I can remember the days some 40 years ago as vividly as if they were yesterday. The trips to spring training in Palm Springs, watching Nolan Ryan warm up in the bullpen and catching a batting practice home run ball with an oversized glove.
Getting autographs , on a ball I still possess, from the Minnesota Twins and Los Angeles Dodgers at a gala dinner in Florida after the 1965 World Series, driving cross country and visiting major league parks to watch a game or winning the city championship in Orlando when I was nine years old.
Dad, this could be the best day of my life.
I've been dreamin' day and night about the fun we'll have.
just me and you doin' what I've always wanted to.
I'm the luckiest boy alive,
This is the best day of my life.
Trips to Dodger Stadium, making the 12 year old All-Stars in Santa Monica and winning the District 25 title or talks about his favorite player, Mickey Mantle, and how much the Mick meant to his team and the winning tradition established in the Bronx by the great Babe Ruth.
And in the end, as I watched him pass away silently just after my 18th birthday, he knew, in his last few breaths, that his little guy had a burning desire and passion for a game he cherished so much, much like his beloved New York Yankees.
I've been watching you, dad ain't that kool?
I'm your buckaroo; I want to be like you.
And eat all my food and grow as tall as you are.
We like fixin‚ things and holding moma's hand
Yeah, we‚re just alike, hey, ain't we dad.
I want to do everything you do; so I've been watching you.
As I watched my son graduate from middle school last week my mind wandered and my thoughts turned to my own Dad. Every Father's Day memories pop up about all the long talks we had in the car and the precious moments we spent together. They can never be replaced.
He never pushed me to play the game, just showed me. He was big on character and hustle and not necessarily talent. He figured you've got it or you don‚t but intangibles can be instilled. He introduced me to a game I love and respect, much like he did. He never told me to have fun, he could see the enjoyment in my eyes.
Upon seeing all the baseball cards I collected, he chuckled, and was also amused at all the team pennants I had amassed. He wondered aloud as to what I was going to do with all this memorabilia. Deep inside, though, he was beaming that I loved America's game as much as he did.
Mama tells her little man
your daddy's got a job
and when he goes to work they pay him for his time.
Well the young boy gets to thinking
and he heads up to his bedroom
and comes running back with a quarter and four dimes
and says mama how much time will this buy me?
Is it enough to take me fishing or throw a football in the street?
If I'm a little short then how much more does daddy need
to spend some time with me?
The above lyrics by country singers George Strait, Rodney Atkins and Jamey Johnson resemble and typify what our own children are thinking and saying about us, the Father in their life. Words can‚t express the everlasting thoughts of my Father and the things I wish I could have said while he was alive.
So as you look into your child's eye this Father's Day you might want to plan a trip to spring training,, hop aboard a train and take a ride to a Giants game, or better yet, play an imaginary game in your backyard with stones for bases and a stick for a bat.
Your son will never forget it. I didn't.
Rich Taylor is the CEO and head instructor of California Pitching Academy and a scout for the New York Mets. Reach him at rjtaylor23@yahoo.com.
Rich Taylor Rich Taylor is the owner, head instructor and CEO of California Pitching Academy. He is a former pitching coach at Pepperdine University and Chicago White Sox scout. He founded the West Coast Baseball School. He has more than 20 years of youth coaching experience and wrote the book “Molding the Young Pitcher.” His regular column appears twice a month. Send him an email.
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