Gifted Writers Are Like Star Athletes
We cheer for the great ones!
A compelling article, an ending to a thrilling ballgame, or a great movie, concert, or theater production are all great examples of the creative arts. Those with compelling twists of events, high drama, and strong closing acts speak to us!
Writers and athletes are in many ways the same — creatives seeking their moment in the spotlight. Most toil their entire careers honing their skills, waiting for that one big break.
Exceptional performances in athletics and the arts are entertaining and inspirational. Powerful. Great books and ballgames can move us to emotion, and their storylines stay with us forever — likely more so in sports as the outcomes are unscripted and unpredictable.
As patrons of the arts, we all strive to be entertained and enlightened. It is why media platforms like Medium, ESPN, and Netflix have such immense appeal.
For a chosen few, the moment on stage can be magical.
Three strikes you’re out?
Growing up an hour outside of Pittsburgh, one of my earliest sports memories occurred in the fall of 1960. It was the greatest baseball game ever played.
That year, the World Series went seven games between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the New York Yankees. If you were a betting man, your money was likely on the Yankees, who outhit the Pirates two-to-one in the series.
Something else to consider: Not one batter from either side struck out in the high-scoring Game 7 — not one! It remains the only World Series game with that distinction.
In a classic David vs. Goliath showdown, the underdog Pirates clawed for runs the entire series until the final game.
Trailing 7–4 in the eighth inning, they staged a remarkable comeback, scoring five times to take a 9–7 lead into the ninth inning.
The Yankees roared right back and tied the contest in the top of the ninth.
At approximately 3:36 p.m. that Thursday in mid-October, light-hitting Bill Mazeroski settled into the batter’s box in Pittsburgh.
Then it happened.
Maz’s first swing of the bat found lighting in a bottle, and the ball traveled 430 feet over the left field wall at Forbes Field — pandemonium in Pittsburgh!
The next thing I knew, Big John from next door blew in like a twister from the west, right up our sidewalk, bellowing at the top of his lungs: “Mazeroski hit a home run! Pittsburgh beat the Yankees!”
Though it was one voice, I heard the message loud and clear — so powerful that I stood momentarily frozen in shock, of this message from a diehard Yankees fan whose world was upside down.
Caught in a tidal wave of emotion, I tried to make sense of it all. That wave spread like wildfire throughout the sports world, and my young mind could only imagine what it was like 60 miles to east.
To Hell in a Hand Basket!
To this second-grade Catholic schooler in Youngstown, Ohio, all hell had broken loose. The end of the world had to be more likely than something of this magnitude.
The never-say-die Pirates had beaten the fabled Yankees of Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris!
The fact it happened on a lifetime stage demanded the world take notice. It remains the only walk-off home run in World Series history. Maz’s moment and stellar career infield work did not go unnoticed. Forty-one years later, Bill Mazeroski was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
The message to young writers on Medium is to keep hitting solid singles. Then, when least expected, the home run will happen. And your message will be heard, maybe even boosted or lead to a book.
Big John is in the wings with a megaphone in hand!
Thank you for reading my story!
1960 World Series Information Courtesy The Most Dramatic Home Run in World Series History. Klein, Christopher. History. May 17, 2023
Stan is the author of three books, including, Against All Odds, the Donnie Hixon Story: Burt Reynolds’ Stunt Double in The Longest Yard. To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the original The Longest Yard movie, Medium members can obtain a hardcover copy of Stan’s book for the discounted price of $15, with FREE shipping to the contiguous 48 states. For a signed copy, please e-mail me at stan.byrdy@gmail.com
