Thursday, October 31, 2013

Boston Stronger!

Indulge me while I enjoy the moment. Last night, the Boston Red Sox won the Fall Classic and are Major League Baseball's World Champs. What great guys! They worked hard and deserved to win. After the anguish of the Marathon Bombing, this is such a joy.

I missed the first inning of last night’s game because I had to go to a meeting.  But at the meeting, a neighbor and friend of ours who was there said that she and her husband watch every single game and were going to stay up until the end last night, win or lose.  We made an agreement that if the Sox won, we would go out and shout it out to the neighborhood.  That we did!  Sorry if you were asleep in bed and we woke you.  Well, I’m only kinda sorry.  You should have been up watching the Red Sox.

I have loved baseball all my life.  I grew up a Cincinnati Reds fan because we lived in southern Ohio.  I loved the Big Red Machine!  But I moved to Cleveland in the late seventies and spent a few hapless years going to the games in that behemoth of a ballpark Municipal Stadium.  Though the Indians were pretty bad at that time, we had some great times there and one cold and drizzly night in the middle of May, 1981, Greg and I were present when Indians pitcher Len Barker pitched a perfect game.  A baseball lover’s thrill!

 For the last 30 years or so, I have been a member of Red Sox Nation.  And these days, whether they are good or bad, I love the Red Sox, though I’ll always have a soft spot in my heart for the Reds and the Indians.

But mostly, I just love baseball.  I love the symmetry of it.  I love ballparks and the fact that though the infield measurements are the same in every park, each park is unique and quirky and beautiful in its own way.   I should know.  I’ve been to twenty-six of them, not counting a few minor league parks.  I love the smell of ballparks and the thrill I get when I walk from the concourse into the burst of green of the field.  I love opening my scorebook and keeping track of every pitch when I’m at the ballpark and  I love turning on the TV, settling down at night and waiting for the first pitch when we watch the game at home.  I love talking about the game the next day.  I love that baseball is the only major American team sport that isn’t timed.

 I love that even though my team may be down by seven (or more) runs late in the game or coming off an abysmal year when they ended up in last place, there is always that hope that they might come back and win, because the game is never ever over until the last out.


I love that the Red Sox won the World Series in 2013.


10 comments:

kat from ky. said...

I love it for you. I feel this way about football, just can't afford to go to stadium!! When I watched baseball I loved Reds and Boston.

Kerri Farley said...

Hooray! I grew up a REDs Fan but now love the BoSox too!! Happy Days!!!
LOVE your pic!!

TexWisGirl said...

awww. big congrats to the sox and all their fans. of all the professional sports, i'd have to say baseball would be my favorite to watch - and i don't follow any...

Debbie said...

i love baseball but more of the little leaque varity ;)

the hubs and i watched the last 2 innings, for me, that was plenty!!

Barb said...

Congratulations. My Mom felt the same way as you do about baseball - she loved the Phillies way back in the 80's!

Pamela Gordon said...

That's awesome Barbara! I'm glad for you and the thousands of Red Sox fans there and also in the Maritimes of Canada. I think there are more Red Sox fans here than those for Toronto Blue Jays. We have such close ties to New England and Boston up here so I'm happy for you. You are obviously a diehard ball fan. I've never watched a game in my life. lol

Unknown said...

Well Good on yah! as they say in Australia! Glad they won and no you didn't wake m. Great image!

Tina Fariss Barbour said...

I loved this! I love to read about others' passions and interests. How neat that you've been to so many ball parks.

I was glad the Sox won, too, though I didn't follow the games.

As far as the shouting last night--is that what I heard as I fell asleep? ;-)

genie said...

The perfect reflection for a Sox fan. I give it to you all this year. We are hard core Yankees fans at this house, but Boston deserves all it can get this year. I loved the series and all of their beards and actually rooted for them. I know you are a happy camper.

Stratoz said...

Congrats! I grew up a Phillies fan, but my favorite uncle loved theRed Sox so I am OK with this conclusion of the season.