With hundreds upon hundreds of spectators watching them, they
ran the bases with reckless abandon. As television cameras rolled
from every station in Northern California, they threw balls from
the outfield that sailed everywhere, and sometimes somewhere.
With hundreds upon hundreds of spectators watching them, they ran the bases with reckless abandon. As television cameras rolled from every station in Northern California, they threw balls from the outfield that sailed everywhere, and sometimes somewhere.
They amassed more runs and hits in one hour than the San Francisco Giants have accumulated all season. The announcer proclaimed the final score was 352-352 as the Washers tied the Dryers with a fierce rally that ended up with a walk-off grand slam.
As they strolled to the plate they were pre-occupied with seeing themselves on the Jumbo Tron.
Yep, no more losing focus building a grass hut or dirt condo.
This was big time hitting for everyone to see, including newspapers from every city imaginable.
Everyone chuckled as they danced with Giant’s mascot Lou the Seal, Stomper from the Oakland A’s, TC from the Minnesota Twins, the Mariner Moose and the Oriole Bird.
Every kid had rhythm like they belonged on Dancing With the Stars.
They still had to have their shoes tied before they hit or ran and some ran from third back to second while others hammed it up as they slid head first into home plate that would make any parent proud, and mother’s happy that they didn’t have to wash the dirty pants this time because the playing surface was Astroturf.
High fives, scrums in the outfield, two people on one base and three shortstops were commonplace by all the players and as usual it was a sprint to home plate for the customary handshake at game’s end.
All of them got to pitch to Barry Bonds, hit off Roger Clemens, play home run derby, run the bases in a race against the clock, attend instructional clinics and view the mascot home run derby up close. They never imagined a moose could hit a ball that far or a Bird could even make contact.
It didn’t matter to them that they got to see Willie Mays, mingle with J.T. Snow or get an autograph from Gaylord Perry or Rob Nen.
They just wanted to challenge every Play Station console in the whole place or chase another mascot, all 30 of whom were in attendance.
Twinkles in each kid’s eye told the story for the day.
None of them were nervous and all of them seemed pretty content that neither the Washers or Dryers were victorious
Nope, winning didn‚t matter. For one precious hour dreams were made!
This was a simple day of fun and everlasting memories for a contingent of players and parents from the Morgan Hill Pony Baseball Shetland ( T-Ball ) Division, who were selected to play at Major League Baseball’s Fan Fest in San Francisco.
For parents of the players they were in that proverbial-kid-in-a-cand-store state.
Never mind that they had to pay $6 for a hot dog the size of a Tootsie Roll or hawk a piece of Tiffany jewelry to cover the parking cost.
This was about their kids, or for some, about being a kid for just another day.
And if anyone cared to know, I struck out Barry Bonds on three pitches, took Roger Clemens deep, beat the mascots in home run derby, ran from home to first in 4.3 seconds easily crushing my opponent who was about 6 years old.
I was quite dismayed that Gary Radnich wouldn’t have me on his live talk show from the Fan Fest to discuss my prowess.
However, for one day, this was about a giggly bunch of 5 and 6-year-olds, who thoroughly enjoyed a prime-time moment they’ll cherish for years to come.
I can’t remember anything I did at 5 but I have a hunch all these kids will.
Rich Taylor is the CEO and head instructor of California Pitching Academy and a scout for the New York Mets. Reach him at
rj********@***oo.com.
