From Bill Wartenweiler
Monroe
The baseball season was a bit too long. There were so many teams it was difficult for the casual fan to keep up on all players. Still, on these occasions when you went to a game in person, stand-out performances became lasting memories and formed opinions of various players.
Several years ago, a case in point, was the time a group of us went to Chicago to see the Cubs play the St. Louis Cardinals. On a bright sunny day, our seats were perched over a roof-top overlooking beautiful Wrigley Field. Some said that was as close to heaven as I was ever going to get.
The Cubs pitcher was a very promising young hurler named Mark Prior. He was mowing the Cardinals down left and right. But, in the seventh inning, the Cardinals managed to load the bases with two outs. At that moment I turned to Skip and said, "This is the ball game right here." It was a classic match-up of youth versus experience. That time, old age and trickery got the best of strength and skill as the wily veteran lashed a double off the wall. Prior was knocked out of the game and the Cardinals went on to win easily.
Oh, who was that hitter? He was traded by the Cardinals. And, I for one, was not surprised when he won this year's MVP for the World Series. Edgar Renteria is still a tough guy to get out.
Monroe
The baseball season was a bit too long. There were so many teams it was difficult for the casual fan to keep up on all players. Still, on these occasions when you went to a game in person, stand-out performances became lasting memories and formed opinions of various players.
Several years ago, a case in point, was the time a group of us went to Chicago to see the Cubs play the St. Louis Cardinals. On a bright sunny day, our seats were perched over a roof-top overlooking beautiful Wrigley Field. Some said that was as close to heaven as I was ever going to get.
The Cubs pitcher was a very promising young hurler named Mark Prior. He was mowing the Cardinals down left and right. But, in the seventh inning, the Cardinals managed to load the bases with two outs. At that moment I turned to Skip and said, "This is the ball game right here." It was a classic match-up of youth versus experience. That time, old age and trickery got the best of strength and skill as the wily veteran lashed a double off the wall. Prior was knocked out of the game and the Cardinals went on to win easily.
Oh, who was that hitter? He was traded by the Cardinals. And, I for one, was not surprised when he won this year's MVP for the World Series. Edgar Renteria is still a tough guy to get out.
