Just Another Week ....

I sure am glad that baseball season has graced us with its presence.

Already, this season I have obtained more wonderful lifetime memories than I received from all of last year. O, did I mention how HUGE baseball memories are to me?

I attended the very first official major league game played at Atlanta Stadium in April of 1966. I was 7 years old. Baseball was already an important part of my life. I still remember that game. I got to see the Atlanta Braves (Hank Aaron, Joe Torre, Eddie Matthews and the like) play the Pittsburg Pirates (Willie Stargell, Roberto Clemente and the like).

WOW! did you know that Joe Torre hit two home runs for the Braves in that game, and that Tony Cloninger threw 13 strong innings for the Braves. The Bravos lost that night in 13 innings 3 - 2 (Stagell hit a home run in the 13th driving in Clemente in front of him.) Even though it was a school night, we stayed for all 13 innings (WAY past my bedtime).

MLB network was replaying the 1992 National League Championship Series game 7 the other day (again, it was the Braves vs. Pirates, and again it was Atlanta Fulton County Stadium.) Shirley came walking into the living room about 5 seconds after Sid slid giving the Braves an unlikely come from behind victory. I was sitting on the sofa with a few tears rolling down my cheek as I once again reveled in that most wonderful of baseball memories. "Are you crying," she asked? "There's no crying in baseball!"

The memories of watching that play live; waking up my then 10 year old son Tony who had fallen asleep in the 7th inning just in time for him to see it with me, and the elation that we shared just became an emotional memory for me. I was overwhelmed by the memory of the joy.

Anyway, back to this season's memories - ALREADY! The Brave's Jason Heyward has provided a season's worth already, hasn't he? His first major league at bat home run was one for the ages. I will always remember that I was in Ashley's delivery room, and the doctor was there talking to her about Maverick's impending arrival. Once again overcome with emotion, I interrupted the conversation shouting! "Yes! Yes!" The doc looked at me as if to say, "Sir, will you please be quiet, we are trying to have a baby here."

Jason's walk off game winning single on Sunday was dramatic enough, but then to hit an unlikely game tying back to back tater following Troy Glaus on Tuesday was about more than I could stand.

There have been 261 no hit pitched games in all of major league baseball history going into this season. A wonderful memory that I will always carry is being present with my other son, Cory for no hit game #262. And even though it came at Turner Field against my beloved Braves, how often does one get to witness a no hit game in person, and especially get to share the experience with his son?

There is so much more I could write about. I have personally seen Hank Aaron blast many home runs. I watched Sandy Koufax pitch in person. I had wonderful experiences coaching and umpiring my son's little league games (those are the best memories of all).

So, welcome back, baseball! You have come on like gangbusters this season! I can't wait to see what else you have in store to help Make Life Good!