I was having one of those seasons you dream about as a Little Leaguer. It was my first taste of actually being good at sports, Mike Vaccaro writes.
I was having one of those seasons you dream about as a Little Leaguer. It was my first taste of actually being good at sports. I was 12 years old.
Background: The best hitter on the Mets in those years was their first baseman, Willie Montanez. He played my position. And he was, putting it mildly, a hot dog. When he’d hit a home run, Willie did it his way: He hopped on first base. He hopped on second base. He hopped on third base. Then he walked home from third. I thought it was awesome.
Then I looked to where my father had been standing behind the backstop. He wasn’t there. I went looking for him. Not there. I was starting to panic when Mr. D doubled back.Willie Montanez #25 of the New York Mets plays defense during an MLB game against the Cincinnati Reds on April 30, 1978 at Shea Stadium in Flushing, New York.“He said it was a nice day, maybe you should walk home.”
So I really do understand how a great moment playing sports can overtake you. I do. I’ve been there. Maybe the West Hempstead Little League isn’t the National League, but in my world it was.
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