I Miss Baseball

 Over the last two years, rule changes have been implemented in baseball. If you know me, you probably know that I dislike the changes. You might know how much I dislike change in general. These changes were meant to speed up the games and increase the scores. I liked the old pace of baseball with time to make a bathroom trip when the other team's bottom of the lineup was hitting. These lineups with nine good hitters are annoying except for the Phillies.

I'm kidding, of course. I hate the designated hitter even when it allowed us to keep Bryce Harper in our lineup while he was injured. The Phillies always have a player or two getting paid about a billion dollars to rehab an injury. I've been there without the big paycheck but I've been there with the pain and the guilty feelings. It would be better to be rid of the lousy DH rule and let Harper recover all the way. Thankfully, he is recovered fully now.

Don't worry. This isn't a rant by someone practicing to be an old man. I've had plenty of practice. Instead, I'd like to tell you a little about my baseball experience. It was a little like being in a different world for me. This was probably helped along by the fact that I watched or listened to baseball at the beach most of the time. I listened to the games with a little portable radio out on the porch where the dog lived. Reception was good there, it was screened in against mosquitos and it kept me away from my mom who wasn't interested.

It was dark but not too dark with light coming out of the windows. The radio crackled and popped a little but the broadcast was pretty clear. We had outdoor furniture  on the porch and I always liked the chaise lounge. I had the extreme good fortune of listening to a broadcast team that included Hall of Fame broadcaster, Harry Kalas, and Hall of Fame player, Richie Ashburn. Andy Musser and Chris Wheeler rounded out the team. They were less well known but I thought they were great.

Baseball was a huge part of my life. I woke up and assaulted my grandfather's newspaper for coverage of the previous night's games. I don't know how many times I got to see or hear the greatest third baseman of all time be a hero. There was one time when Mike Schmitdt was injured and the Phillies went down 8-0 in the first inning. The Phillies spent the whole game mounting a furious comeback that brought them to within two runs. 

The Phillies loaded the bases with two outs and Veterans Stadium was shaking from all the fans screaming, yelling and chanting, "Mike!" Oh! I was there with my dad who was providing one of the great moments in the life. Well, Mike stepped out of the dugout and the crowd noise was something you could feel as much as hear. Mike (whose last name triggers the spellcheck) took a couple of practice swings and crushed a pitch for a bases clearing, game winning, three run double. 

There were so many wonderful moments. I remember listening while one of those supposed phenoms who had one big moment before becoming a huge disappointment had one great moment. I don't even remember his name now bur he struck out Pirate greats, Bobby Bonilla, Barry Bonds and Andy Van Slyke, in a row to get out of a jam  That same year, back-up catcher Ozzie Virgil hit a game winning grand slam while I was trying to stall bedtime with dad. I wanted to wait in case Ozzie provided a miracle and Dad didn't want to deal with my whining when he struck out. Even the broadcasters were shocked by the centerfield grand slam!

There will still be grand moments. The current TV announcer has his own home run call but it will never replace "that ball's outta here!" in my heart. Sadly, there are Phillies fans who have never heard Harry Kalas call a game and never will. The real loss is that they won't know the pleasure of listening to the broadcasters telling a story of their baseball pasts. With so many rules meant to speed up the game, there will be no time to weave such stories into the slow moments.