Some great memories following your son

He's lurking out there

somewhere. You never know when he is going to jump up and bite someone. You just hope that its not you when it happens!

 

one more from the past... well two...

when the Gman started his first game in "kid pitch" rec ball I was his teams coach. He was on the mound warming up while I was in the dugout trying to avoid a stroke. The first batter came to the plate and I started talkin', "Get to your balance point! Keep your hands up! Rocker step! Finish down! etc. etc.
He stepped back off the rubber and stared at me... then raised his finger to his lips and shushed me! I was stunned for a second, then I started to laugh. Heck, if he wasn't nervous why should I be?
Another time that season he was again starting a game on the mound. He had been a little "strike machine" in every game he had pitched so far. This game though he started out walking the fist two batters on like ten pitches. I looked out at the mound and noticed he had the biggest "chew" goin' I'd ever seen. It would have made Coach May proud! Of course it was bubble gum instead of the more traditional type chew. I called time and walked out to the mound and just stuck out my hand and said "spit it out". I walked back to the dugout with about a quarter pound of "used" Big League Chew in my hand. He proceeded to get out of the inning without giving up any runs. He came off the field kinda pissed, he thought that wad of gum had made him look cool. I explained to him that at about 4'3" and maybe 65 lbs that much gum was throwing him off balance! He's never chewed gum on the mound since that day.

 

Dang it!!!!

I went all the way to the BP to get that boy a pack of Red Man and uses Big League Chew? Thats the last time GMan gets hooked up by me!

 

OK, I got one.

First of all, my son is a ball hawk.

He gets a ball at every game he goes to....including places like the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Devil Rays games. He's lucky and in the right place at the right time too. At Baltimore he asked Jeter for the ball he'd just finished warming up with..... Jeter didn't even hesitate and flipped it to him.

When he was 12 he got (yet another) ball at the Knights game. (It's easy pickin's for him there.)

Anyway, on his way back to our seats he walked past a boy in a wheel chair with his parents. The boy was "eyeing" the ball. You could see my sons wheels turning. He paused. Hesitated. And handed the ball over to the boy!

That's better than any walkoff. I'm sure the fact that we've got 150 balls in the back of the truck and another 600+ in the garage made it easier, but it was still a terrific thing to see.

I gotta say................he's a really nice kid.

 

I gotta say......you are right

 

AguyIknow thats a great story

I put on a couple of camps each year at the high school. The first thing we always do is go over proper throwing mechanics and then let the guys play some catch while we observe. These kids were 10-15 years old. One kid was really having a hard time catching the ball and the kid playing catch with him was heating him up on purpose. He could tell the kid was having a tough time but he continued to light him up. Before I can say anything or switch partners my son stepped in. To say he was pissed would be an understatement. He walked over to the kid that was lighting this boy up and said "How would you like it if I came over here and treated you like you are treating him." The kid just stood there. Jeff then took the ball and played catch with the kid that was having a hard time.

The rest of the week Jeff took every break throwing with this kid and teaching him the best he could. By the end of the week this young man had gained alot of confidence and was alot better. This really made me proud as a father and a coach. At the end of the week this young man got the camper of the week award and an autographed baseball by a former player from our school who is now in pro ball. The kid asked Jeff if he would sign the ball too. When you see your kids do things like this you know you did some things right.

 

Now, now, boys

I'm trying to be a kinder/gentler poster, so I'm taking the high road on this one. I couldn't top Superwiright's post if I tried. Can anyone? To say he is extremely proud of his son would be a gross understatement! He should be. His son is a good one. I'm sure my son has had some good performances over the years but don't think I can remember any that vividly. I do remember playing our county rival Lucama in a T-ball game back in 1995 and my son going 4 for 4 and we won 20-19. Hell of a pitcher's duel!

 

Something about the shoes

My son was on the HS basketball team. The team ordered custom BB shoes for each player. When the games begun I noticed one player did not have the same shoes. In fact, his looked well worn. I didn't say anything, but I did notice it.

The next game I noticed he had on his new team shoes and I noticed he appeared to be more outgoing with his teammates. After the game and while I was waiting on my son, the coach called me over and asked to speak with me. He said that I should know that it was my son who bought the shoes for his teammate and asked the coach to never tell him.

Then came baseball season. The South Meck team had 85+ kids come out for tryouts. I picked up my son after one of the practices and Coach Bagwell called me over. He told me that there was this kid practicing with tennis shoes. He didn't have cleats or a glove. He told me my son called for him to come in the dugout where he gave him his shoes and one of his gloves.

Last year, the kid ran into my son and thanked him for what he did. He said he would never forget it.

I don't know what it is about shoes, but if you need some, my son will probably get you a pair................on my credit card.

 

Can I see your toes ladies?

Tell TJ that I need 3 pair of yellow high heels for the Green Bay girls. Coach May is going there next week to deliver them.

 

I hope he doesn't read this or he will ask to go with Coach to deliver them personally