The "All-Star Game" Story

It was an ordinary day. Watching the All-Star Game from Arizona on TV. Sitting in the living room watching on regular TV, since Carol beat me to the HDTV in the family room tonight. But that's OK, since my regular TV reception is fine. Started thinking how neat it would be to play in an All-Star Game if you were a player. You have reached the pinnacle of your profession. Yeah, I know it is only a game, but it is their profession and very few people in the world can play baseball in the All-Star Game. Then it hit me. I DID THAT! Way back in 1959 when I was 15 years old. Holy cow, that's a long time ago. I was playing in my 4th year of organized ball for the Grandview Midgets. That title refers to the age bracket, not the size of the players. I played 1st Base for one year on the Schick Midget-Midget team and one year at 1st Base for the Young Republicans in the Jr. Midget bracket. Then "graduated" to the Midgets and the Grandview team. Most of my friends were playing for the team so I decided to try out for the team. The first year I switched to 3rd Base, since the player who played 1st Base had returned from the previous year. I ended up with the second best batting average on the team that year, even though I was a first year player at that level and probably the skinniestkid on the team. Grandview was in the Lanco League South Division with 7 other teams from the county. There were 8 teams in the North Division. My second year I did some pitching, but mostly played 3rd Base, since I had a fairly strong arm and could make the throw across the diamond with ease from 3rd base. And ..... still had my good batting eye. Led the team in quite a few categories that second year on the team. So good that when the All-Star Game came around, my coach, Mr. Geist, chose me as one of the two players he could send to the game. Other player was my friend and pitcher, George Healey. Wow, what an honor. And, I really mean that, from a kid who just loved baseball and had only played organized ball for 4 years at that point. Well, the week before the game, I was sliding into 3rd Base during a regular season game, trying to make a double into a triple, and sprained my ankle. Hurt? Wow, did it ever! But, I didn't let on that it did, because my mom and dad, who were sitting on lawn chairs watching the game, probably wouldn't let me play in the All-Star Game if they knew. Game was in three days. I found some Ace bandages in the hall closet of our second floor house on Queen Street and wrapped it and wore my high top sneakers I had to conceal it. At times it hurt so bad it made me cry, but I was determined not to miss the game. Game time and I got to start the game at 3rd Base for the South squad. Don't remember how well I did, but at least I got to play in the All-Star Game. One of my biggest accomplishments in baseball. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.