A friend showed me a video of Omar Vizquel playing catch with an old glove similar to my old Wilson. Instead of actually catching the ball, Vizquel simply used the thin piece of leather to redirect the ball into his throwing hand. It happened lightning fast and resembled absolutely nothing about how I use the glove for catch. Even though the padding is minimal, I love that old Wilson glove and find myself using it more and more as a preferred mitt. I can’t help but wonder what games and stories that glove holds.
Brian emailed me this morning.
I wanted to reach out and thank you again for giving my son Kyler the experience of playing catch with you in Branson. He has told so many people about that and is planning to get up in front of his class to tell all his classmates about it as well.
I have shared the moment, pictures and your blog with a number of my family, friends and co-workers as well. All of them think it is such a great thing and love that Kyler is learning to love and respect the game of baseball at the ripe old age of 8!
One thing I realized as I have been talking about the experience for Kyler, is that I forgot to ask you if I could “have a catch.” I have never played catch with an old school glove and can’t believe I missed the opportunity.
I am going to be in Springfield today…
So began the emailing and the texting and the creative ways of finagling schedules to find a way to connect.
Brian was a second baseman who then played outfield and now helps coach for both of his sons. Sharply dressed and coming straight from a presentation with Mercy Hospitals, Brian swung by my house before starting the return trip home.
I handed him the old glove and we played catch from one side of the street to the other, trying to maximize the distance between us without any cars or windows behind us. He filled me in on the rest of the tournament. After a great first day in the tournament, Kyler’s team finished in third.
That’s baseball.
On the first day this year that actually felt like fall, we laughed and enjoyed connecting for a second time.
Baseball brings people together.
