Baseball and Semi Trucks
“The one constant through the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has been rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds us all that once was good and could be good again” Field of Dreams 1989. They don't make movies like that about football.
I am a baseball fan and I am looking forward to listening to the World Series. There, I admitted it. I am a baseball fan. There is nothing like listening to baseball on the radio, while driving a great truck. When I first started driving truck I listened to baseball on the clear channel AM stations. KMOX, WBAL, WLW, WGN, I had a choice of games to listen to every night. Gaps in the action led to stories from the likes of Harry Caray, Ernie Harwell and Jack Buck. Gaps in the truck made the background noise. Satellite radio has made the signal clearer and manufacturing technology has made the trucks quieter.
I try to pick favorite teams. As a Cubs' fan, I think the baseball gods would strike me down if I chose to cheer
for the Cardinals. Mind you, I believe that they are the best run organization in baseball. With some apologies to the San Antonio Spurs, perhaps the best run organization in all of sports. My dad was a Pirates' fan. Roberto Clemente and Ron Santo were my favorite players. Since, the Cubs are not in it this year (wait til next year) I chose to cheer for the Pirates. The Dodgers were ruled out because of their $250,000,000 payroll. The Angels were out for the same reason. The Giants, no way, they just won it 2 years ago. The Pirates were out quickly along with the Oakland A's. I had trouble choosing between the Orioles and the Royals. Who should I cheer for?
My face book friends from OOIDA (just a few miles from were the Royals play) have won me over to the Royals. They haven't won in 29 years and think that is a long time. Get over it, I'm a Cubs' fan. Many of the OOIDA writers remember the 1985 world series team with the great George Brett. I remember when Don Denkinger, a good umpire, blew the call at first base and declared Jorge Orta safe. This is the World Series when a player or umpire can be remembered for one instant. Playoff baseball combines that level of intensity with the beauty that is baseball.
Baseball does mark the passage of time. It is a game that still plays well on the radio. It has not changed that much from when I started driving almost 30 years ago. That call by Denkinger would be overturned by instant replay. Satellite radio has made it so that you no longer have to worry about losing the station. The trucks are quieter. Technology has made listening easier.
I still have baseball memorabilia from my youth. My autographed (stamped) baseball from the Cubs of my youth. There is that brick from Crosley Field. My old baseball trophies are still on the shelf in my office collecting dust. I still have my old catcher's glove. Baseball brings back memories. This week take the time to tune into baseball again. I think that you may just enjoy it, and remember what was once good and could be good again.