Chapters 21 Billy's Victory
With one victory in the books, Carl Perkins felt like the Tigers were in good shape for their home opener on Thursday against the visiting Carbon City Cubs.
The Tigers had split with the Cubs last season, and Carl had heard the Cubs had dropped their opening game, 8-0, to the Ridgedale Reds.
Unfortunately, the Tigers would be without Clayton Burnside's services for the game. A Clarkson doctor had been on hand after the Tigers’ win over the Beavers and had looked at Clayton’s left wrist.
“A slight sprain and not broken,” the doctor said. “He should sit out a game or two.”
That left Carl with just ten players, but he did have a new ace in the hole and would have no trouble penciling in Billy at shortstop, especially after his shenanigans the other afternoon in Clarkson.
Carl was also counting on a big hometown crowd, especially since the Tigers would be playing under the lights for the first time this season.
The spotlight would be on the Tigers.
Carl was right about the hometown fans. Everyone showed up — including Johnsonville bank president Jonathan Holmes, who was on hand to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Holmes was instrumental in securing funding to upgrade the lights and the snack bar, and to add extra bleachers along the first- and third-base lines to make it more comfortable for fans.
Holmes, along with a few other board members, had gone out of their way to ensure that all necessary upgrades were completed in record time.
All of their hard work was for a good reason.
Johnsonville was one of three towns in the running to host this year’s district Little League championship, which would pit the top team from the southern region against the team with the best regular-season record from the northern division.
The crowd let out a roar as Jonathan Holmes gripped the baseball, toed the rubber, and hurled his offering to the plate into the glove of Tigers’ catcher Corky Calhoun.
Mayor Ezra Lockhart and Vice-Mayor Claire Thomas clapped their hands as Corky returned the ball to Mr. Holmes.
“I think we should add him to the Tigers’ roster,” Mayor Lockhart said jokingly as he motioned to Jonathan to come to the microphone, which had been temporarily set up just to the right of home plate.
“We thank you all for coming today. It’s a great turnout for our first home game of the season, and now, I would like to introduce you all to Jonathan Holmes, the president of our fine bank in town, who has a special announcement to make.”
“Thank you, Mayor Lockhart and Vice-Mayor Claire Thomas. I am pleased to inform you that Johnson Park has been selected as the site for this year’s final game to decide the District Little League Champions.
“The game will be held on the Fourth of July — on the day we celebrate our Nation’s independence. We will have our traditional parade at 10:00 a.m. The stock car races will start at one o’clock at the Johnsonville Raceway, and the ball game will begin at seven. Our fireworks display will be held on Nob Hill.
“Johnsonville is known for its hospitality and has always had a reputation for putting on the best Independence Day celebration in the region. This great town loves our country and loves baseball as well. It should be a great day for all Johnsonville residents and visitors to celebrate with us. I thank you.”
Claire stepped to the microphone and thanked Jonathan and all the other board members for their hard work.
She then introduced the teams for today’s game. First, she introduced the Carbon City Cubs as each player jogged onto the field and gathered along the third baseline.
Claire then introduced the hometown Tigers as they gathered along the first baseline.
The players removed their hats and sang along as the words of the “Star-Spangled Banner " echoed through the loudspeakers.
Claire returned to the microphone. “Let’s play ball,” she said.
Willie Turner got the starting nod for the Tigers, and the Cubs countered with right-hander Buddy Watkins, a tall, slim 12-year-old getting his first pitching assignment for Carbon City coach Wallace Albertson.
Unlike the Clarkson match-up, this game proved to be a runaway for the Tigers, thanks in part to Billy’s play at shortstop, Willie's pitching, and some timely hitting from Corky and the Jameson twins. The Tigers won easily, 9-0.
Willie tossed a two-hitter, struck out four, and walked only two Cubs hitters. At the same time, Billy threw out six runners at first base and started two double plays, hooking up with Carlos in the second inning for a twin-killing and again with the same results in the fifth inning with Lenny, who finished the game at second base.
Jimmy knocked in two runs with a double and a triple, while Corky and Chucky belted two-run homers to lead the Tigers’ hitting attack.
As for Billy, he couldn’t get the bat off his shoulder. Buddy Watkins couldn’t throw a ball over the plate when Billy was in the batter’s box.
Billy saw 12 pitches from the Cubs’ right-hander, and every pitch was in the dirt.
Still, Carl Perkins was pleased. After the first week of action, the Tigers were sporting a 2-0 record. The Tigers would savor their two wins for a few days before next week’s games at Ridgedale on Monday, Brighton on Wednesday, and at home on Friday against Red Oak.
