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My Glory Day....50 Years Ago

Discussion in 'Non-Vegas Chat' started by Joe Strummer, May 20, 2020.

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  1. Joe Strummer

    Joe Strummer VIP Whale

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    May 20th.....1970
    As a 16 yr old sophomore
    I was hustling in between morning classes
    And suddenly, I was on the floor with my books all over
    WTF ?
    My lower back just gave out !
    I picked up my books and kept wondering what just happened ?
    It wasn't too long before --
    My Back gave out !.....again ?....with alot of pain !
    I picked up my scattered papers, as students rushed by me
    Made it to class....
    After class......yup.....
    My back gave out on me for the THIRD TIME that morning !
    This is bad.
    I am to pitch that afternoon - last game of the Varsity Baseball season.
    I had pitched 8 previous games.......but " what the hell am I gonna do, today ?"
    .
    I didn't say anything, to anybody.
    I was NOT gonna miss a game !.....let alone, a game, as starting pitcher !
    Before the game I took a huge handful of
    " Hot Stuff " or "Atomic Balm" ( an ULTRA heating goo like Ben Gay ) -
    I slapped it on my lower back...ALOT OF IT !.....burned like hell.....and began warming up
    off the mound to start the game.
    At this point....a fellow student on the Year Book Staff began taking photos
    of me throwing off the mound.
    These photos made it into the yearbook and 50 yrs later ---
    I can see how awkward my motion was that day !
    I looked like an old guy, trying to pitch with a bad back -
    I did not bend my back the way I normally did
    I don't think I could even " follow thru " ?
    Just awkward...
    I can still see it in those photos, today !
    .
    I pitch the game......all the way thru, somehow ?......and win !
    Here's "The Glory Day" part......
    I pitched a NO HITTER !
    How the hell ?
    .
    The Coach + team surprised me a day later -
    presenting me with a signed baseball and announcement
    at our Dining Room ( crowded lunch room ).
    Over the years....I lost track of that baseball.
    .
    Two Septembers ago
    My father passed and us kids...cleaned out the house
    and basement - for sale.
    I found THAT signed baseball....pristine, in it's Rawlings box !
    The date " May 20th, 1970" is written on it.
    That's the only reason I know the exact date ?
    .
    I was told by a friend -
    that there is a plaque - somewhere ? in the school -
    with my name on it ( and others ) who threw No Hitters.
    I called the school to try to get a Selfie of me - standing at that plaque
    with the signed ball in my hand.
    I wanted to do it EXACTLY today
    COVID 19.......took care of that -
    The school is closed....and nobody is answering the phone.
    Aw.....too bad.....I actually wanted my son with me, too.

    .
    So instead
    I am leaving work early today ( in honor, of my Glory Day )
    to drive over to the baseball field ( nearby, my workplace )
    and take a couple minutes, to just stand on that mound -
    holding the signed ball and reflect on that day 50 years ago !
    and the 16 year old kid
    with Hot Stuff burning his back - who threw a No Hitter.
    .
    Anyway
    That's my Glory Day....50 years ago....today !
    .
    Thanks for reading this novel !
    .
    Anybody want to write up their Glory Day, too ?....please do !
     
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  2. BlacklabberMike

    BlacklabberMike MIA

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    WTG Sunshine Ronnie Bass.
     
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  3. jamesxnj

    jamesxnj VIP Whale

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    Awesome post !!
     
  4. Breeze147

    Breeze147 Button Man

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    Incredible!
     
  5. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

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    Half way through my read of your post, Springsteen started playing in my head. :thumbsup:
     
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  6. rhinoman7

    rhinoman7 A Diamond in the Ruff

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    Awesome story!!! Thanks for sharing!!!
     
  7. Valgal

    Valgal VIP Whale

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    How wonderful. Thanks for sharing.
     
  8. hammie

    hammie VIP Whale

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    I think that’s a mic drop!

    Atomic Balm, I forgot about that stuff. Great Post Joe!

    Head over to school and see if a sympathetic security guard will let you in.

    Sometimes it’s easier to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission.
     
  9. ronc

    ronc VIP Whale

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    Great story!

    I was no sports hero; perhaps my largest moment in high school was standing in front of a very large crowd at the University of Florida Jazz Festival in 1978 and opening our high school's Jazz Band performance with a bass trombone solo. I actually ran into someone randomly a couple of years later on who told me how good it was (just found a recording of it by better players on YouTube...it was Ain't Gonna Ask No More by Toshiko Akiyoshi).

