I was generous with my balls last night.

@TheHorse (238280)
Walnut Creek, California
July 23, 2019 10:40am CST
I went to a baseball game with my friend and his wife last night and had a pretty special night. During batting practice, I caught two "home runs" and a third "on the rebound." I gave one baseball away to a kid who was standing near me during batting practice, trying to get a ball, and another to my friend and his wife, to celebrate the evening. Another kid I was standing next to during batting practice (he had his glove) followed me up into the bleachers and said, "Sir, it was really nice talking baseball with you." We shook hands and I said "I enjoyed our conversation as well." He (he was about 12) and I had analyzed each batting practice fly ball, and I gave him tips on how to catch a batting practice ball at a baseball game. I wanted to catch one more ball so I could give it to him (if he didn't catch one himself--I could tell from his conversation that he played youth baseball). To top it off, the San Francisco Giants (my #1 team) came from behind to beat the Chicago Cubs (my #2 team) 5-4, with a three-run rally in the 8th. A special evening with good friends.
21 people like this
18 responses
CarolDM
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
23 Jul 19
Just cleaned up my coffee, spit it out after reading your title. You made that child's day, he will always remember that moment. How special.
4 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238280)
• Walnut Creek, California
27 Jul 19
@andriaperry I'm so evil and manipulative, aren't I? What "catchy title" can I use today?
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238280)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Jul 19
I hope he's a baseball fan for life.
1 person likes this
Angie
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
24 Jul 19
I was smiling too and said I got to read this one.
1 person likes this
Four Walls
@FourWalls (86606)
• United States
23 Jul 19
Oh, so you’re the reason the Cubs lost last night!!
4 people like this
John Roberts
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
23 Jul 19
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238280)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Jul 19
I was being nice to both Giants and Cubs fans. But I was sending up major "close game" karma.
1 person likes this
~Jodi~
@jeanena (2198)
• Bucklin, Kansas
23 Jul 19
It sounds like you had a great evening with your friends. I love football (KC Chiefs) but I have never been much on baseball, but my mom loved watching it. Her Team The Royals.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238280)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Jul 19
I went to a Royals game in KC with my girlfriend. She was from Overland Park. We met in a co-ed softball tournament in Iowa! If my local favorites are "out of it," I root for the Chiefs and/or Royals.
Heather Echola
@GardenGerty (169448)
• United States
24 Jul 19
It sounds like a wonderful summer evening.
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238280)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Jul 19
It really was, one I won't forget.
1 person likes this
Leiann Lynn Rose Spontaneo
@Spontaneo (14699)
• United States
23 Jul 19
I do not know much about sports. However, I am glad you had a nice time at the baseball game! Were any of the baseball players cute?
2 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238280)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Jul 19
@Spontaneo Handsome fella...good shortstop too! But kind of weak with the stick, if you know what I mean. Only hitting .238 as of the other night.
1 person likes this
Leiann Lynn Rose Spontaneo
@Spontaneo (14699)
• United States
24 Jul 19
@TheHorse That's OK... I believe you...
1 person likes this
Leiann Lynn Rose Spontaneo
@Spontaneo (14699)
• United States
27 Jul 19
@TheHorse I am clueless. All I know about sports teams is that they throw the ball, they catch the ball and they argue about the ball.
1 person likes this
sophie a
@sophie09 (34230)
• Indonesia
24 Jul 19
hope you enjoy your day ^^
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238280)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Jul 19
Yesterday? Or today? Today I went to the dentist.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238280)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Jul 19
@sophie09 It was good overall!
1 person likes this
sophie a
@sophie09 (34230)
• Indonesia
24 Jul 19
@TheHorse today my friend.
1 person likes this
Ithink
@Ithink (10106)
• United States
18 Aug 19
That is so nice of you and a good memory for a kid or an adult for that matter! Hope he got to catch a ball!
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238280)
• Walnut Creek, California
18 Aug 19
I hope so too. Not on that day, but on another.
1 person likes this
Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (135643)
• Marion, Ohio
24 Jul 19
Glad you caught a few balls.
1 person likes this
Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (135643)
• Marion, Ohio
24 Jul 19
@TheHorse I have never enjoyed baseball too much. Except when my kids were playing in school. The young ones make everything fun to watch.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238280)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Jul 19
@wolfgirl569 With the young ones, it's especially fun when they are chasing a fly ball and get distracted by a cute gopher poking around his hole. I've seen parents get frustrated as the other team's 7-year-old rounds the bases.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238280)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Jul 19
It was actually exciting for me. I was an outfielder in my high school and college days, and a "bleacher bum" when I lived in Chicago. I used to catch balls at Wrigley Field and send them to my niece and nephew in Montana.
