Happy New Year!

Peter on the right at a Phillies game

Peter has been my baseball buddy for the past 3 years and a pool buddy for many more than that. He shared this story.......

Peter's Best Rosh Hashanah 

A number of years ago in the early-mid 1990s, I was doing a craft show in Evanston, IL (I am a furniture maker).  It happened that this was the last time the High Holy Days were as early as they are this year.   Erev Rosh Hashanah was prior to Labor Day that year.  In fact, Erev Rosh Hashanah and  the evening service for Rosh Hashanah was the night of the end of the show, Sunday night.   

The friends I was staying with, in Willamette, had obtained a ticket for me to go to services with them.  A few of my friends in the show who were Jewish, and not going home the next morning made me an offer.  It turned out that The Cubs were at home, and playing a day game the next day, and they asked if I wanted to celebrate Rosh Hashanah at Wrigley Field.  My friends said go---how often could I go to a gem at Wrigley? 

Walter, Tobie, and Peter at School Lane House Pool

So, we went.  We got there as early as we could buy tickets, got great seats, second level, right  behind home plate, right below the announcer's booth (During the seventh inning stretch, Harry Carey led the singing of Take me out to the ballgame) and we could hear Harry without his microphone.  They were playing the Pirates, back when they were a good team.*  The wind was blowing out.  There were a bunch of home runs.  The Pirate homers got thrown back onto the field, and the Cubs stole defeat from the jaws of victory.  

Probably my most memorable Rosh Hashanah.

L'shanah Tovah to all. Play Ball! 

* How bout them Pirates in 2013!

Baseball 101 with the Phillies

I have given myself the best birthday present ever!!!!

My friend Gayle and I, along with 150 other Phillies fans, have signed up for this unique event called Baseball 101.

Organized for women and by women of all ages, we look forward to learning about the Phillies organization from the equipment to the food to...


Well, let's take a look.

We arrive around 9:00 to check in and have a breakfast downstairs. The mood is a combination of excitement and sheer amazement at this sold out event. All these women with Phillies spirit, bouyed by the 2 wins of the previous night, but also perplexed, angry, sad about the firing of Charlie Manuel, the manager for the past 9 years. Each of us is on a 'team' for the day.

Gayle and I are on team Carlos Ruiz, "Chooch" the beloved catcher.

The lineup

The Lineup

• Take part in an interactive clinic taught by the Phillies coaches! Includes on-field stations featuring proper baseball techniques and skills
• Access behind the scenes locations such as the Phillies Batting Cages and bullpens
• Get the inside scoop from a broadcaster and Phillies personnel  Larry Andersen, Scott Franzke and Jim Jackson.
• Participate in a Q&A session with a Phillies player and a Phillies executive Carlos Ruiz and Erik Kratz, Ruben Amarro Jr.
• Special appearances by the Phillie Phanatic,  other Phillies guests
• Special pregame festivities including a Phillies Meet & Greet and a Baseball 101 pre-game party hosted by 98.1 WOGL's Valerie Knight and Frank Lewis at the Phillies Tent.
• Exclusive Baseball 101 dinner buffet  relaxing time outdoors under the tent
• Chance to participate in a special on-field pregame check presentation (participants selected by drawing that day)
  PLUS
• Complimentary preferred parking
• All participants receive an exclusive Baseball 101 T-shirt  totally great
• You'll also receive a Phillies gift bag with an autographed souvenir! totally great
• Plus a silent auction and raffle, lunch in the Diamond Club and more!  I won a Cole Hamels autographed baseball and a dance on the dugout with the Phanatic
• A ticket to that night's Phillies game  Not the best game, but they do go on to win the next two in dramatic fashion at the bottom of the 9th and then 8 out of 10.

Mudding the baseballs

I join in the fun to rub mud on the dozens of baseballs to be used in the game tonight.

Our first stop on the tour is the media room.We are already star struck even with no one on the podium, realizing that we have all seen  this room on our TV screens, watching many a sorrowful or exhuberant manager  at that table waiting to be grilled by the press.

We are greeted by the man who manages all the equipment.  I wonder what could be so interesting about cleaning towels  and underwear, caring for player uniforms, hanging out with the DHL driver who will take the umpires' trunks to the next city. Yet, I am surprised how instantly fascinating this is when described by someone who clearly loves the job that he has been doing for over 20 years. He displays a great sense of humor and professionalism,  a common attitude expressed by everyone we meet during the day, from coach to secretary.

Did you know that each baseball is personally rubbed with mud  that comes from a 'secret' place on the New Jersey side of the Delaware River? The mud is cleaned and inspected so that it has the consistency of thick chocolate pudding. Each team buys 2-3 small tubs for the season to mud dozens of baseballs for each game.

The Phillies' equipment manager does this every day, which he keeps claiming is his least favorite job. Of course we all want to help him out!

The next Pitching Phenom

The day is perfectly suited for our next activity: Warming up our pitching in the bullpen. We are treated to the knowledge and encouragement of the Phillies pitching staff, who give us a closeup look at how the ball is held for the different pitches. Then it is our turn, and most everyone finds the courage to throw a few. Our coach is of course, totally delighted with everything we do.