I’ve had trouble knowing who to root for between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers in this year’s National League Championship Series. The Dodgers as a former New York City team has long been a favorite. I adore their uniforms, basic, clean, and simple.
The Dodgers were the favorite team of Bert, Ronnie’s dad, in Queens so very long ago even after they moved to LA. He had made a deal with Ronnie, a Mets fan, that as soon as Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale retired he would become a Mets fan and leave the Dodgers behind. For Ronnie, this time of year makes her miss talking baseball with Bert. But, in watching the Brewers this post season, I have noted them as scrappy players, and I’ve been tempted to root for them.
The Pilots left Seattle after only one season in 1969. Today, I learned they became the Brewers when bought by Bud Selig, then a Milwaukee area car dealer. Selig was bereft at losing the Braves to Atlanta and wanted to bring baseball back to Milwaukee. I thought, “This is the answer. How could I not cheer for the former Pilots?” Attached is a great article about that move, an artist, and Milwaukee’s ball and glove logo.*
It also brings to mind my only childhood Major League Baseball game. My grandpa, Joe, took me with him to see a Pilot’s game in 1969. I was so excited. I was 10 and remember very little of it. I was glad to be with my grandpa and glad to see a big league game. Although, I might not have known exactly what that was but it was in the big city of Seattle. (We lived 20 miles away in the town of Des Moines.)
We watched the game. I’m sure he patiently answered all my excited questions. There was a foul ball I remember. Grandpa took me out of the seats to some boys who had caught the ball. I hung back a little nervous. Grandpa came back, ball in hand, and gave it to me. He told me he paid them $2 for it. (A lot of money then.) I was thrilled and treasured it while we finished the game.
Unfortunately, no one told me that you didn’t actually play with a prized MLB game ball. One day while playing baseball with my friend, Alison Warp, she hit the ball over the house into the back yard. I thought, “We’ll just go around and find it.”
Our back yard had an open run off creek with a minor swamp. We looked for that ball for an hour or more to no avail. It had simply disappeared. I wasn’t upset nor did I blame Alison. It was just one of those things, I thought. Balls get lost.
When I told my grandpa, he had a perturbed face. I apologized and was sorry I mentioned it. It was a while later that I figured out you weren’t supposed to play with these precious game balls. For me, it was, “Why have a ball that you don’t use?” I always kept my eyes open for it in the back yard of our house.
A few years ago, my brother and his family, Ronnie, our daughter, and I started going to a Mariner’s game each summer as a family event and started inviting Alison. It’s been a great way to reconnect. This summer, Alison left the game to forage for food as everyone does. She came back with a Mariner embossed baseball and handed it to me. “This is to replace the ball of yours I lost when I hit it over your house. I still feel bad.”
We hadn’t talked about it for years. “Oh, Al,” I said, “I never felt bad about that. I just didn’t know I wasn’t supposed to play with that ball. I didn’t even remember that you were the one that hit it. But, thank you. I love this ball you gave me.” It now lives on my dresser where I see it every day.
After reading this Brewer’s logo article, I am now sure I will be rooting for the up and coming Brewers tonight in game seven against the Dodgers...for Seattle, my Grandpa, my young self, and Alison. I could wax poetic about baseball and life as so many have. There’s really just one thing to say though, “Play Ball!”
Good luck guys!
Joceile
10.20.18
Pictures:
- Alison and I at Mariners game in 2018 [Picture of woman with Mariner’s cap and jersey with woman in blue shirt with gray hair]
- Picture of newspaper clipping from Milwaukee Sentinel, 11/29/77 [Picture of man with mustache and Milwaukee Brewer’s ball and mitt logo with M and B letters imbedded]
