...probably playing Baseball and getting drafted out of HS ...but I decided to play college ball first and it ruined me.
...and don't ask me what league I played in because I don't fucking remember and I kinda get confused when people ask me...in fact, I can't even remember what my career BA was. And don't ask me what my zip code is either because I'm a little fuzzy on that as well.
Hell, I'm still trying to remember my phone number, let alone my Social Security number
Some of my memories, the very 1st 2 years of playing Little League.
I was put at SS to try out for that position. We had the # Pitcher in the League, who also was the best hitter, for avg. RBI"s and HR's. He was at bat, and hit a rocket line drive right at my face. My glove was not an official glove. I had complained to my Dad, that I needed a real glove not one of those Xmas toy gloves.
Needless to say, he never got one for me, until, that 1st hit my way, I hung onto the line drive at my face, but the tiny glove with no pocket allowed the force of that smoker to not stop the ball, until my glove hit me right between the eyes. That one knocked me out cold, the 1st of 3 more broken noses to come due to BB.
The very next year, I found myself Pitching one game a week, and Catching the next. I threw harder than most little leaguers, and had control probs at times. I threw a high heater inside, and hit the batter square between the eyes, and he went down out cold too. An ambulance was called, and my worst fear other than possibly killing the kid batting, but was also afraid His mom was going to jump the fence and kick my ass.
A year later, I found myself drafted by invite only, by the Shreveport Travel Lg. Team, who had won 8 consecutive city championships. WE played 14 little league games, then when LL was done for the summer, we began a 28 game season. We went 32-0 to win the City Championship for the 9th cons. year.
On to LA State Finals, we were upset 3-2 to suffer our first loss of the year, and cost us a state championship.
This is a bitter memory for me, as I batted 3rd or 5th all year. We had a man on 3rd with 2 outs. I was at the plate, and had gone 3 for 3 with all gap line drives off or to the wall. With a full count, my Mgr. called me over, and told me to bunt the ball right in a divot in front of the Pitchers mound. His theory was the pitcher literally had one leg shorter than the other, and couldn't field it in time, to throw me out at 1st or the RISP crossing home.
This coach like all LL coaches stressed the importance of not bunting with 2 strikes on you. I knew he had full trust in me bunting, yet he overlooked the 3 Doubles, and 2 runs I scored. Why he didn't let me hit was besides me, of which I'm still trying to figure out. 3 for 3, and League Leader in RBI's, Doubles, Triples, Runs Scored, HR's, Hits, Stolen Bases, you name it; other than I hit for 2nd best B'Avg, at .454, and lost that title by only .002 of a point. I knew with no doubt, I was going to make it a 4 for 4 day by hitting at will, as I had done with this pitcher.
Just a few memories to name many....keep it coming guys....!!!
