On my list of retirement adventures is travelling to Florida to watch the Atlanta Braves in Spring training action. I got to attend my first Spring training game March 2nd when the Braves blasted the New York Yankees 11-1.
My son-in-law and I took my grandson and his friend. We sat along the leftfield line adjacent to the ball boy, whose task is to chase down foul balls and retrieve the loose ball before the next pitch.
I approached the college-aged young man and pointed out my grandson and his friend sitting in row two.
“When you get the first two balls, can I send my grandson over to you and then send his friend over when you get the next one?”
He agreed, and right away, the Yankee’s leadoff hitter, Austin Wells, hit a scorcher down the left field line into foul territory and Conner got his ball. About three innings later, Cayman got his souvenir when Austin Riley hit one our way, thanks to the kindness of the ball boy.
Landing a foul ball ranks just below catching a homerun ball as the ultimate fan experience. I’ve never had any luck. I’ve attended numerous professional baseball games, both major league and minor league, and the closest I came was in the old Atlanta Stadium when Braves shortstop Sonny Jackson fouled a ball our way. My dad reached for the falling baseball that went just over his hand. The ball bounced off a fan behind us and landed in the lap of the man sitting right by me.
Did he give the little kid the ball? Nope, he kept it.
Tim Wiles, director of research at the National Baseball Hall of Fame Library, in his article entitled “The Joy of Foul Balls,” shared about Norm Zauchin. Zauchin played first base for the Red Sox and Senators in the 1950’s.
During a minor league game in 1950, Zauchin hustled towards the stands attempting to run down a pop-up. He dove over the railing and tumbled into the fans, making an outstanding backhanded catch. When he gathered himself, he discovered he had fallen into the lap of the young, attractive Janet Mooney, attending the game with her parents. He managed to say, “Hi!” before returning to his post at first base. That brief interaction led to a dinner invitation after the game, which evolved into a romance that culminated in their wedding about a year later. Janet was the best catch Norm ever made!
Wise also told about a foul ball off the bat of Detroit Tiger George Burns in 1915. The hard-hit baseball struck a fan in the chest, igniting a book of matches in his shirt pocket. Fortunately, a nearby soda vendor doused the fire, contributing to an unforgettable day at the ballpark.
These boys will remember their first trip to CoolToday Park, even if they had no idea who these players were. I didn’t recognize many names, either. The game was a typical Spring training affair in which the starting lineup included familiar veterans and a host of prospects and minor leaguers getting some playing time.
The public address guy would announce players coming into the game, and I’d say, “I have no idea who that is.”
Braves pitchers R. Griswald, A. Perdomo, and L. Harper made appearances. Position players like C. Capel, C. Cairo, C. LeBlanc, D. McDade, G. Cooper, K. Kilpatrick Jr., S. Leon, C. Rodriguez, S. Paolini, E. Alvares and L. Williams also played. In addition, the Yankee’s filled their starting line-up and final box score with players I’d never heard of.
I didn’t know these guys, but God does. He knows their names, their spiritual condition, their hearts and their needs. He cares deeply for each one. He sent His Son to die for them.
He knows our names, also. He knows our joys and sorrows. He sees every tear that falls and knows the specific burdens we carry.
That’s why Peter encourages us to “cast all our cares on Him, for He cares for you” (I Peter 5:7). God even numbers the hairs of our head (Matthew 10:30). God searches us and knows us inside and out. He knows our sitting down and our rising up. He discerns our thoughts from afar and is acquainted with all our ways (Psalm 139). God sees us, even when others overlook us or ignore us.
And He writes our name in His line-up every day.
(David L. Chancey lives in Fayetteville, Georgia, and enjoys preaching, writing, and spending time with family. See more of his writings at www.davidlchancey.com).