The "Faces of Strangers: #31" Story

Tim

It was an ordinary day.  Standing with my camera down the left field line at Mt. Joy's Kunkle Field looking for a neat photo or two of my grandson who is playing third base for his little league 10 and under baseball team.  Perfect place to watch the evening game, take in the smell of the nearby concession stand and hear the cheers of the crowd sitting on the hill in the distance.  To my left is the big scoreboard that shows the two competing teams tied, 1-1.  Then I realized I wasn't by myself.  I turned more to my left and there is the smiling face of another spectator.  "Best place to watch the game, isn't it?" he said to me.  We began talking and I found out Tim was the person who was responsible for organizing and handling just about everything involved in the Mt. Joy Memorial Day Baseball Tournament.  He said he can still remember playing for his step-father's little league team when he was a child on this same field.  He grew up playing and coaching on Kunkle Field and he felt it was his responsibility to make sure that other kids have the same chance that he did.  We talked about the history of the field and exchanged stories and memories from the past.  Then he noticed the home plate umpire and one of the coaches exchanging words and told me he had to head towards home plate, since he also was in charge of security for the night.  Few minutes later he was back to retrieve a few more baseballs from the shed that stands next to the spot where we were standing to watch the game.  Shortly we were back to talking again when he said, "Wow, nice play by the third baseman for Mountville," as Caden scooped up a hard grounder and fired a strike to first base.  "That's my grandson," I said to him.  "Looks like you'll be here a few more times in the next couple of years," he said to me as he headed to the shed to get the trophies to award to the teams after the game.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.