Baseball, through the ages

In those long ago days, when World Series games were still played in the sunshine, I used run home from school, turn on the TV, and open up a notebook and “report” on the game.  I usually got home in time for the third or fourth inning but that was ok, because the nuns had  let us watch the first couple of innings at school.  The reports weren’t for me.  They were for Pop Mannion.  When he arrived home from work, somewhere around the seventh or the eighth, I was ready to fill him in on all that he’d missed.

It wasn’t until I was older that I realized he didn’t need my reports.  He’d been following the game on somebody’s radio at work and then on the car radio on his drive home. He never let on.  He reacted to my “reports” as if he was hearing the news for the first time.  I caught him one day.  I went to the window to see if he was on his way down the street and there he was sitting in the car in the driveway, listening to a long, tense at bat.  He didn’t want to miss the outcome while walking into the house, even though he knew I’d be jumping up and down to tell him about it.

My favorite memories of the World Series of my kidhood, then, aren’t of any particular game or series---not even of 1969---but of all them, of waiting for Pop to get home.

These days, I still “report” on the games as I watch them, at least in my head, because I still have to tell someone what happened.

Oliver Mannion, a Cardinals fan, went to bed Thursday night with the birds down 5-2 at the end of seven.  It was a school night and he had to get up at six.

I had a lot to “report” in the morning.

Last night, worn out from the week, he went to bed early, with the score tied 2-2 in the middle of the third.  I called up the stairs to tell him when Craig homered but I’m not sure he heard me. He’s sleeping in this morning.

So I’m waiting to give him my report on who won the World Series.

And that’s all I have to say about Major League Baseball’s stupid refusal to play any World Series' games in the sunshine.

Comments

[Oliver Mannion]

SSleep-in? I was the first up! I heard you snoring. I knew about the Cardinals from the computer.

[Chrisfitz88]

When were these childhood series games, Lance? They started playing night games in 1971 and five of the seven games in the 1975 series were played at night.

[Lance Mannion]

Oliver Mannion, you little sneak.

[Linkmeister]

And it was a wrong idea in 1971, too. Lance, did you see my plea for daytime games?

[actor212]

I didn't mind the night games so much during the week since you know, school and work, but weekend Series games ought to always be day time affairs.

I have fond memories of 1969 and rushing down the block to the dry cleaner after 8th period because he kept a TeeVee in the storefront window, watching Cleon Jones kneel after catching Johnson's fly ball, and jumping with delirious joy.

[Earl Bockenfeld]

White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf said Monday that Tony La Russa would be welcomed in the White Sox front office, if he wanted a job. Since Jerry had once fired Tony La Russa, I wonder how much Tony would want to return to the team that had once dissed him royally, like a Donald Trump Apprentice "YOU'RE FIRED".

It seems, to me, that a "Hall of Fame" career in baseball would place you beyond the need for that type of humiliation, for just a paycheck. Of course, Jerry says they're remained friends through all the years, but thats just the Dumper talking, and not the Dumpee speaking.

[Victoria]

My husband was watching Game 6 when I sauntered in and asked about switching over to the Daily Show. Which he did. It turned out to be one of the worst Daily Shows I have ever watched - all arrested development; embarrassing lack of discipline. Much later, I sat down at my computer and saw the headlines about what he had missed. I ran back to the living room, "I owe you a huge apology! I am so sorry! We watched that stupid night at The Daily Show and missed a great game unfolding!" He switched back to the sports channel - and there was the end of the game, playing over again. But reading your piece made me realize it might have been more fun listening to a breathless kid reporter."

[Mike]

actor212: "I didn't mind the night games so much during the week since you know, school and work, but weekend Series games ought to always be day time affairs."

But, of course, that would put the Series up against King Football (both pro and college), and thus send the event's now-miniscule national ratings into negative numbers. And Fox - which runs the show here, not Selig or anyone else at MLB - can't have that.

[actor212]

But, of course, that would put the Series up against King Football (both pro and college)

But there were prime time nationally televised football games on Sunday and the following Friday and Saturday nights, as well as much regional action.