I bumped into Mark Mendrick today as I was shopped for a bat with some hits in it. Mark was shopping for baseball equipment for two of his four kids. I played CDMSBL with Mark and his father, Ray. We played together on the same team. I believe it was with Greco Construction. Ray was a fine ballplayer and teammate, who played all positions, and made baseball better for all with his baseball acumen and his good nature. He was an original player in our four-team start up league and one of our original characters.
Mark was friendly, as always. He is a busy father supporting his kids in all kinds of sports, so he explained he stopped playing himself. I knew Ray moved to Florida, and I asked about him, wondering if Ray is still playing. Mark politely said his father had just died, and the services were this past week. Rays heart failed. Mark fought back tears and offered whatever details I pursued. His love for his father was overwhelming him. Mark is a good son. He had a great dad.
jim - thanks for telling us that story. it's the stories and memories of others, as well as, or maybe more than, memories of our own play, that stitch this game together for us and make it rich. i'm glad you knew ray. because you wrote that, in a smaller sense, we know him too. - mike
-- Edited by mhart on Monday 11th of April 2016 01:35:47 PM
