There are numerous reasons why guys in their 50s (and a few in their 60s) still haul their tired, creaky and sore bodies to a baseball field. It is the pride of still being able to put on a uniform and go to battle with teammates. It could just be the pre-game warm-up toss with a summer buddy that takes us back to our youth and makes us feel younger for an evening. Or that jilt of adrenalin when you run out to your position to start the game, leaving behind the stress of work, responsibilities of family and pressure of life for a few precious hours. The competitive fire that drives us to push our bodies may now just be simmering coals that need to be occasionally stoked by a base hit, a nice catch in the field, taking that extra base when youthful instincts override common sense, or simply a pat on the back from a teammate who smiles and says ''good effort.''
After 30 years being away from a hard ball and wood bat, I returned to play this great game of baseball in 2006 for the Blue Thunder at the age of 50, being drawn back to it for what my manager Bob Lounsbury simply called ''the love of the game.'' Men our age do not stop playing baseball when we are old; we are old when we stop playing baseball. The CDMSBL has helped keep me feeling young, and I am grateful to guys like John Reel, Jimmy K, John Kalinksi, Donnie Wixon, Ed Diegel, Harold Jenkins and the numerous others who run the league, line fields, assign umpires and fields and make this dream of playing organized baseball a reality.
Last night at New Scotland field took all the elements of why we play and put them in clear perspective.
It was a beautiful evening for baseball. It was warm enough to get a good sweat and loosen up the stiff muscles from a long drive, and there was just enough cloud cover to take the adventure out of trying to find a fly ball in the sky. Our Damn Yankees are the defending 55s champions and we were facing the undefeated Giants in a win or go home semifinal game. I looked across the field in pre-game and counted eight members of the opposing team that I had suited up with as teammates at one time or another in either a Labor Day Tournament or Florida trip. But tonight, at least from the first to the last pitch, they were the enemy.
The Giants Darrell Duncan and Damn Yankees John Weber went head to head on the mound in a classic dual. They were both rested and on their games, and few batters were going to square up balls against them on this evening.
The Yankees struck first when Matt Kelly laced an opposite field double to left-center to drive in a run for a 1-0 lead in the second inning. But Duncan retaliated when he got the best of a Weber high fast ball and tomahawked it over the fence in left-center for a two-run homer in the third inning to put the Giants up 2-1. The Giants would tack on an unearned run to make it 3-1 in an otherwise well-played defensive game (highlighted by a diving catch in left by Tom Maney), but Kelly would strike again in the fourth with an RBI single to cut the deficit to 3-2.
The two rivals exchanged single runs in the sixth when Fred Pidgeon muscled a double to deep center for the Giants in the top of the inning, only to have Yankee Bob Noto match the feat with a run-scoring double of his own in the bottom of the frame. Weber worked out of a jam in the top of the seventh after a long double by Ralph Caputo put the Giants on the doorstep of scoring, and set the stage for a dramatic bottom of the seventh.
Kelly, one of the original Damn Yankees and a member of the only CDMSBL team to go undefeated (thus far) back in 2009, was the catalyst again in the seventh, as he led off the inning by reaching base on an error. Weighing the value of representing the tying run against the advantage of getting himself in scoring position, he rolled the dice and took off for second on a steal attempt, just barely beating the cannon throw of Pete Geannelis.
The Yankees were right where they wanted to be: a speedy runner in scoring position with three chances to get him home. Thoughts of sending the Giants to their first loss -- and at the very least extending the game into extra innings -- became a distinct reality.
But Darrell Duncan, the ultimate competitor, had his own dose of reality in mind. He kicked up his fastball a few notches and put some extra dance on his knuckle-curve to strike out the final three batters of the game and leave Kelly stranded at second. And with the sun setting at New Scotland field, Duncan had officially turned the lights out on the Damn Yankees season. While the Giants respectfully celebrated a hard-fought win, the Damn Yankees could only tip their cap to a worthy opponent and take solace in knowing they had battled to the end.
This is why we play the game.
-- Edited by adtimbrown on Tuesday 12th of August 2014 09:52:41 AM
Tim,I didn't know you could right that good. You had me from the first sentence. Darryl can be one mean son of a bitch in those situations, he reminds me of a milder version of Jimmy Latorre. Both very special players and great guys.
Tim; I plan on printing this out and placing it on my coffee table. Next winter when I am in my recliner watching the snow fall I will pick this up. Memories of friends and baseball will surely warm the cold night.
Tim is a younger version of Randy Craft. The ultimate competitor. Tim managed to square up a couple of times last night and added a couple of steals as well as a run scored - or maybe two. (I don't have the book).
The Giants started out the season with a 4-3 win over the Cardinals, ending the game by throwing out the tying run at the plate.
The Whiz Kids were within 3-0 entering the 6th awhile back and we held them off. The 7-0 score was not indicitave of the competitiveness of the game.
Then came the Americans just a couple short weeks ago. Mike Lannon's two-out walk-off single in the bottom of the 7th gave the Giants a 3-2 win.
But last night's game had its own unique edge. The Yanks were playing for something other than pride and escaping the grinds of everyday life. The Yanks remain the only team to go undefeated for the season in winning a title. Only the Giants stood in their way. And in the end, Darrell Duncan picked us up, put us on his shoulders and saved our collective butts, including mine after committing an error at 3B that threatened the Giants 4-3 lead to start the 7th.
