The Cooperstown game scheduled for today was rained out. The rain also canceled a tournament scheduled for tomorrow at Doubleday Field.
Therefore, the Shasky's have the field for tomorrow, Sunday at 1:00pm. They have 16 players and are looking for additional players. If you want to play, call Tony the Grock at 452-3604.
The weather forecast was promising, but Doubleday Field is temperamental and the groundskeeper even more so. I wasn’t sure we would play today, but I hopped in the car and took a ride to Cooperstown. Worst case scenario, a visit Ommegang brewery and Cooperstown Brewing to restock the beer fridge (sorry TM, no Hurricane Kitty) and grab some lunch at Brook’s BBQ.
I arrived promptly at 1:00pm. It was the first time I found an empty parking spot behind Doubleday Field w/o having to drive around 10 minutes hoping someone would leave. A good omen.
I walked onto the field and listened to the greetings. Hi “Fish”, “Ace”, “Knuckles”, “Pounder”, “Wolfie”, “Irish” (my favorite), “Dirt”, “Knickers”. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t have a name. I offered up “Flounder”. Sacrilege! You can’t give yourself a nickname. Someone replied with the obvious response. “Pinto!” It didn’t work.
Time for the ground rules.
-Nobody in the dugouts except for the players. -Everyone must remain in the dugout when batting. -Only one person allowed in the on-deck circle. -The on-deck person had to wear a helmet. -And the most important rule – NO sunflower seeds. The penalty? A seat next to the head groundskeeper in the stands. I saw his point….. 180 games X three games per day. That’s a lot of sweeping.
I chatted with the groundskeeper before the game started. I asked him for his thoughts about Doubleday field hosting concerts (Paul Simon on 7/4, Bob Dylan on 7/30). It hit a nerve. Front end loaders setting up the stage in centerfield crushed the water pipes beneath the field. Water started to puddle during the 7/4 concert. To minimize the impact or repairs, He dug out the damaged pipes - by hand. Heavy equipment tends to leave ruts. IMO - Hosting concerts desecrates (in many ways) this hallowed ground. At least he's allowed to put fencing around the infield to protect it.
Onto the game.
It was so-so, (I had seven plate appearances in a nine inning game) but who cared. It was a sunny day at Doubleday Field. Actually, errors were the highlight. The ensuing ridicule was good natured and witty.
After 6 ½ innings, both teams gathered at home plate and serenaded the spectators in the grandstand with “Take me out the ballgame”.
We had an 11-6 lead going into the 9th inning, but “Ace” was taking the hill to close the game. We knew 11 runs wasn’t enough. We scored three more runs and built an eight run cushion for “Ace”. “Ace” then lived up to expectations. He was rocked. If the field wasn’t dry in the top half of the inning, it was when the game was over. Runners kept circling the bases like a fan hovering over the field. The kid operating the scoreboard got a cramp in his finger. After we got the last out, I look out to the left field scoreboard. 14-12. The end of a great day.
The umps were great, too. They always made the wrong call at the right time.
I was invited to play again next year and gladly accepted.
Kevin. Likely the umps were Bobby Hall and Lenny Jackson. The important thing for a Board Member like yourself to notice is the very thin, cool, micromesh beige umpire shirts that the Sus Valley Boys wear. This, as opposed to the eight-ply, unbreathable, red rubber shirts that we must wear like a ball and chain on hot humid afternoons at the "Big Easy Ballfield" (a.k.a. SUNY)-where it is either ungodly hot and humid or flooded.
Joe-the heads groundkeeper at Doubleday has been on the job for about twenty years. They treat that field how our wives wish we would treat them-but don't! Like they are the only thing that matters at that point and time.
I played with the Shaskies over there two years ago. It was a great time. My Shasky nickname...
