The link above will show the replay and I will set the table for the story about what took place one special day on the Campus of James Madison University.
Living by the words Duke, UVA and where I stay in regards to who I pull for, I have followed four Baseball ⚾️ teams in my 62 years. Being born on a Navy base south of Oakland, California I learned the game of Baseball from Charlie Finley and his swinging A’s.
There will be more about Joe Rudi, Vida Blue, Catfish Hunter, Reggie Jackson and the rest of the cast of characters that ruled the early 1970’s later.
My Father, Charles T Carter spent right at 30 years in the Navy and we moved ALOT. One place we stayed was down in Albany, Georgia so it became the A’s and the Atlanta Braves. Back then the Braves crushed Home Run after Home Run but other than spitballing Phil Neikro, had zero pitching. They were bad for a long stretch but loyalty rules.
My Father had a deep relationship with God and this allowed him to deal with four strange kiddos and one fairly normal one without losing his temper.
Fast Forward to 1992 and when I tell this story, I lead with the question – who scored the most famous run in the history of the Atlanta Braves ? If I get an answer other than Sid Bream, there’s no point in telling the story because you’re not talking to a Braves fan.
The third team is whatever team that Greg Maddux ( fourth and final one being the Seattle Mariners) so I was doubly invested in Game 7 of the National League Championship. Atlanta was trying to rally past Barry Bonds and the Pirates when THE PLAY happened.
When Bream scored the run I lost my mind and sadly for me I was watching the game at my parents house. Connect the dots to get the response from my Father after being awaken by my outburst.
Now we will jump forward another decade and I’m blogging about a college game between Liberty University and JMU. I was there with Mr John Leonard, someone who I respect to the moon and back. Leonard is a separate story that will be included as well as he takes knowledge of Americas Pastime to a entire different planet.
We are a few innings into the game when I look up in the stands and notice a familiar face. All of the sudden I have a ridiculous grin on my face, to the point John asked me what I saw ?
There was a man that was watching 👀 the game with great attention so I waited to the half inning before turning my attention towards him. With a great deal of gusto, I pointed to him and shouted, ” My Father only yelled at me one time in my life and it was your fault.”
Without hesitation, he shouted back, I’ve got one question for you Buddy, were you screaming for me or against me?”
I quickly replied back, ” For you for sure!”.
Realizing what just happened, John suggested that I go get his autograph but I replied that I got to tell my Sid Bream story to Sid Bream so that was better than any autograph.
Bream was there watching his Son play for the Flames and by doing so, he made my day, week, month !
Editing Note 📝 – if this was a book about Basketball 🏀, I would add my telling Jay Bilas story to Jay Bilas.
A.S.P.N on The Hill 