    I also starred as "Drafty Vader" in a spoof halftime show a few of us wrote...

    Kind of a "One Time in Band Camp" set of stories but damn I had some fun in those days!

    (It was kind of fun listening to the Akiyoshi piece just now...I hadn't heard it in many, many years.)
     
    Last edited: May 20, 2020
  10. Breeze147

    Breeze147 Button Man

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    Very long story short version.

    I hit a pinch hit double in extra innings to win the local Little League Championship. I was the last kid left on the bench so they had to use me for something. I grabbed they heaviest bat we had and just swung at the first pitch that looked like it might be close. Hit a liner right over the 3rd Baseman's head and into the left field corner. Kid on first was the fastest on our team and he went all the way around to score. Game over. Everyone poured onto the field and carried me off on their shoulders. This was around 1961.
     
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  11. BlacklabberMike

    BlacklabberMike MIA

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    Only thing I can think of and it's not that epic. I was on the golf team in HS and we were in the hunt for the league championship. I was playing 5th that day as I wasn't that good. Get to the 9th hole and I'm even with the guy from the other school. I drive out of bounds, then hit one in the fairway. Other guy hits 2 out of bounds and is pissed off and decides not to finish the hole. I knew enough that if he didn't finish the hole his round was invalid, so I slogged on and got I think a 7 on the par 4. I turned in my card ,but when he turned in his and said he didn't finish the last hole he was told that his team lost. like i said, nothing that great, but it felt good to contribute.
     
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  12. hammie

    hammie VIP Whale

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    I forgot about this one. About 15 years ago at a company sales meeting in Scottsdale we had a golf outing, I can't remember the name of the course, but it was pretty nice. There were about 15 or so teams, my foursome included one of the best golfers in the company which was fitting because I was one of the worst. The night before, there was a Calcutta auction of all the teams and ours went for $800, the highest bid. We were able to "buy" a half interest in our team back from the bidder for $400. It was a best ball tournament, we were allowed two mulligans and I think we had to use at least two strokes from each member of the team.

    So about halfway through the back nine, we find ourselves in a sand trap next to the green. The trap is pretty deep, the ball is about 8' from the lip and we are about 6' below the green. There is a discussion as to whether we should use up our remaining mulligan or should we play through. I speak up and suggest that we play through, after all, it would be impossible that out of the 4 of us, one of us should get it onto the green. Famous last words. We all agree, and I stood there and watch as all three team mates made terrible shots. It's up to me, no pressure. Somehow, I was able to get the ball onto the green, about 2' from the cup, I was a hero for the day and they let me sink it.

    We won the tournament and I think we each won about $200 from our half interest in our team.
     
    Last edited: May 21, 2020
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  13. Electroguy563

    Electroguy563 Vegas Joker

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    It's amazing what people can do when the chips are down.

    Great story and congratulations! Glad you found the baseball commemorating that day.
     
  14. jamesxnj

    jamesxnj VIP Whale

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    I don't have one but a bad call story..Little League..I was ok enough to pitch till my arm wore out and the coach would put me in the outfield.I could slap singles and catch flies all day long...Towns champ game he puts me in at 2nd base and I am clueless with what to do with a runner on first base.Like the first pitch goes right back to the pitcher who stops it with his glove a bit and I come up on it..runner at first trips over the bag at second...I get called for interfering with the baserunner and he gets awarded third base...Next batter brings him home for the win.Game over..
    Never forget tearing up in the dugout and blowing off the free Pepsi from the stand..Just gtfo..
    Years later I run into a teammate who told me that kid I 'tripped' was the ump's kid..
    But there is no crying in Baseball..
     
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  15. The Toddster

    The Toddster High-Roller

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    I sucked at baseball. My brother was good enough to attract limited attention from pro scouts but I was the absolute shiznits. Was also uncoordinated, small, lazy, easily distracted, and lacking in any skill, though I could run fast. Our little league had a rule that every boy had to play at least one full inning and get one turn at bat. I was always the leadoff hitter. My size helped, because I'd draw a walk if I didn't manage to strike out. Never grounded out or flew out -- I got excited if I managed a foul tip. Anyhow, if I walked I usually was given the signal to steal 2nd and the guys behind me (who didn't suck) would "knock me in." Got one hit my first season and none my second.

