A Last Game of Catch

jacklamabe65

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Because it is an off-day, I thought I would share this piece I wrote recently when I had the honor as a boy of playing catch with Laughing Larry Doyle, the captain of the 1912 New York Giants (who lost to the Red Sox in the World Series that year). It turned out to be one of those moments where the past ends up beating inside of you like a second heart. Enjoy! https://slkelly.org/2016/06/13/a-last-game-of-catch/
 

Norm loves Vera

Joe wants Trump to burn
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Dec 25, 2003
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Wow..well written. I thoroughly enjoyed the visual of your day as it brought me back to memories of playing catch with my grand dad. Thanks for sharing.
 

jacklamabe65

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PLagosi

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Jan 10, 2006
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Thank you Shaun for the baseball writing skills that bring back such thick memories of our favorite pastime.
We grew up in Seymour ,CT, with my dad listening to the Sox on the radio in the mid to late fifties. He even took us to Fenway to see the laughable losers until the Impossible Dream team etched the B emblem in our hearts forever. He told us stories of taking the train to see the Sox play the NYY's at old Y Stadium just a few years after the War ended, and seeing Boston players on the train. He shook players hands and saw his idol,#9, hit BP.
He died in 2013, saying he hoped the Sawx would go all the way. He would love the current edition of the team.
Cheers
 

jacklamabe65

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Thank you Shaun for the baseball writing skills that bring back such thick memories of our favorite pastime.
We grew up in Seymour ,CT, with my dad listening to the Sox on the radio in the mid to late fifties. He even took us to Fenway to see the laughable losers until the Impossible Dream team etched the B emblem in our hearts forever. He told us stories of taking the train to see the Sox play the NYY's at old Y Stadium just a few years after the War ended, and seeing Boston players on the train. He shook players hands and saw his idol,#9, hit BP.
He died in 2013, saying he hoped the Sawx would go all the way. He would love the current edition of the team.
Cheers
Thank you, my friend.
 

pk1627

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Gorgeous article.

Makes me wonder if baseball should move the fences back. 483 feet to center. I’d have loved to see a game at the Polo Grounds.
 

sheamonu

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Nov 11, 2004
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Well done Shaun - I recently had a book published here in Ireland that has some things you might like. Message me your address and I'll send you a copy.
 

Norm Siebern

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May 12, 2003
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Wow, Monbo! The same grandfather who gave grief to the boo-birds when they razzed Scottie in 1968?
Jack, you're getting Monbo's Grandad confused with mine. It was my Grampa Harvey who fended off the boo-birds in 1968 when the Boomer wasn't hitting his weight. I have recounted that story here a few times, and it is in the portion of the "Win it for...." Thread that is in "Why Not Us" by Leigh Montville.

You posted a great read, BTW. Very enjoyable. Thanks for sharing.
 

jacklamabe65

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Jack, you're getting Monbo's Grandad confused with mine. It was my Grampa Harvey who fended off the boo-birds in 1968 when the Boomer wasn't hitting his weight. I have recounted that story here a few times, and it is in the portion of the "Win it for...." Thread that is in "Why Not Us" by Leigh Montville.

You posted a great read, BTW. Very enjoyable. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Norm! I knew it was one of the old-timers! God bless....
 

Hawk68

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Feb 29, 2008
172
Massachusetts
Because it is an off-day, I thought I would share this piece I wrote recently when I had the honor as a boy of playing catch with Laughing Larry Doyle, the captain of the 1912 New York Giants (who lost to the Red Sox in the World Series that year). It turned out to be one of those moments where the past ends up beating inside of you like a second heart. Enjoy! https://slkelly.org/2016/06/13/a-last-game-of-catch/
Thanks for writing and sharing a moving piece. It gave me an opportunity to reflect on my late Dad... kind, family values first, adored my Mother, his bride of seventy years, above any other and all else. I have long since surpassed all of his accomplishments, but I will ever strive to meet the standards he set and lived.

I remember all our games of catch... a tie that binds.
 

jacklamabe65

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Thanks for writing and sharing a moving piece. It gave me an opportunity to reflect on my late Dad... kind, family values first, adored my Mother, his bride of seventy years, above any other and all else. I have long since surpassed all of his accomplishments, but I will ever strive to meet the standards he set and lived.

I remember all our games of catch... a tie that binds.
Absolutely!
 

Skiponzo

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Thanks Jack. That, as always, was a very good read.

Unlike most of you my father did not hand down the game to me, nor did we ever play a game of catch. However, reads like this make me think of the memories I am creating with my boys. Things I hope they will remember in my dying days....I know I will.
 

jacklamabe65

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Thanks Jack. That, as always, was a very good read.

Unlike most of you my father did not hand down the game to me, nor did we ever play a game of catch. However, reads like this make me think of the memories I am creating with my boys. Things I hope they will remember in my dying days....I know I will.
Good for you, my friend!
 

Dehere

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Apr 25, 2010
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Thanks! People forget how close it was to the old Yankee Stadium.
Supposedly the original Yankee Stadium was built where it was specifically so Giants ownership (Stoneham?) would have to see it from their seats at Polo Grounds. One of the great middle fingers in sports history.