In growing up in the suburbs in New York, the friends I had sure influenced my love of sports. Unlike the days of today with kids in year round school, the summers were long and you had to find something to do to pass the time. One summer we decided we would become the kids version of major league baseball. We turned our t-shirts into major league baseball uniforms, and would have games almost every day. One team I am certain was the Baltimore Orioles, after all these years I can’t recall the other team. We would become just like the pros, keeping track of the statistics we did on the field on old Broadview Lane. We would become our favorite players that we had in our baseball card collections. We certainly learned about baseball and how to the game was played. We all dreamed of being the all-stars that we had on our baseball cards that we flipped when the games were over. With my friends of youth, we were either playing baseball, or watching baseball on TV all the time. The Mets and Yankees were always on TV all the time, and I know for sure I lived for Mets Kiner’s Corner. However, baseball never would have meant as much to me had it not been for my friends who introduced me to this great game.
What made me think of this is the story of Henry Pearson, the person who also died in the Nick Adenhart tragedy:
I wouldn't be anything like I am today without Henry. He changed my life more than anybody. I've lost my best friend and the world's lost an unbelievably special young man that had such a bright future ahead. We'll miss you buddy, you have no idea.
Filed under: MLB, Mets, Orioles, World Baseball Classic, Yankees
