Who You Know

One of the things that I have really grown to appreciate about baseball is that the players are accessible. If you get to the ball park early, you can go right down to the rail and watch the players warm up. I am not sure why the ushers are so cool about this, but I have found it to be true in several ball parks - your seat doesn't matter. You can get right up next to the field before the game. Sometimes you get ignored. Sometimes you get a wave. Sometimes you get a practice ball thrown up in the stands. And sometimes you get autographs. Frank has a nice collection of balls that he's gotten at games this way.

When I took Frank to Kansas City to see the Royals and Yankees play, our plan was to put the boys in Husker shirts with a Royals and Yankees hat. We beelined for the Yankee's bullpen and waited patiently. I saw Joba walk out and sent Frank into action. He went right down against the rail and held his hand out with a ball and pen for an autograph. As soon as the crowd realized it was Joba, there was a swarm around the railing in front of him. Joba gamely signed all sorts of things, but he didn't see Frank, because he was surrounded by adults who were much bigger and more aggressive than him. Joba walked to the dug out and the crowd thinned. A Yankee that we didn't recognize saw Frank's ball and took it from him and signed it. (We have no idea who it is - we can't read his name and the number was not in the roster.) Frank though, was delighted with the whole thing. He almost got Joba's signature and he did get a Yankee signature. Well alright then.

I figured we would try again at another game. Or get an opportunity in Lincoln someday.

But Joba's not just from Lincoln, he's from Kearney, too.

My Grams told her neighbor the story about Frank's Yankees game. And her neighbor happens to be the UNK baseball coach. He went home and came back with an autographed ball for Frank.

It came in the mail while I was out. Frank opened it right up and knew exactly what it was. He had already changed his display of baseballs by the time I got home. (I meant to get a picture of the self-forged Babe Ruth ball.) We'll get a case just for the Joba ball, which I think is a good idea, but until then it will sit with the Buck O'Neill ball and the Mystery Yankee ball.

From our trip in September 2007: