Tuesday, July 15, 2008

All Star Game



I sat down tonight to enjoy some baseball as I prepared to watch the annual All Star Game. I was not prepared for the tears that began to stream down my face. The All Star Game is held this year in Yankee Stadium. This stadium will soon be torn down as the Yankees move to their new stadium. I am an avid baseball fan. I got the love of the game from my father who was a Yankee fan through and through. As a young man my father traveled back east with my great grandfather and he watched a game at Yankee Stadium and Mickey Mantle was playing. My dad was hooked. He loved his Yankees. I grew up watching the great baseball players play on that field. Tonight there was a tribute to All Stars past and they had the greatest collection of all stars on a field at one time. They were all out in their positions....stars like Cal Ripkin Jr. and Yogi Berra. I started to get choked up when the camera moved to right field and Reggie Jackson tipped his hat. My dad loved watching Mr. October play the game. Well, the starting right fielder for the American League is my favortie player Ichiro from the Seattle Mariners. When he ran out to take the field and shook hands with Reggie Jackson I could not stop the tears from flowing. My dad would have loved to see this game tonight. To watch the greats from the past greet the greats from today.....and to watch it in the house that Ruth built would have been awesome for him. I suddenly missed my father terribly. I so wished he would have been here to see this game before they tear down the stadium he loved so much. He would have had a twinkle in his eye and a huge smile on his face. It is quite fitting that the night my father passed away ten years ago his beloved Yankees were playing my favorite Seattle Mariners. The Yankees won that night....and I commented...."they had angels in the outfield." It is also ironic that he passed away from ALS...also named for the Yankee great Lou Gehrig. I love you dad...and I love that you passed your love of the game onto me. There is nothing like enjoying a hotdog and some garlic fries and hearing the crack of the bat as the ball explodes over center field.

5 comments:

melanie said...

I love that you blog. It proves over and over what a softie you really are! I have written words to prove it!! Such a sweet, tender post. Now I understand why you love the ball and bat so much. :)

The Jackson Clan said...

Hello, guess what we will be there about the 14th I am sooooooooooo excited. So anybody good bands plaing for fair. Well I can't wait to see you. It's going to be sooooooo much fun. YOu can help me go school clothes shopping. YOu might even see Rikki on Melanie and Parker. And I know you will see les and matt. They have a race in seatle like the 12th or something. Can't wait to see you.

The Jackson Clan said...

Aunt Chandra, I want to hear new news from you. I cant wait to see you. I will have to barrow your computer to get on my blog if that is ok. Or you will have to talk grampa into getting a computer. I dont think the talking him into it would be hard but tring to remember how to use it would almost kill him. So are we going to golden carall while we are there. I sure hope not. What are we doing for grampa's birthday? Well I better go.

The Jackson Clan said...

I am happy that I will be here while carolyn is here. Cheer for Christopher for me. First I have to have a safe trip to Iowa. Did I tell you rikki might come up. She is moving to the salt lake area. well see ya soon your favorite nice ever. I am I better than you know who. By the way how is you know who.

Emily Katlyn West said...

Oh my goodness I started getting a bit emotional myself reading this post! My Cousin Marilyn who baby sat me when I was younger passed away two years ago and she had ALS. Crazy, Crazy, I really wish I could have seen that game, not that I'm a huge baseball fan, but Yankee Stadium is one of those Iconic things, i feel like I missed out on a moment. . . . well I'm glad you caught it atleast!