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| Steinbrenner Field just starting to fill up |
I went to my first ever spring training game but I didn't watch my beloved Cubs. It was Tigers vs. Yankees in Tampa. But in my heart it was a Cub game, because it was a reunion of two 2016 Cubs superstars, Javier Baez and my favorite Anthony Rizzo.
I did not sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," though. I'm not that big a slut. That is reserved only for The Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field.
I ended up sitting between my Cousin Rose and a very drunk 20-something Detroit Tigers fan who was vacationing in Florida. He enjoyed talking baseball with me, since his girlfriend seemed barely interested in the game and he was very knowledgeable.
No wonder! He mentioned wistfully that he once struck out one of the Tigers hitters who was in the lineup that night. "Huh? What?" said I. My seatmate explained that this aspiring major leaguer was two years ahead of him in high school in Michigan and they played against one another in a conference game. I said, "You must have been very good to strike out an upper classman."
"Yeah," he said sadly. "I went on to play A Ball for Cleveland but I got hurt and they cut me."
I was shocked. I assumed that if a player got injured during a game, the team would pick up the bills for his surgery and rehabilitation. Apparently they are under no obligation to do so. As this young man told me, "They hadn't invested enough in me yet to pay it."
Man, that is cold.
When it looked like foul balls may come our way, he told me not to worry, he'd catch them. He showed me his glove. It was a pro glove. I wanted to cry. Imagine, getting so close to your dream and not being able to achieve it through no fault of your own. Here he is, barely 25* and he has to reset.
I told him he has a better story than anyone else in the stands, that he has a smarter perspective on baseball than anyone else in the stands, because he actually played pro ball. I reiterated that he should be proud. He shrugged and said, "I'm in sales now. It's cool."
But here he was, at a spring training game, watching a player he once bested face Yankee pitching. That player is in the dugout with Justin Verlander, he's in the stands with me.
But he still loves the game, and bringing his pro glove to the game, that makes my heart both ache and sing.
That's baseball.
*My best guess
I love this post. I'm from Michigan, my dad was from Chicago. It seemed like we were always a house divided with our sports teams. I always sided with my dad, Chicago all the way. Thanksgiving football was the best. - What a cool seatmate to have at spring training. That must be hard for him being up in the stands. - Thanks for this post. I have so many great memories of Tiger baseball.
ReplyDeleteI've been looking forward to your experiences at Spring Training!
ReplyDeleteThis is zippy..that ball player had a good attitude. One that will carry him successfully through life. Change what you can, accept what you can’t, and have the wisdom to know the difference between the two. It also show that you are such a great writer… pleasure to read here.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great attitude that guy has!
ReplyDeleteAnd you went to spring training? Man, I missed a lot while I was away.
I hope the rest of the trip went well. I'm glad you were able to get away and do this. That fellow has a great attitude, and good for you for showing such interest in him and his life story!
ReplyDeleteGlad you were able to make the trip to Florida and go to a spring training game. We used to go to spring training games when we lived in Arizona. My oldest son is a HUGE baseball fan and reading this post reminded me of him because he knew all the stats on all the players from the time he was very young (9 or 10). He still loves baseball and the Angels are his team. We took him to St. Louis Cardinals games when we lived there and he was just a toddler. We continued with Dodgers And Angels games when we lived in Southern California and D-Backs games in Arizona. We have wonderful baseball memories in our family. Salt Lake City has a minor league team and we have gone to a couple of their games, but without our oldest son along, it just isn't as fun. His excitement about anything baseball always made the games a real family event. I hope you have a good weekend. See you again soon.
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