Stories

many of their players, whose careers started in Kansas City , were responsible for the dominance of the Yankees.

My dad wore his cool wash pants and casual shirt. "Dad, what's an intentional walk?" I asked. Patiently he explained that it was part of the strategy of the game. The opposing manager would rather put a potential extra base hitter on first base and take a chance with the next hitter who had a lower batting average. Although this didn't make a lot of sense to me, I believed my dad because he knew the rules.

With the radio positioned in the breakfast room window, we sat on the edge of our chairs. It was the bottom of the ninth, a pitching duel. Frank Hiller had played a solid game for Kansas City, but the Blues were behind by one run. The first batter, Cliff Mapes, a clutch hitter, flew out to center field taking the fielder to the wall. Our hearts jumped as the local announcer, Larry Ray, called the final few outs of the game. The next batter, Steve Souchock, hit a soft grounder to third base for the second out. Then our beloved second baseman, Joe Muffoletto, after fouling off many pitches worked the count to 3 & 2. The next pitch was outside and the tying run strolled to first base.

As the next batter was announced the crowd roared. Hank Bauer came to the plate. He had won many games before with a late inning hit. As the tension rose, dad listened intently sipping on his bottle of beer, puffing on his cigarette encased in a cigarette holder, waiting for the next pitch. As the pitcher started his windup we could hear the enthusiasm in Ray's voice as he described the contact and a long ball hit high in the air towards left field. GOING ...GOING ...GONE into the far lanes of the parking lot behind the stadium where young fans scrambled for the ball. The Blues had pulled another one out and into the victory column.

Grabbing my glass of Kool-Aid I rushed into the house to tell my mother, only to be reminded that it was about bedtime. And one again my baseball euphoria changed to the anticipation of hearing a story about "once upon a time there was a BIGGG house on a BIGGG hill with a Dad and Mom and four kids."

How nice the joys of a childhood.