Page 72 - REALLY What A time Book IX

REALLY SO WHAT
What A Time

SPORTS

move up a position. A double play moved everyone up two
positions.

I had really good hand-eye coordination and could hit almost
anything. It was useful for tennis, but in baseball it was a
different story. In tennis my power came from the strings of
the racket. With just a wooden bat I didn’t have ‘over-the-
fences’ power. It was more like over the infield. I could hit
anything, but it would go like Gil Coan’s hits. I would mostly
hit infield balls. Although I was right handed I could actually
hit down the firstbase line. Yet, could spray hits anywhere. I
was a managers dream for a lead-off batter if getting on base
was important.
But, there were two big problems with baseball. First, it’s so
bloody boring. Standing around waiting to work-up to the
pitcher, or batter would take forever. And I never wanted to
be catcher, it was the worst.

The second reason and ever so much more important was
catching the ball. Even with a mitt, which some didn’t have, I
could count on catching every third ball with my thumb. After
a few catches it hurt like; sprained. I hated it, but each season
I’d give it a try with the same outcome. My baseball days were
numbered.
I stuck to listening to the ‘Nats’ getting shellacked on the
radio. I learned to root for the winners; the New York
Yankees.

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