Fathers And Sons

"Until you have a son of your own...you will never know the joy, the love beyond feeling that resonates in the heart of a father as he looks upon his son" Kent Nerburn, author

Yesterday was one of those days that truly filled my soul like no other.  Certainly, it was a busy day, filled with very enjoyable activities.  The morning was filled with a trip to Lawrence, Kan. to visit my oldest son at the University of Kansas.  We visited his fraternity's tailgate before the Kansas vs Texas Tech football game, and got a chance to visit with some of his fraternity brothers.  I am certainly very happy for him as he has found a great group of young men to associate with.  However, we did not stay for the game, as it was back to Kansas City to pick up my younger son and head off to Kauffman Stadium for Game 2 of the American League Championship Series.  The hometown Kansas City Royals rallied from a 3-0 deficit to post an impressive 6-3 victory! Finally, it was out to dinner after the game.

What made this day special for me was sharing it with my sons, especially the baseball game.  I wrote last week about a very special memory from my own past about a baseball game.  That memory was made possible by my Dad who was able to procure tickets to the game, and with whom I attended the game.  That meant the world to me, both as a young man and a father to two young men.  I knew I could not promise them such a special memory, but I knew I at least had to try!  And to see the joy on their faces as the Royals rallied for the victory was something I will never forget.  And to share our thoughts over dinner just put the cherry on top of an already wonderful day.  And the quote at the top came to life for me.

There is something truly unique about a father sharing his passions in life with his son(s).  In our house, it is sports.  For others, it may a passion for hunting, fishing, woodworking, music, or any number of other talents.  At the same time, few things in life bring as much joy as a father watching his son develop his own talents and passions in life.  I loved watching both boys play sports growing up, and I still get to see my younger son as he finishes his high school football days.  Of course, there are many frustrations and aggravations along the way.  Today, I simply choose to dwell on the joy my sons have brought into my life and what a blessing they are to me.


These days, I listen to my older son, when I get the chance, talk about his experiences at KU.  I realize he is a man now, learning to independently make his way in the world.  And I beam with pride and take great joy in his lessons and experiences.  I know that he will experience all the downs that life has to offer, but I also know that will experience great joy himself and learn to walk tall among men.  And my younger son is on the threshold of all this himself.  And I will take equal pride in his accomplishments as well.  And as a father, when I gaze upon my sons, I will take great joy and be overwhelmed with great love for these two young men.  They will truly fill my soul.

To the fathers who have only daughters, I would say the same thing.  Treasure all the beautiful joys and blessings your daughter has brought to your life.  For whether you have sons or daughters - or both - if you teach them well and spend time with them, they will fill your soul like no other.

Memories of Toronto Vs. Kansas City

"Best game I ever played in my life."  George Brett, as quoted in the Kansas City Star, October 15, 2015

Tomorrow, the Toronto Blue Jays play the Kansas City Royals in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series at Kansas City's Kauffman Stadium.  The Blue Jays and the Royals met in a classic championship series in 1985.  The quote above by Royals Hall of Fame third baseman George Brett refers to Game 3 of that series.

I was a spectator at that game, and I can tell you that you will get no argument from me regarding that quote.  It was a Hall of Fame performance from a Hall of Fame player.  Brett's line that night was as follows:  4 hits in 4 at bats, 4 runs scored, 2 home runs, 3 runs batted in.  Aside from Brett, this was also the best baseball game I have ever seen, and quite likely the best game I have ever seen in any sport.  I remember the pitching match-up that night was Doyle Alexander for Toronto and Cy Young winner Bret Saberhagen for the Royals.

Brett began in the first with a home run down the right field line that curled inside the foul pole to give the Royals a 1-0 lead.  The Royals stretched the lead to 2-0 in the fourth inning when Brett doubled high off the wall in right field, a hit that I thought for sure was a home run.  What followed next was nothing short of incredible as Hal McRae and Frank White each hit shots into the gap in right center field that I knew would be extra base hits.  However, Toronto right fielder Jesse Barfield made lunging catches on both line drives.  Brett tagged up on each, scoring on White's liner to make the score 2-0.  I cannot over emphasize how incredible those catches by Barfield really were.  On both of those shots, I was wondering if McRae and White had enough in them to leg out triples.  There was no doubt in my mind that each line drive would find the gap.

The wheels came off in the top of the 5th inning for Bret Saberhagen, as the Blue Jays scored 5 runs to take a seemingly commanding 5-2 lead.  Saberhagen was done and Steve Farr was brought in to relieve him.  Farr would retire every batter he faced, 13 in a row.  In the bottom of the 5th inning, catcher Jim Sundberg hit a home run for the Royals to make the score 5-3 Toronto.

Fortunately, Brett was not done.  The Royals got their lead-off batter on in the sixth inning and up stepped Brett who could tie the game with one swing of the bat.  I remember he took a vicious swing at a pitch and fouled it straight back, just barely missing it.  At this point, the Royals were looking at a 3-0 deficit in the series (Toronto had won the first two games in Toronto).  No team in any sport had ever come back from a 3-0 deficit to win a best of 7 game series.  The Royals season depended on this one at bat.

I believe the count was 2-1 when Brett hit a fly ball to left center field.  Royals Stadium is a big ballpark, and hitting an opposite field home run there is next to impossible, especially to the gap where Brett hit the ball.  Dammit George, I thought to myself.  Can of corn to left field.  As a passionate 18 year-old fan who had lived and died many summers and autumns with the Royals, I felt as if I had died again.  I did not want to believe the screaming fans who I thought were disillusioned.  And I most definitely did not want to see George Bell, the Toronto left fielder, camp under the ball and make the catch.  I could not bear to watch that.  Simply way too heartbreaking.

I watched the flight of the ball.  It was all I could do.  So from my lower level seat I looked up at the white ball against the black sky.  And it went up and up, then seemingly hung in the air forever.  As long as the ball stayed in the air, I would be ok.  Then, inevitably, the ball started its descent into what I believed would be the waiting glove of George Bell.  That is certainly what I expected to see.  The ball continued to come down, finally to the point where I could see the ball, and experience a feeling of total disbelief.  My eye caught both the ball and two Toronto outfielders - George Bell and centerfielder Lloyd Moseby - and they were both at the wall!  Oh no, do not tease me like this!  The continued to come down, and neither fielder reached up to catch the ball.  Finally, the ball disappeared on the other side of the fence.  Home run!  Game tied at 5!

Pure pandemonium, unbridled joy! Royals Stadium erupted.  I have never heard Royals Stadium so loud in all my life.  Strangers were high fiving each other and hugging each other.  We were all jumping up and down and screaming.  It was more than a home run, it was a lifeline to a team and a crowd that was waiting to explode like this.  And we screamed and hugged some more, and we made noise like none that had ever been heard at Royals Stadium before.  And we continued to scream and high five each other.  We knew we had seen something special. 

At this point, it is almost anticlimactic to point out that Brett came up again in the 8th inning, and singled to right field.  He came around to score what would be the winning run in a 6-5 Royals win.  Why Toronto manager Bobby Cox ever let Doyle Alexander pitch to Brett in the 6th inning, I will never know.  But I will be eternally grateful for it.  And that is my Blue Jays vs Royals ALCS memory.

For another article about this game, go here.