haldeman, behind the wheel, and Melvin

Watson was along on the first and last days, and Red joined us for a Twins game. Haldeman, who made cameo appearances in 2017 and 2019, went the distance this year.

We went.

If you read the previous post and were wondering if we went to Nevada and California, we did.

And we went to Manzanar National Historic Site, as mentioned.