The Power of the Ultimate

[G-Fafif]

Four years ago, screwing off at work, I was scrolling through UMDB's memories section when I came across a fellow recalling what it was like to to go the Polo Grounds with his dad for a doubleheader in 1962. Moved and envious (wow, the Mets in the PG), I wrote to him and we became pretty good baseball buddies. He became a big part of my floating Mets e-mail group as well.

Tonight he notified us that his dad died today at 91 years old. In honor of his father, I'd like to share the UMDB reminiscence that wound up linking him, me and the other folks with whom we share the ups and downs of a baseball season, not unlike what we do here. (And a tip of the cap to Yancy for making it all possible.)

The doubleheader in question is that of April 29, 1962: Mets 8 Phils 0; Phils 10 Mets 2.

My dad took me to the doubleheader when I was 11 years old. We lived on Sedgwick Avenue so dad parked the car along Kingsbride Road and we took the D train to the Polo Grounds. We sat in the upper deck grandstand behind home plate and I remember Al Jackson pitching that 8-0 shutout. We moved to the first base side for game two and while the Mets took an early lead I remember them being bombed and we left during the middle of the nightcap. Dad was a softee so I ate plenty of ice cream and popcorn, a lot more than I would have if mom had been with us!

We got back on the train and I remember dad taking me to a toy store near the Kingsbridge Armory before going home. It was already dark and I think he bought me a picture puzzle.

My dad is now 87 years old and I'll turn 51 in June but it's little memories like these that make me smile and cry at the same time.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Sorry for his loss. One less father for Father's Day at Shea is a bad thing.

Give him our condolences, and, when he's ready, give him an invitation to swim.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I echo the condolences.

This is the first I've heard of site visitors actually connecting because of things posted to the UMDB. It had never occurred to me that something like that would happen. I'm glad to have helped you, albeit inadvertently, to find a new friend.

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

My condolences to your friend.

[Centerfield]

What a great memory. If there are more like the ones he mentioned, I'm sure it was 91 well spent years.

[MFS62]

Sad.
I know how he feels. I wrote the following a few years ago for another baseball site. It was later picked up and posted on several others, including a sports site at the University of Mississippi.

] The Old Fan by MFS62 He was born before this Century was a teenager, the son of a tailor. He lived in Harlem, New York City. And he was tough. He attended a high school with over 1,000 boys and never weighed more than 140 pounds, yet he played on the offensive line of the football team. He graduated from high school and went to work to support the family, but started going to college at night. After six years, he graduated with an accounting degree - right in the middle of the depression. He kept working, as an accountant in the Garment Industry. Sports were still his only respite from the six and seven day work week. He was a baseball fan, and rooted for the Giants and Yankees. He could remember when the fortunes of those teams were the exact opposite of the records we know. He remembered when the saying was "same old day, the Giants win and the Yankees lose." He saw them all, from Ruth to Ott to DiMaggio, to Mays and Mantle. He thought when Hank Greenberg had 100 RBI by the All-Star break and wasn't named to the team it was "discrimination." He knew enough about baseball to actually be able to understand Casey Stengel. He also saw the "other " baseball, where the names were Leonard, Paige, Gibson and Bell. He loved it all. He later taught his only son about sports. Taught him to throw a curveball; took him to baseball and football games at Yankee Stadium, the Polo Grounds and even Shea Stadium. But while he had the heart of an athlete and the mind of an accountant, he had the soul of a poet. He had always written poetry. Mostly to the Woman He Loved. But he found inspiration in all things, such as the first Robin of Spring, or a friend's birthday. When he retired, he started attending poetry societies and reading his works. He was named Best New Poet by the New York Poetry Forum. Imagine, "Rookie-of-the Year" at age 72! A few weeks ago, I asked him this question for the first time, "Who was better, Mantle or DiMaggio?" He answered that most of the youngsters seemed to like Mantle's power, but Joe D. was better all-around and definitely the most graceful player ever. He died last week - peacefully, in his sleep. He was my Father. I'll miss him.

[Guest Edgy DC]

By the way, awesome thread title.

[Centerfield]

Beautiful 62.

What an appropriate thread for this weekend. Those of us fortunate enough to have our fathers around should consider making another memory.

[Benjamin Grimm]

As should those of us fortunate enough to be fathers.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

I'll be at Shea on Dad's Day with dad, and maybe, my boy (depending on whether his Mom allows it)

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

If you take Little Dickshot, take your Sure Shot - you want lots of photos of his first game!

