"In the Big Inning..."

Genesis 1:1 - Don Ott Paraphrase Edition

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I went to my first Major League baseball game in August of 1967. My folks loaded us up

in the Vista Cruiser and drove down to California from Washington. I can remember

crossing over the Golden Gate Bridge, anticipating a trip to Disneyland later that week.

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But what we did first really impacted a 7-year-old baseball fan. We went to Candlestick

Park to see the Giants play the Cardinals. Out there in centerfield was Willie Mays. In

fact, there were no fewer than 5 Hall of Famers on the field that day, but #24 was the

guy. The Giants lost. I cried. And went home with an extra-small gray t-shirt with #24 on

the back. I dreamed of meeting him someday.

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Fast forward to August 9, 2002. Barry Bonds, wearing #25, hit his 600th career home run at the Giants' new stadium. I was at the game as a fan. But the next day I'd be covering the day game as a fill-in reporter for ESPN's online coverage. I got to the stadium early...and no one was in the press box. One of the staff members said, "You better get downstairs now. There's a press conference." So I raced down to the clubhouse level, not knowing what was going on.

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I plopped down just in time to watch Bonds walk in, flanked by the other two living 600-home-run-hitters. There, just a few feet away, on either side of Barry, sat Willie Mays and Hank Aaron.

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The 7-year-old in me took over.

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I'm not sure I heard much that went on during the press conference (how very professional of me), because I was plotting how I'd untangle myself from the rest of the media to get to the exit before Willie did. "I'll just stand there, and as he goes by, I'll stick out my hand and say, 'Hi Willie.'" (Great tactical thinking!)

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The press conference ended. I moved quickly to the doorway. And Willie Mays went out the other way.

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"Rats!" I said, too loudly. And a deep voice next to me said, "What's the matter, kid?"

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It was Hank Aaron.

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Feeling very sheepish, I shook his hand, introduced myself. "Any relation to Mel," Hank asked. I paused, "Distantly," I said. "So what's the problem," Hank asked again.

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"Well...I've covered the team for many years," I said. "And I've been a fan since I was a kid...I thought I might get to meet Willie Mays today." And Hank Aaron smiled at me. Hammerin' Hank Aaron, the all-time homerun king (at the time) smiled AT ME, and said, "Wait here."

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He came back a couple minutes later with Willie Mays in tow. "Willie, this is Don. He's been trying to meet you for years. Big Giants fan, and related to Mel Ott (really, really, distantly)."

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Willie Mays stuck out his hand and said, "Say hey, kid." Then he said he had to go, leaving me standing there, mouth open, next to Hank Aaron. He was smiling. 

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I looked at him, said thank you and then said aloud, "I just got introduced to Willie Mays by Hank Aaron?" He laughed. "Yes, I guess you did. That's pretty cool, right?"

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So we chatted a few minutes. I told him about taking a picture of our TV the day he hit homerun #715 against the dodgers (lower case on purpose...I'm a Giants fan). He told me to find the picture and send it to him. He'd sign it and send it back. (Note: I'm still looking for the picture, and I still have his business card.)

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Now...I'm sure there is a spiritual lesson in here somewhere. Honestly, I'm not sure what it is. But I do know I've told that story to dozens of people during baseball conversations, and most of them listen and say things like, "That's awesome" or "Amazing" or "You're so blessed."

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I am. I've loved the game of baseball since before I can remember. My favorite birthday gifts were those oversized red bats. I played Little League and still play softball every week. I covered the Giants for over a decade, including the World Series during that wonderful 2002 season.

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But if you ask me my favorite story...it will always be the day Hank Aaron introduced me to Willie Mays.