For the Love of the Game and Family

I had planned on writing a post dealing with player development today.  But the tragic and heartbreaking news of the death of AC’s son has caused my mind to wander in so many different directions and has brought back a flood of memories of my introduction to baseball and how baseball was a language that I and my sons regularly spoke and still do to this day.  Today I truly wish that I had the writing skills of Jim Murray, John Gresham or Jon Weisman.   I have so many thoughts to share and I yearn to be able to articulate them for you in a meaningful way.  Forgive me for this personal journey. 

•    I have never met AC.  However, through LA Dodger Talk, I have come to feel connected to him as a very good friend.  He is a man for whom I have a great deal of respect and I admire very much.   We can all agree that his posts exude with passion for baseball(of course the Dodgers in particular), but more importantly, his passion, love, and pride for his sons was very apparent and I weep for him as I try to imagine the intense pain he certainly feels at this moment.   Death comes to every person’s home at one time or another, but never do we ever imagine that it is going to come for our son or daughter or grandchildren before it comes for us.   Such is not the way it should be.

•    My love for baseball started when I was 6 years old.   My family and I immigrated from Holland in 1956, when I was 5.   We initially settled in Artesia, and lived there for a year before we moved to neighboring Dairy Valley (now Cerritos) to live on my mother’s uncle’s dairy.  Soon after I arrived in Artesia, my mom would send me off to Artesia Park (despite the fact I did not speak any English), which was a block away from my house.  There I met the Downs brothers, Duke and Adrian, and their cousin Jerry Boyd.   They took me under their wing and, language barrier notwithstanding, they thought me how to hit and catch a baseball.  We would play over-the-line for hours on end.   The first English I learned to speak was baseball.  They also gave me an old beat-up glove and worn 10′ inch baseball (those of you from that era will remember what that was) to play with at home.   I have to tell you, I fell head over heels in love with baseball.  The Downs boys also told me about the Dodgers and would often have a transistor radio with them on which they would listen to Dodger games.  So I became a Dodger fan.  

•     I moved a couple of miles away from Artesia Park when I was 7, but as was very common back then, I would ride my bike, with my glove on the handlebars and balancing my Mickey Mantle bat, to Artesia Park.  If it wasn’t the Downs boys and Jerry, there was always enough kids to play over-the-line with.  It wasn’t long before Jack, the park and recreation manager, began to invite me to participate in practices for park team that was in a 10′ baseball league.  Jack would also invite me out to watch the local semi-pro team that played games at the park every Sunday.  That became my regular ritual.  I had paper route starting in 4^th grade and after delivering my papers, I would head to the park and play baseball.  As I got a little older, I made the 10′ team and we would play against teams from Duarte, Rosemead, Lakewood, etc.  It was a fun time.  Through my paper route, I saved enough money to buy my own transistor radio.  During baseball season, I would go to sleep with the transistor under my pillow, tuned to KFI 640, listening to Jerry Doggett and Vince Scully call the game.  That was also when I started to collect baseball cards.  I was a regular customer at Denny’s Toys and the local Rexall Drug Store buying cards.  At one point, I had the largest collection of cards in the area.   When I became a teenager, I gave them to the neighbor’s boys.   There were well over 3,000 cards.      

•   Living on a dairy as I did, there were always chores to do, animals to care for, and I had my paper route.   Once all that was done, all my free time was spent playing baseball.   It didn’t matter if I was by myself or with others, it was baseball, baseball, baseball.  I was a ball dog.   Put me in the backyard with a ball and I could entertain myself for hours.  Because we didn’t have batting tees back then, I would throw the ball in the air grip the bat and swing to hit the ball.  I never tired of that simple joy.   I would also pitch using the haystacks as a backstop until I got my first Larry Sherry Pitch-back. 

•    In 1959, my neighbor Tony Silva, took me to my first Dodger game at the Coliseum.  The lights, sounds, and majesty of that night are forever stored in my memory.   It was magical.  My love for the Dodgers became permanent on that night. 

•    I continued to play baseball through high school at Gahr High School in Cerritos and one year at Perris High School.   While I was a decent enough player, my high school years paralleled the hippie era and, admittedly, I didn’t have the brains or discipline that God gave a cockroach.  Consequently, I always thought it would be fun to combine the two lifestyles.  I’m here to tell you that didn’t, and doesn’t, work.   I did try out for the baseball team at Riverside City College (I made the team), but I quit right after the tryouts and chose to chase the girls instead. 

•    After some time in the Marines, I married and had the blessing of becoming the father of two remarkable sons and a beautiful daughter.  Soon after he was born, it was apparent that my oldest son too was a ball dog.  If it was round, he loved it.   I don’t know how much of his love for the game was influenced by my love for the game.  But, it wasn’t long before the Wiffle ball was introduced into our lives and I was teaching him how to throw, catch and hit.  When my second son was born, he too followed in his brother’s footsteps.   I would pitch to them for hours.  If I wasn’t around, then the 2 boys would play baseball with each other in our side yard.  It was a home run if they hit over the house.  I also had to replace the bedroom window dozens of times as it was regularly broken by a hard-hit line drive.  It’s fair to say that much of our lives centered around baseball.   

