Babe Ruth live?

[Carl Childress]

Yesterday, I had a double-header -- solo. My partner didn't show up even though I checked with him just three hours before game time.

Since I assign for that League, I wonder when he can expect another game.

To the point:

My first season was 1954!

Since that time, I've had some amazing events happen in my games:

1. I had a college no hitter.
2. I had a college around the horn triple play, 5-4-3.
3. I had several high school no hitters.
4. I had one high school perfect game, 21 up, 21 down.
5. The San Diego chicken gave me the eye test at Oklahoma St. v University of Texas Pan-Am. Bobby Witt struck out 18 (in a seven-inning game!) and walked 14.
6. I was behind the plate when Steve Flores, head coach for PSJA Bears now, hit three consecutive home runs in one game.
7. I was behind the plate when Weslco executed a triple play against Brownsville Pace, with the Weslaco catcher making all three tag outs.
8. I called the 1991 New York City High School All Star Game, behind the plate at Yankee Stadium.

And speaking of the Yankees:

Yesterday in the 18u (Harlingen v McAllen) game, the first baseman/pitcher (Danny Giroua (a Japanese-Anglo) for Harlingen came to the plate and said as follows: "Omar, I'm gonna park one."

Omar, McAllen catcher, said: "Sure, Danny. And it's going over the 400 foot sign, Right."

Danny: "No, 20 feet shorter than that. It's going over the left-field 380 mark."

First pitch.

You know what happened. Omar and I watched, amazed, as the ball left the park. It was a monster shot, probably bouncing onto the roof of the Pizza-Hut across the street from the field.

Imagine what would have happened if....

Well, the next time he came to bat, he struck out looking. "How could you do that to me?" he asked, grinning. "I called my shot."

Said I: "So did I, Danny, so did I."

Heat index: 112 degrees. No clouds. Seven hours for the two games. McAllen won both.

Today: Rio Grande Valley Athletics v Los Fresnos. It's a coast city, so the breeze will keep things cooler.