A last-minute decision to go to the Indians game results in a chance to be a bat boy for the day.
This spring, we asked readers to tell us their best memory at an Indians game. More than 600 of you responded. The five finalists and winner were featured during the week leading up to Opening Day. All season long, The Plain Dealer will publish other fan memories -- one each day the Indians are scheduled to play. Here is today's essay by John Smrdel of Cleveland:
It was a Sunday doubleheader against the Angels, 1966. I was sitting in the field box seats alone; my brothers had gone for hot dogs.
The bat boy came over and asked if I would like to be a ball boy for the day. The regular ball boy was sick. I said, sure.
He instructed me on how to get to the clubhouse, where they dressed me in a uniform with Sam McDowell's cleats and Fred Whitfield's hat.
I walked back to the field the way I came in, through the stands instead of the runway. The guys got a lot of laughs.
We worked hard before and after the game with the bats, pine tar rags and other gear. During the game, I was stationed down the right-field line. I was watching a high pop-up when Jimmy Piersall, playing for the Angels, yells at me to move the chair. He missed the ball and continued to cuss me out.
Between games, we ate sandwiches and, after the game, we had a towel fight in the locker room with Whitfield and the bat and ball boys.
My brothers were jealous. I wasn't even supposed to go to the game, but I decided to go at the last minute. If I win [this contest], I'll give them the [autographed] ball and take them to the game.
Source: http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2011/07/angry_piersall_chastised_fill-.html
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