Shoot the Gap

I grew up in Toledo, Ohio, and my first interest was baseball. Baseball became a part of life almost by default. Aside from our hometown having Toledo Mud Hens, the Detroit Tigers were just a short drive to the north, the Cleveland Indians were to the east, and with extended family to the south in Cincinnati, not to mention having the Atlanta Braves national telecast available, too, it was rather easy to find a game.

There was also three parks within a ten-minute bike ride from where I lived, so the opportunity to play was always there. Further, a friends father just down the street was always up for starting a game of rundown or pickle in the street or in his driveway. Thank you, Mr. Koeniger!

I think my father took me to my first Detroit Tigers game when I was around seven years old, and you talk about being in awe! Tiger Stadium was quite an amazing place to be. It was double-decked all the way around with the upper deck coming out even with the lower deck so it was like being in a baseball universe for a seven-year-old.

One thing I always noticed from very early on at Major League Baseball games was all the talking. Before the games, players would stand and talk in the outfield while running as part of their warm-up. When a runner was on first base, he would talk with the first baseman. The first baseman would talk to the first base coach, the third baseman would talk to the third baseball coach, and the talking at home plate between the batter, catcher, and umpire seemed endless at times.

As a youngster, and even now, I couldnt help but wonder what they were talking about. So in part, thats what influenced this story.