Munch Musings from E. 53rd and Hamm Avenue: Play Ball

I was stopped at a traffic light on Lake Rd and Dover Center heading east when I looked to my right and my view was right down the newly chalked first base line of a little league field. A simple white line was truly a thing of beauty stretching from the yellow foul pole all the way to home plate and it hit me…this is what I love the game of Baseball and why it is the TRUE pastime…a white line of chalk resonating in the sun and it held much more meaning than its appearance. Yes, some feel I get goofy over the game of baseball, but the little things stand out as beacons of sanity in a crazed world. Think of all the implications in the game one white line represents! Fair or foul? Did the ball kick up some chalk? Play the line! Was that a home run?

I was ecstatic when I received a text with the photo included here that Curtis Danburg the Guardians Vice President of Communications and Community Impact sent me.

Indeed, my paver from the original support for the Bob Feller statue that had been moved to the plaza was discovered and Curtis made sure to grab it for me. What does a brick mean? It was a tribute to the greatest Cleveland baseball player ever and a great American plus it showed support for a team I had followed ever since my Dad put me on his shoulders for a walk down W. 3rd to the ballpark on a beautiful Summer’s night with boats dotting the horizon on our great lake and the sights and sounds of the yard not far away. Walking into any baseball stadium on back-to-back nights there is no doubt the grass is greener than the day before and truly the dogs are hotter, the mustard “more brown” and the beverages colder than the day before!

It’s heartbreaking to me when I see an empty ball diamond especially in the early evening or worse, one that is overgrown. I know the season starts in the cold weather, but HS Baseball OR HS Softball does not get its fair shake in NE Ohio. If you see a game going on, stop and enjoy, support the student athletes. I have said it on more than one occasion…I always look forward to seeing you, meeting you and greeting you at the corner of Carnegie and Ontario! Now let’s get some nice weather…YES, the team deserves a break…and get some W’s too. Go Guardians. It’s time to PLAY BALL…BATTER UP!

As always, enjoy every sandwich! For now, adios Amigo…long may you run!