Baseball…Spectator joy!

It was the last day of the tournament, our team had just lost earlier in the morning to be knocked out. I decided to return to the fields after cleaning up to take in a couple games without coaching distractions. The afternoon had turned to a beautiful blue sky with white pillow-cloud type of day. The smell of freshly mown grass, the manicured field, the players warming up and the variety of the color green in the trees, plants and grass all were captured within my view as I rode my GT bicycle back to the ball fields. Riding along right field I leaned against the fence.

'Keith' enjoys the game

It would have been simple enough just to zone out and watch the ensuing game, but something…no someone caught my eye. He sat in his powered little red wheelchair and took in the sight just as I. We spoke to one another couple times and I quickly noticed that he had suffered a stroke that left him in the wheelchair along with slurred speech. I wondered what and where the journey of his life had taken him? How long had he been in the chair? Did he have family and friends that checked in on him? What was his typical day like? Did he ever play baseball himself? I mentioned that the tournament championship game would be played later that day at another field. Sure enough we would say hi in passing at that game as well.

A National Anthem Sung at America's Game

Silverton in pursuit of victory

Later in the week I was back to the varsity diamond, where I initially saw him, to watch the High School team play and win in order to make the playoffs. About the third inning riding up in his little red machine Keith (I learned his name to be) once again joined us along the right field line. This time I learned a little of his story, that he had in fact played baseball and was a third baseman. His smile was beaming as he briefly told of that era of life.

What a game!

The moral of the story for me…to be aware of our surroundings and those who come within view. And two, grateful that physical disabilities don’t have to limit the opportunity to enjoy some of life’s simple pleasures…even America’s pastime…baseball.

Harry Carey was a sports announcer who is most know for his work with the Chicago Cubs the last 16 years of his career.