    Third season was more of the same until I traded in my soda bottle lens glasses for NEW & IMPROVED soda bottle lens glasses near the end of the season - went well with my bowl-ish haircut and buck teeth back then. Got 7 hits (all doubles) in my last 4 games. Figured I had nothing left to prove and retired after that major accomplishment.
     
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  16. bull1029

    bull1029 Mr. Vegas

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    Great story, Joe! My one glory day--sophomore in high school, playing a junior varsity game. I was right offensive tackle (big kid for my age), and we ran a screen pass to the right flat. My job was to block down on my man, then let him to to the QB. I then drifted to the right, waited for the halfback to catch the ball, with me in front of him. When he yelled "go," I absolutely flattened the cornerback who had come up to make the play.

    I drilled that kid, and he flew backward in a heap. The halfback was free then, and sailed down the sideline for a touchdown. The kicker is: the JV team only got one game a year filmed (the varsity team had all their games filmed). The cameraman was on that sideline, just to my right, and caught my textbook block perfectly. Later that week in practice, I got all the cudos from the coaches. Pretty good for an O-lineman. We didn't get much glory.
     
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  17. stlguy197239

    stlguy197239 VIP Whale

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    You did, indeed, throw that speedball by them.
     
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  18. watbri2016

    watbri2016 Tourist

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    Great read, thanks
     
  19. joespoolhall

    joespoolhall VIP Whale

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    Are you related to Lou Gehrig? Wow!
     
  20. Joe Strummer

    Joe Strummer VIP Whale

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    First of all......thank you for all the nice posts !
    .
    So, here's what happened when I went to the school baseball diamond -
    The main entrance to the school had a huge sign saying
    " School Grounds Closed Due To Covid 19 "
    I drove past
    I'm headed to the Baseball Field which is down the wooded block.
    I was lucky.....no gates !......I drove in and parked.
    The field area is huge and I haven't been here in about 40 yrs
    The Baseball Diamond was in the exact same spot with some structure improvements
    The field is very isolated......woods all around it.
    It's 10:30 am
    Only 2 guys in tractors cutting the vast fields
    and me
    I bring my ancient Team Signed Baseball with me.....and walk from right field
    into the infield - and stand on the mound.....seemed like a long way away to this old guy !
    The guys in the tractors look at me but keep mowing
    I thought they would yell at me ?.........nope......but did they make a phone call ?
    New back stop ( in my day - there was none ! }
    New outfield fence with with footage signs - in my day, you ran into
    the woods if somebody hit it that far - no fence )
    I walk the field for about 20 minutes......,beautiful day....beautiful memories
    washing over me
    .........and SECURITY drives up with lights flashing !
    I gear up by pulling up my Covid facemask - looking at SECURITY
    hustling over to me as I stand near first base line
    Mr. Security ( approx 30 yrs old ) is gloved up and masked up.....all in black.....everything, in black !
    He's raising his voice and telling me the field is closed.
    He walks up to me - stops 10 yds short and says " You have to leave, NOW, sir !"
    I said, " Okay....but I'd like to show you something ?..."
    I step closer to show him with the signed baseball
    He says " Sir, I want nothing to do with what you have and DO NOT move any
    closer to me !.....keep your 6 ft distance and leave , NOW !"
    I was smiling under my mask - at this situation
    I said " But I have to show SOMEBODY this baseball ?"
    Again....he tells me " I want nothing to do with your baseball."
    I hold the ball out ward toward him
    I said " READ THIS !"
    I was surprised he could read it from such a distance ?
    He reads aloud " No - Hitter "
    I said " And read the date !"
    He reads the date
    I said " That was 50 yrs ago on this very date, exactly !"
    He calms down a bit and says
    " So, you are Alumni ?.....but sir, I'm glad you showed me that ball -
    I respect you, now.......um....you went to school here,"
    " Yes, I did....and I lived right up that hill in a faculty house."
    ( My father was Athletic Director )
    He's much calmer, now
    He says " Sir, I'll give you a few minutes and then you have to leave, okay ?"
    I replied " No, I'm gonna leave now.....I'm done here......at least I showed
    somebody the damn ball.....so long....thanks !"
    I turn away -walk up first baseline toward right field and my parked car
    And Mr Security - yells over to me
    " Hey ?.....a No Hitter !.....huh ?.......I played some ball, too !"
    I looked over my shoulder and just smiled......kept walking.
    .
    Glad I brought the ball.
    .
    Thanks
    ...and no more posts on this, I promise
     
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