A clear sky, a high seventies temperature, low humidity. Can it get any better for an afternoon baseball game? With the Cubs being the high family favorite, except if they play the Tigers for this Detroit born renegade, I was thrilled to be one of my daughter and son-in-law’s guests on their season ticket ride at Wrigley Field.
In the movie Field of Dreams, James Earl Jones as Terrence Mann says famously, “The one constant through all the years…has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time.”
Enjoying the game but not an ardent fan, I thought oh yeah sure, and thought no more. This week however made me pause with a different thought.
To say the tumult and divisiveness of the country is disheartening is an understatement. Getting ready to head to Chicago I had the radio on. A man was saying he’d formed an organization to target and wreak havoc on persons who disagreed with him adding, “they don’t deserve to live a comfortable life”. Yikes – I hope restraining orders are alive and well. What happened to the notion that you can disagree without being disagreeable? I was shocked by overt hatred and planned harassment.
Not to suggest baseball can solve all our problems, I’m not. But a sequence of events provided great counter-force to the negativity.
It started with learning about and viewing the new House of David (HoD) documentary; a worthwhile watch. While the history and many accomplishments of the religious sect were covered, a lesser-known result of its famous baseball team was showcased and also well covered in Moody on the Market’s interview with Chris Siriano, producer of the new documentary.
Siriano comments, “It was the only Caucasian team that played in the Negro Leagues. They couldn’t play in the major leagues because they didn’t cut their hair.” Incredibly popular over forty years and travelling with African American teams, they “…were a part of breaking the color barrier…before Jackie Robinson entered the major leagues.” Satchel Paige, famous in the Negro Leagues, pitched for the HoD team in the 1934 Denver Post Tournament. Inspiring story.
My second baseball inspiration came while riding the Southshore Rail to Chicago. I had time to read. An article caught my eye about the champion Mock Beroth Bombers, a softball team in North Carolina. Recognizing softball is not baseball, that became irrelevant as I read on.
The median age of the Bombers is 87. With an age range from 82 to 94, they won gold medals in 2016 and 2018 and a silver medal in 2019 in the 80-plus age group. Some safety concessions are made such as two bases, one for the baseman and one for the runner, and designated runners are possible. Well respected for their talent and coming from a wide range of backgrounds, members laugh and comment, “we just can’t stand to sit still.”
The third inspiration came at Wrigley Field, starting with the national anthem by Wayne Messmer. He’d been shot in the face 28 years ago, losing his ability to talk. Six months later he returned to sing at the Cubs game and has been singing ever since.
His powerful rendition of the anthem compelled unity and launched the crowd into the game. Good spirits and fellowship teemed through the 30,000 plus attending; happiness and comradery were palpable. Troubles forgotten for the moment, spirits were high and went over the top with a win.
Per Terrence Mann, “This field, this game: it’s a part of our past… It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again.” Maybe so.
Meanwhile, the HoD Echoes are again playing at the House of David, Eden Springs Park off M-139 at the campground entrance. Have some fun and check them out.