About 13 months ago, my grandfather passed away from nearly a two decade battle with cancer, heart issues, and pneumonia. He was an avid baseball fan. During his day, he was a semi pro baseball player. He often told me stories of how he had played with Jim Bottomly and Marty Marion and under the travelling lights against the Negro Leagues against the likes of Josh Gibson and Satchel Paige. Baseball was his life and he missed the days of old school baseball.
His favorite team was the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers. Not until near his passing did he tell me why. He believed that Branch Rickey's signing of Jackie Robinson was the olive branch and the single greatest thing ever in baseball. Though he lived in St. Louis area, he hated the Cardinals. Though deep down I knew differently as he never missed watching or listening to a game. He had become friends over the year with Red Schoendients, HOF for the Cards who often stopped in to his full serve Amoco station he owned for over 40 years. He often teased Red about the Dodgers as they were heated rivals back in the day.
The reason he would have loved this year is obvious as the Dodgers broke their streak of not making the playoffs. Then they had a chance to play the Cardinals which if you noticed from my posts that I never posted a play in that series as I am superstitious and felt he may have the ear of the guy upstairs. He probably would not have taken any phone calls or wanted to see
anyone for a week after the Cardinals won!:biglaugh:
Since the Cardinals made the WS he is probably turning over in his grave!
With his old school background, he would have loved to see Red Sox/Cards WS since we haven't had two old school teams in series at the same time since 81 with Yanks and his Dodgers. He hated the money the ballplayers made as he often raved about how much money they used to make. He hated the new ballparks as he said games should all be played during the day in ballparks like Wrigley and Fenway. He hated the modern announcers as he nearly always watched games on tv with the sound off. I watched Game 7, with the sound off, dedicating it to him though he hated Cardinals.
Whether the Cardinals win or lose in this WS, I am just happy that this postseason occurred this year after the passing of my grandfather. Though he is no longer with me, I feel like he has been the Cards angel in the outfield this post season and has been with me every step of the way this year . BOL to all and no matter what happens, this has been a postseason and season to remember!
His favorite team was the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers. Not until near his passing did he tell me why. He believed that Branch Rickey's signing of Jackie Robinson was the olive branch and the single greatest thing ever in baseball. Though he lived in St. Louis area, he hated the Cardinals. Though deep down I knew differently as he never missed watching or listening to a game. He had become friends over the year with Red Schoendients, HOF for the Cards who often stopped in to his full serve Amoco station he owned for over 40 years. He often teased Red about the Dodgers as they were heated rivals back in the day.
The reason he would have loved this year is obvious as the Dodgers broke their streak of not making the playoffs. Then they had a chance to play the Cardinals which if you noticed from my posts that I never posted a play in that series as I am superstitious and felt he may have the ear of the guy upstairs. He probably would not have taken any phone calls or wanted to see
anyone for a week after the Cardinals won!:biglaugh:
Since the Cardinals made the WS he is probably turning over in his grave!
With his old school background, he would have loved to see Red Sox/Cards WS since we haven't had two old school teams in series at the same time since 81 with Yanks and his Dodgers. He hated the money the ballplayers made as he often raved about how much money they used to make. He hated the new ballparks as he said games should all be played during the day in ballparks like Wrigley and Fenway. He hated the modern announcers as he nearly always watched games on tv with the sound off. I watched Game 7, with the sound off, dedicating it to him though he hated Cardinals.
Whether the Cardinals win or lose in this WS, I am just happy that this postseason occurred this year after the passing of my grandfather. Though he is no longer with me, I feel like he has been the Cards angel in the outfield this post season and has been with me every step of the way this year . BOL to all and no matter what happens, this has been a postseason and season to remember!