•    When my oldest turned 7, we signed him up for the local Pony League, Pinto Division (7-8-year-olds).   It is a story for another time, but I love Pony Baseball, and have a deep-seated dislike for corporate Little League!   Because of a lack of volunteers, I began coaching my oldest and two years later my second son, all through youth ball.  I continued coaching them as an assistant coach at Woodcrest Christian High School in Riverside until my second son graduated.  I have to tell you, those were some of the happiest years of my life.   I had no misconception that my sons would become major leaguers and I endeavored very hard not to be the Father who lived his life through his sons.  No, I chose to live my life for them instead.   I had a simple philosophy as a youth coach, I was going to do everything I could to make it as fun an experience as possible for them, and I was going to teach them how to play baseball.   My drafting philosophy in youth ball was very simple: first I selected my son’s friends, then I made sure I picked a player whose parents had a pool (for the end of the season pool party), and if there were more choices to be made, I selected players with good-looking moms.  I figured if I was going to be with them 2-3 hours 4-5 times a week, I may as well have something to look at too.   This strategy worked, as typically we would end up in first place and then it was on to All-stars, which I would coach. Throughout the years that I was with them on the baseball fields, it was such sheer joy watching them develop their skills not only as baseball players but as young men.    

•    When we weren’t on the field playing, or in the yard playing catch, my boys and I (my wife and daughter would go too, but not every time) would often go to a Lake Elsinore Storm game, or to a Dodger game.   I cannot adequately put into words the happiness and joy I felt being with them on those occasions.   I remember the first time I went to Dodger stadium wit my sons, and I had my oldest on my shoulders so excited to be able to see Mike Piazza and some of his other heroes.  It was wonderful!!   Last year, I took all of my family to a Dodger vs Mariner game in Seattle.  Prior to the start of the game. My son put his 5-year-old son on his shoulders and they went as close to the field as they could so my grandson could see Clayton Kershaw warm-up.  That moment was as priceless as moments can get for me! 

•     My sons both excelled in high school and they had the great experience of being able to play baseball in college.  Their college team played in the NAIA World Series twice.  To say I was proud of them would be a major understatement.  After college, my sons’ baseball playing days ended.   Although they stopped playing, their love for baseball has not ended.   My oldest is a die-hard Dodger fan, like his father.  My second son is a rabid Cubbie fan( I joke that he must have been switched at birth).  They both live in Washington now with their families.  They live in the same community and they are best friends.  They are great fathers, husbands, and they are doing well in their professions.  I am so incredibly proud and unashamedly in love with these boys.  They now each have a son.  Not surprisingly, their sons, while still young, are ball dogs too.   Whenever we get together, I spend hours playing catch with my oldest grandson (he’s 5)(the youngest is just about to turn 2, but he already possesses a sweat left-handed swing).  Also, at some point, my sons and I are going to speak baseball with each other.  We will jibber-jabber about all things baseball.  Even when we’re not together, whenever the Dodgers play the Cubs or either team is in the WS, we text each other throughout the game. 

•    There is much more that I could tell you, but at the risk of boring you to death, I’ll stop here. 

I’m sure that many of you can relive similar experiences in your own lives and have equal love and pride for your sons and daughters.   I had the pleasure of meeting Mark Timmons and his son 6 months ago.  We had dinner together when he was visiting California.   It took only a nanosecond for me to see that MT felt the same way about his son, as I do about mine.  Being a father is one of the greatest blessings to be bestowed on a man!!  I might add as an aside, although MT likes to stir the pot at times, he is a teddy-bear at heart.  He may want to kick my butt for saying that, but it is true.   

•    Suffice it to say, that reliving these many, many, many, wonderful memories, has caused my heart to break even more for AC and his family.   Each story AC has shared about his sons’ baseball experience has been supported by many untold fun times together for them.  I’m certain that AC and his boys(and their mom) have spent countless hours at baseball fields together and have enjoyed time just sitting around the dinner table talking baseball.  To think that he and his son will no longer share those times is painful to think about. 

•    Sometimes it takes death, to help us put into perspective just what baseball means to us.  I have to remind myself, that despite my deep love for the game, it is still only that, a game.  I will acknowledge that baseball at the professional level is a very big business and the struggles between management and the players’ union have affected the “fun” aspect of baseball to a certain degree.  Despite that, I still love the game and the Dodgers.  Baseball has given me countless hours of unforgettable times with my sons and family!  For that, I will always be grateful. 

