Bat Day

“Yes, yes, yes, oh, yes!” Roy exclaimed as he jumped up an down like a Pogo stick. He couldn’t believe his Uncle Roy, who was his favorite, had surprised him with the willingness to take him to Yankee Stadium on Bat Day.

The bat was free with the price of admission. Even as a ten year old, Roy knew that much from the commercials on TV. They would sit in the bleachers, but Roy didn’t care.

But it was a Thurman Munson bat! The big, burly, affable catcher was undoubtedly his favorite player. Thurman didn’t run that well, but, boy, could he hit.

Roy liked how the catcher was such an important position in baseball, protecting home plate, helping the pitcher decide what pitches to throw and throwing guys out from the other team trying to steal second base. Roy couldn’t believe they were even allowed to steal — that was just plain wrong.

Roy and his uncle walked down to Yankee Stadium, since he lived only blocks away. What they discovered was a madhouse — thick crowds fighting to get close to the ticket windows. Roy watched his uncle climb over the steel bars, leapfrogging the crowd, to reach to a ticket window.

Jackpot!

When he saw his uncle holding up the tickets, he jumped up and down screaming “Yes, yes, yes, oh, yes!”