When Tim spoke of us geezers posing as ageless wonders, you just needed to see the game to appreciate the sacrifices so many of us make to our bodies. For the Yanks, Joe Herview limped noticeably all game and couldn't run; Mike Eplite out with an injury; Matt Kelly limped around the diamond on one hip while patrolling CF and getting a base knock or two. For the Giants, Ron Smaka went down while running to first on a single and moments later was on the bench with ice under his foot - his day - and possibly his season, over. Fred Pidgeon still breaking in both of his new knees; Mike Lannon still recovering from shoulder surgery; Bill Smith, whose Achilles never properly healed from a tear in Florida years ago, and of course Tom Maney, who has made it clear he supports stem cell research.
I can't even begin to know all of the geezers in the 55s who have recovered from serious injuries or illnesses. That should be the focus of Channel 13's next segment on CDMSBL!
But alas, the season ain't over till it's over! The Giants await the winner of the Cards-Whiz Game 3 finale to see who they will play in the finals - which, if you ask us, can wait till next year! But since it won't, we'll be breaking out the braces, pain relievers and hiring a 55 Division trainer ...
As Tim said, sometimes we play against each other and sometimes we are teammates. But in the end, we scoff at those aches and pains ... it's this camaraderie, the post-game celebrations - not of wins or losses, but of us ol' geezers still lucky enough to be able to play this beautiful game of baseball, that binds us together.
Yes, Tim, this is why we play the game. jk
-- Edited by sfgiants on Tuesday 12th of August 2014 11:54:32 AM
As always, a well thought and beautifully depicted turn of the events last night. I have to say I was down before the game knowing we had given the first game to them. I wanted our chance to show why we are the defending champs. But the Damn Yankees are a great bunch to be around. It is hard to not be happy and ready to go. Five minutes after arriving I was transformed into that happy baseball jerk again.
Most times in this league, it think it is very hard to be a spectator. Plays are slow developing, innings are stretched and mistakes are more the rule than the exception. I am always amazed and very appreciative of the people who come, game in and game out, to watch a bunch of broken down, dirty and extremely post-adololescents play a very flawed and ugly game. Wow, it must be truly boring!
But I (and dare say we) revel in the ridiculous game . The awkward slides into each base; the juggling acts with what seems to be eight baseballs at once (but is truly still only one); the circling, dancing bear act under a lazy fly ball; the spinning top of a swing; and the endless swearing and helmet tossing (that always seems to bounce right back you harder than you threw it in an oddly fitting way). Holy Cow, I love it!
All this stupid rumination is leading to one thing. The game last night was one of the best played and engrossing games I have ever been a part of. There was drama and great plays throughout. Every at bat, every pitch had an importance attached. Someplace along the way you expected something would break apart. The next play was going to be a return to the normalcy that a 55+ game is determined from. An error, a bad throw, a disastrous mental mistake was going to blow it open. It felt like the glass holding this game was just too fragile to keep it contained.
But that did not happen. Crisp plays - important plays - crucial game-changing or game-saving plays - were all made. Two pitchers who seemed that they had mastered the craft like no one else. Teammates shouting encouragement and instruction. My God, it was fun to be a part of it. Even on the losing end, it was fun.
I am not the writer (or player) a Tim Brown is. I don't have the grasp of the knicks and knacks of baseball lore like Mike Hart. I know I am probably building this one game into being more than it was. But all I know - it was fun to be there, on that one night, for that one game. But I will only think that until I get out there again and give it another shot. Then THAT one will be the greatest game. Then the one after that, the one after that, the one after that......
A sincere and truly heartfelt Thank You to all my friends on and off the field who make it fun to be there.
Having been teammate, travel mate, practice mate and personal friend of Timmy's we've always felt so lucky to be able to have the CDMSBL and great people who are the all of it.....Reflecting on the games and experiences traveling an hour each way, has always rejuvenated us for our everyday endeavors in yonder land east of the border. It's truly a special league and a great collection of wit and spirit.... We've always been honored to play along with and many times amazed at the talent in the league but more importantly with the human beings that make up our league.... The camaraderie, the passion for the game is what brings us back.... Can't help but feel blessed to be physically able to be part of this great group! Thanks CDMSBL!
Sue Caputo here...not Ralph (I high-jacked his account;) Thank you Timmy- you gave me goosebumps- I missed the game, (mom needed me) but your recap did a beautiful job of filling me in. Everything you said- I ditto- it's exactly why I love seeing you guys in action! FLORIDA HERE WE COME!!
Tim, That was just beautiful. You've been compared to lots of other great players in our league but the truth is that you're in a league of your own. Thanks for the memories.
I know that this is hard to believe, but your post left me speechless! I want to show it to Martina, so she might understand a little better why I still catch and slide, all while in pain from last night's game. Happily I might add. You just get it! I loved every word!
Tim that was just beautiful.....I really loved it! and I can speak from a fan's point of view....I just Love watching you guys play....maybe it had something to do with growing up with 3 brothers....but i can't explain it....its just in my blood so i totally get what you wrote, even though i don't play but from a fan's point of view, i totally get it:)
Just when you thought it was safe to go in the water, ''Jaws'' Westfall appears out of nowhere! Pete, we all miss you, bro! I'll go to battle with you anytime.
-- Edited by adtimbrown on Friday 15th of August 2014 09:10:18 AM