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Pardon me for my vast ignorance, but how insane is it to take a 5-week old to a baseball game?

[Guest KC]

Nice stuff in this thread. Happy Fathers Day to youse guys, especially JD
who is new to this. If you let us know where you'll be Sunday I'll try and swing
by and say wasssupppp.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Johnny Dickshot wrote: Pardon me for my vast ignorance, but how insane is it to take a 5-week old to a baseball game?

Very!

I doubt you'll want to stay there for three and a half hours. There's bound to be fussiness, and diaper changes. And if he's not on formula, there's issues with keeping milk cold.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

That's what Ms. Dickshot is gonna say too. And prolly what I'd say had you offered me the tixx this week. But I bought 'em before the year and didn't know better.

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

Johnny Dickshot wrote: Pardon me for my vast ignorance, but how insane is it to take a 5-week old to a baseball game?

I don't know. MK was at Shea when he was three weeks old. Four days into the Bobby Valentine era.

[Guest KC]

I'm reminded of a hot game I went to about five years ago with a large
group and my friend brought a six month old and spent the entire game
in the shade of the breazy mezz walkways trying to get her to stop crying.

He saw about six AB's.

[Guest Edgy DC]

What a snotty little primadonna.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Another thing that will make it difficult is that there's nowhere to put the baby down. You'll have to take turns holding him. At a baseball game, your baby will become one more item to juggle on your lap.

And I know, based on my own personal history, is if I tried to take a baby to a baseball game, the baby would certainly puke. Not just spit up, but a big, embarrassing, messy, smelly, puke.

If you take him to the game and manage to stay from the first out to the last, I would suggest that we all chip in and buy you a Croix de Candlestick on eBay.

[seawolf17]

We only lasted three and a half innings at MiniWolf's first Ducks game -- and he was just over three months old. We're going again next Sunday for Kevin Baez Bobblehead Day.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

None of these issues even occurred to me while I waited in 20-degree weather to buy these tixx. Not a single one. They're all pretty legit concerns at this point.

We do have one of those cold bags, and a baby frontpack/backpack thingy, and 6 adults in the party to share the holding, and a car, now.

We'll have to wait and see.

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

Here's my only concern - where are your seats? If you're in the sun, I'd be concerned. If you're in the shade then you don't have to worry so much.

Five-week-olds are ultimately portable. It's when they start crawling/toddling that life gets, um, interesting. At five weeks, he'll either want to nap or eat, and you have the frontpack.

[A Boy Named Seo]

Have everyone in your group on high foul ball alert.

Edit: And I'm Tony Tarasco. I meant "high", like elevated.

[Guest KC]

It nice and politically correct to have those changing boards in the mens
rooms too but I don't think I've ever seen a dad utilizing one while trying to
keep the beer burping and farting bathroom patrons at bay. Throwing a dirty
diaper into a stall and booking out the crowded doorway does sound like it
has some comic value to it though.

[Guest Edgy DC]

It's not so much nice-driven or p.c.-driven as lawsuit driven, I think.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I used one of them once. I was lucky that it looked rather clean; I imagine that many of them aren't. We've changed diapers in a variety of places, including at the Alhambra in Spain, and in the White House visitor's center in Washington. Rather than count on those changing tables, it's often better to just find a spot where you can hide behind something.

That can be difficult at Shea Stadium, though. Of course, in the old days you could have just taken the escalator up the the Upper Deck and found a sea of empty seats.

[Guest KC]

Edge, as I told you years ago, I'm never wrong sometimes.

[Guest Edgy DC]

"A lot of celberities out at Shea this fine afternoon. Look, there's the Thing changing his blue diaper in the upper deck and HOLY MOLY!"

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Yancy Street Gang wrote: I used one of them once. I was lucky that it looked rather clean; I imagine that many of them aren't. We've changed diapers in a variety of places, including at the Alhambra in Spain, and in the White House visitor's center in Washington. Rather than count on those changing tables, it's often better to just find a spot where you can hide behind something. That can be difficult at Shea Stadium, though. Of course, in the old days you could have just taken the escalator up the the Upper Deck and found a sea of empty seats.

My first out-of-home changing experience came in a gas-station men's room last weekend. Opened the table only to find soda cans and paper towels and decided the back seat of the Dickshotmobile was far preferable.

edit -- I need a clueless parent forum.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Backseats are always handy for that.

But just wait until he's old enough to arch his back and squirm away from you. That's when diaper changing really starts to get fun!