•    This year death and baseball have been connected for us on this blog in several ways.   Learning about MJ’s death was sorrowful.   I never met her, but I felt a kinship with her because, among many other reasons, she lived in the Inland Empire.  After we on this board learned that she had died, I searched for an obituary, but could never find one.  I did come to learn that she was involved in a horrific car accident when she was 13 wherein 5 other occupants of her vehicle died, and she was critically injured.   I cannot say with 100% certainty, but it appeared that she may have been severely disabled as a result of the accident.  It appears that she never married.  But my, oh my, how she loved the Dodgers and how she loved participating on this blog.  It was hard hearing of her death, as she was like family to many on this blog. 

•           In addition to AC’s son and MJ, there was the much too early death of Tyler Skaggs. My first memory of death and baseball was when Ken Hubbs, a second baseman for the Cubs, was killed in an airplane accident in 1964.  I was 13 at the time, and his death stung in ways I could not then understand.  For much of my youth, I had pictured MLB players being much like Superman.  I thought they were invincible.  Of course, Roberto Clemente’s death was equally as shocking.  In the last few years, in addition to Skaggs, Luis Valbuena, Yordano Ventura, Jose Fernandez, Tommy Hanson (a former Riverside City College player), Greg Halman, ( a Holland native who played for the Mariners), and Nick Adenhart also tragically died far to young.

•     No matter if death comes knocking on a loved one’s door, the truth remains that life goes on for others.  Sometimes it moves a maddening pace.  Soon, we’ll be back to complaining about the Dodgers’ bullpen, we’ll worry about their chances in the playoffs, we’ll question DR’s decisions, etc., etc.    That’s what fans do.   I don’t cluck my tongue at anyone for doing that.  But, at the risk of my having been somewhat too personal and having dwelt on a hard subject, I would encourage you, to ponder on how special this game of baseball has been to you, particularly in a family sense, and I hope that the memories you have are as sweet as those I have experienced from the first days I came to this great land from Holland!

2Demeter2’s Minor League Report

OKC Dodgers beat the Round Rock Express:   14-11

Zak Reks hit a 2 run HR in the first and added a RBI double later.  Zack McKinstry and Drew Jackson also hit Hrs.  Reks finished with 3 hits; McKinstry, Jackson Conner Joe and Joe Kemmer each had 2 hits.  Justin DeFratus started and tossed 5.2 serviceable innings, allowing 4 runs (3earned) on 7 hits, 2BB and 6K.  Chris Nunn was the only effective reliever with 1 inning of scoreless ball.    

Tulsa Drillers lost to the NW Arkansas Naturals:   9-8

Not much pitching.  Jordan Sheffield started and gave up 4 runs in o.1 inning.  Michael Boyle and Shea Spitsbarth did well in relief.  On offense Cody Thomas had a HR among his 3 hits.  Donovan Casey had 3 hits, and Angel Mora and Errol Robinson had 2 a piece. 

RC Quakes beat the Visalia Rawhide:   8-1

Gerard Carillo had a strong start for the Quakes tossing 5.2 innings and allowing only 2 hits, 1run, with 2BB and 8 K.  Conner Strain, Darien Nunez, and Austin Drury each pitched scoreless ball in relief.  Offensively, Jeren Kendall, Jacob Amaya, Jeter Down, Miguel Vargas and Eric each had 2 hits.  Kendall and Downs had 2 RBI each.  CT# had a single in 4 at bats. 

Great Lake Loons lost to the South Bend Cubs:   9-5 

Not a good day for pitching, particularly for Jose Chacin, who, in his ⁴inning^s, gave up 11 hits, 8 runs.  Josh Bruihl and Aaron Oschenbein did well in relief.  For the offense, James Outman, Luke Heyer and Justin Yurchak each hit a HR.   Yurchak, Matt Cogen and Gersel Pitre each had 2 hits. 

Ogden Raptors beat the Rocky Mountain Vibes:   8-3

Brandon Lewis and Andy Pages continued their hot hitting.  Lewis had a HR.  Pages had 2 hits.  Zac Ching also had 2 hits and 2RBI.  Jeff Belge, Mitchell Tryanski and Reza Aleaziz were the pitchers of note.    

AZL Mota beat the AZL Royals:   13-12

This was a completion of a suspended game from August 3^rd.  Jonny Deluca was the offensive star going 4-6.  Luis Diaz went 3-4 and Danny Sinatro went 2-5.   Julien Smith had a very bad walking 5 batters, all of whom scored and registering no outs.  

AZL Mota beat the AZL Royals:   2-1   

In their regularly schedule game, the Dodgers only mustered up 3 hits, but it was enough to get the win, as they received very strong pitching from Julien Smith (never give up hope) who tossed 5 inning, allowing no runs, 4 hits, 1BB and 3K.  

AZL Lasorda beat the AZL Rangers:   6-5

Josh McClain, Julio Carrion, Devin Mann and Meaux Landry each had 2 hits.  Landry adding a HR among his.  Yujo Kitigata and Juan Murillo wewre the pitchers of note.  Kitigata starting and tossing 2 scoreless innings and Murillo following with 4 innings, allowing 4 hits, 1 run, and registering 5 K.