Baseball

Tonight is the home opener for the New York Yankees.

Correction - the defending World Series Champion New York Yankees. 

I got an email from a friend offering me seats behind home plate for $100.

I turned them down and I realize the money is not the only reason.  It's true, $100 can buy a lot of diapers, but the experience would be entirely worth it.

No, that's not the only reason.

I'd really like to get home to see my boy.

I'd also like to get home to give my wife a break.  (Not that she needs or wants one.)

For as much as I'd love to go the game, I feel like I miss a lot while I'm away.  He changes so quickly right now.  I looked at photos and realized that he's already grown a great deal.  It's quite striking.

And I only want to go to the game with him.

I know, I know, he's only four weeks old.  But I looked at a photo of my friend with his baby at the Padres opening day and I want to do that.  I want him with me.  Even if he doesn't get it, doesn't know that he's somewhere special or that there is an event happening before him that makes our summer, I want him there.  Eventually he'll get it.  Eventually he'll know that Yankee Stadium is a special place.  That going to Rockies games with Grandma and Grandpa in Denver is a treat.  He'll crave the sounds of the park and a $10 hot dog.  (It is still Yankee Stadium.  They have to cover that ridiculous payroll somehow.)

Someone asked me why I'm a Yankee fan.  I'm not from New York originally, I didn't grow up in a baseball family.  I have no ties to the team.

My answer is always the same.  Lou Gehrig.  If you've never seen Pride of the Yankees, rent it.  Go to Netflix and stream it.  As a child Lou Gehrig, was my hero because of that movie.

Okay, Gary Cooper as Lou Gehrig...

Lou still stands out as the model for a perfect ball player, and a near perfect man.  So when I think of the Yankees I think of a line of great players and noble gentlemen from Lou to DiMaggio to Mantle to Mattingly to Jeter.    Recently I read an interview with Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens and he mentioned that he saw the 1932 World Series game in which Babe Ruth "called" his home run.  Lou came up to bat directly after Ruth and hit one of his own.

My first reaction was, "You got to see Lou play."

When I'm that age, I'm sure someone will remark, "You got to see Jeter play."

Yes I did.  With my son in his Derek Jeter t-shirt and Yankee hat.  Both of which he already has...  at four weeks old.