1 person likes this
Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
23 Jul 19
I'm glad you had an extra special day at the ball field and gave away baseballs you caught too.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238280)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Jul 19
Yeah, I'd kind of like to make that a "thing." Maybe I'll become a San Francisco "Bleacher Bum" and give all the balls I catch to kids in the stands. I'm still a good outfielder, even in my old age.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238280)
• Walnut Creek, California
27 Jul 19
@just4him I'm heading off to Montana soon, plus I think the Giants are out of town now.
1 person likes this
Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
27 Jul 19
@TheHorse That would be great to do. I'm sure you are.
1 person likes this
Angie
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
24 Jul 19
Aww that was so nice to share your balls.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238280)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Jul 19
I've always been a bit shy about such things, but I actually already have quite a collection. If I keep being a Bay Are Bleacher Bum, I'll keep giving the baseballs away away to kids.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238280)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Jul 19
@andriaperry If I catch enough, I will provide you with some serious balls.
1 person likes this
Angie
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
24 Jul 19
@TheHorse I will have to say I do not have any balls.
1 person likes this
Chris Bergstrom
@chrissbergstrom (10767)
• Banks, Oregon
24 Jul 19
What a great day for you and so generous of you to talk baseball with the young boy and to share you're balls caught with others that is great.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238280)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Jul 19
It was an enjoyable day for me. And yeppers, I enjoy being a good role model. Don't get me wrong. I can curse like a sailor around some of my friends. But around kids, I "do the right thing."
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238280)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Jul 19
@chrissbergstrom I have noticed that.
1 person likes this
Chris Bergstrom
@chrissbergstrom (10767)
• Banks, Oregon
25 Jul 19
@TheHorse it's important when and children to be a good role model as sadly some kids have very few
1 person likes this
Hanni Harel
@Hannihar (130150)
• Israel
5 Aug 19
@TheHorse Sounds like you had a good time and him calling you sir was something. He sounds like a polite kid.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238280)
• Walnut Creek, California
18 Aug 19
He was a good kid. I want to go back. May check the schedule today.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238280)
• Walnut Creek, California
19 Aug 19
@Hannihar When it's a 12-year-old boy, I'm OK with it.
1 person likes this
Hanni Harel
@Hannihar (130150)
• Israel
19 Aug 19
@TheHorse I hope you are able to go back there. Do you like the fact that he called you sir?
1 person likes this
ihasaquestion
@ihasaquestion (8273)
•
24 Jul 19
I prefer wrestling.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238280)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Jul 19
Real wrestling?
The Horse
@TheHorse (238280)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Jul 19
@ihasaquestion I was a good wrestler in High School--tops in my weight class. But I never really did enjoy it. I preferred team sports. When I was introduced to "professional wrestling" on UHF in Chicago, my feelings were hurt because thought they were poking fun at a sport at which I excelled.
1 person likes this
ihasaquestion
@ihasaquestion (8273)
•
25 Jul 19
1 person likes this
Simone
@Janet357 (75638)
•
24 Jul 19
looks like you are a flexible person. whether they are young or old, you can get along with them.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238280)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Jul 19
I like horses and kids better than most adults. But I can get along with anyone if they're open to conversation.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238280)
• Walnut Creek, California
29 Jul 19
@Janet357 I've ridden most of my life. I had (owned) only one horse, but I had her for 23 years. She passed away a couple of years ago at 35.
Simone
@Janet357 (75638)
•
25 Jul 19
@TheHorse do you have a lot of horses? i did only ride a pony.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (381889)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Jul 19
That would have ended up a great evening. It doesn't take much sometimes to turn an 'ordinary' time into a special time.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238280)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Jul 19
It was a special night.
1 person likes this
John Roberts
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
23 Jul 19
You need to go when the Dodgers are there then the home run balls will fly.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238280)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Jul 19
They have some power, eh? Two of the Cubs were hitting balls to the base of the "glove" behind the left field bleachers, which means at least 460 feet, I think.
1 person likes this
Janeth
@janethwayne (5191)
• Philippines
24 Jul 19
Good that you enjoyed it.
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238280)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Jul 19
It was fun on many levels.
MrsJ
@SophiaMorros (5044)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
23 Jul 19
You're entirely too nice to be real. You know that, don't you?
1 person likes this
The Horse
@TheHorse (238280)
• Walnut Creek, California
24 Jul 19
I could change your opinion of me by linking you to some of my favorite music. Heh. Have you ever heard of Warren Zevon? Frank Zappa? Root Boy Slim? But seriously, I've caught enough batting practice home runs to fill a cabinet. Why not give some to kids and (hopefully) make them baseball fans (and maybe giving people) for life.