My Dad, now in his 80s, likes to tell a story about when he was about 12 and still pitching little league. One year he had gone to the All-Star game, and that summer he was out on eastern Long Island (where it was still mostly potato fields) and playing a pickup game. Local kid named Carl from out there was up to bat, maybe a bit younger than my dad. Dad thinks he got him easy, throws him one pitch, it sails over his younger brother's head in center field. Next time up, Dad's mad and really puts the heat on it, kid hits it even further to dead center. This happens two more times, Dad trying hard each time, kid hitting it further each time. Dad says he knew then he was never gonna go very far with baseball.
Which was probably unfair, cause Carl's last name was Yastrzemski and he ended up being an 18 time All-Star for the Red Sox known universally as Yaz and was the AL MVP in 1967 with 44 HRs off major league pitchers.
Even if I had read nothing else but the words "button up dress shirts", this would've been worth the read. As it was, I enjoyed the rest a lot, too.
My Dad, now in his 80s, likes to tell a story about when he was about 12 and still pitching little league. One year he had gone to the All-Star game, and that summer he was out on eastern Long Island (where it was still mostly potato fields) and playing a pickup game. Local kid named Carl from out there was up to bat, maybe a bit younger than my dad. Dad thinks he got him easy, throws him one pitch, it sails over his younger brother's head in center field. Next time up, Dad's mad and really puts the heat on it, kid hits it even further to dead center. This happens two more times, Dad trying hard each time, kid hitting it further each time. Dad says he knew then he was never gonna go very far with baseball.
Which was probably unfair, cause Carl's last name was Yastrzemski and he ended up being an 18 time All-Star for the Red Sox known universally as Yaz and was the AL MVP in 1967 with 44 HRs off major league pitchers.
This is very fine, Scott, thoughtful. Made me tear up in a good way.