Chapter 22
Except for a Saturday morning practice, Billy was free to enjoy a few days at home with Mom and Chipper.
The Reynolds’ home was now full of life. No more one-way conversations. It was all on the other end of the foot now. Billy talked most of the time, while his elders listened.
Billy biked up to the Clown’s Den on Sunday after church and spent most of the afternoon with his grandpa.
His grandpa told him some tall tales, and Billy figured all of them were true.
Behind every picture on the wall was a story. Billy could close his eyes, and George would take him somewhere back in time.
George told him about all the trophies and how he came to own them. He told him about the glass cases, explained their significance, and shared the story behind each item.
“Grandpa, what’s the deal with those two?”
Billy pointed first to the case containing the pitching rubber and then to the case containing the home plate.
“I saw Clem Allen throw a perfect game in Buffalo last year. After the game, they changed pitching rubbers, and I was given the old one.
As for the home plate, that’s from an old ballpark in Atlanta. The park was torn down a few years ago, and I thought it would be nice to have something to remember it by. I clowned around at that old park many times.”
George tried to pick up a ball game on the radio. “Man, there’s a lot of static today. But I think I got something. I think it’s a triple-A game in Oklahoma City...shucks...I lost it.”
“That’s okay, Grandpa. We can talk about some baseball. How come that pitcher from Carbon City couldn’t throw me a strike?”
“Billy, you’re 4-feet-8, and you have that crouch in your stance. You don’t give the pitchers much of a target. You'll be facing a lot of pitchers, especially ones with little experience, like the kid from Carbon City. They will feel uncomfortable throwing your way. But believe me, your time will come.”
“I hope so, I need a hit!”
George laughed. “Well, until you do, you just keep playing the great defense.”
I know. Dad always told me to be patient on the plate. He said not to swing at anything below the knees or above the chest. If you start chasing pitches, you’re in trouble.
George agreed with that. “That’s right, Billy. A keen eye, a good stance, and an understanding of the strike zone are key. Make those pitchers come to you.”
“Besides, Coach Perkins told me he checked the team statistics, and you’re leading the team in runs scored. He’s going to leave you in the leadoff spot. Your on-base percentage is one hundred percent, and you can’t do better than that!”
Grandpa, I have another question.”
“What is it, Billy?”
“Do you dream?”
George was startled by his grandson’s question.
“Of course I do. I think everyone dreams. There are good dreams and bad dreams. When I was a young boy, I had nightmares. I would dream about crazy things, but when we’re growing up, there is so much about life that we don’t understand. Sometimes, I think our mind plays tricks on us.”
“I’ve been having a strange dream over and over again, Grandpa. I was scared when I first started having the dream, but the last few times, I haven’t been scared at all.”
“Tell me about the dream, Billy.”
“The very first time I had the dream, I saw this little figure trying to get out of a dark hole, but now, when I have the dream, the hole is gone, and the figure is running across a field. There are clouds overhead, and the figure runs toward something at the other end of the field, but the figure never gets any closer to whatever it is at the other end.
“I hear noises, too...like a crowd yelling or something. The other night, I had the strangest dream of them all. The figure was wearing a baseball uniform with my number, eight.”
George was stunned. “Billy, I’ve had the same dream!”
“Grandpa?”
George went on to tell Billy about a similar dream he had over the past few months.
“That is strange. Billy, we’re both having the same dream. Maybe, sometime soon, we’ll be able to figure out what all this means, and when we do, it’ll all make perfect sense to us.”
George looked at his grandson and decided to ask him a question. “Billy, what other dreams do you have?”
“Well, Grandpa, I dream of playing baseball in the major leagues. It‘s the same dream my father had.
“I dream of being in the World Series. It’s the bottom of the ninth inning, and I’m at the plate. I can see the pitch as clear as day. I swing, and the ball flies out of the ballpark…over the left-field fence.
“I feel like I’m right there. I can even smell the grass, feel the bat in my hands, and hear the crowd yelling, and then I wake up.”
George smiled and said, “Now, that’s a good dream... a perfect dream. You hold on to that one.”
Chapter 23
Somewhere in the hills of Kentucky, Stanley Johansson was closing up shop at his bat-making plant. It had been a very long day. But, once again, Stanley, the distribution manager of the facility, had done his job. All the orders had been filled, out the door, and ready for delivery.
Stanley’s desk was tidy. He was about to turn off the lights and go downstairs. The workers had all left for the night; as usual, he was the last to leave.
It was then that he heard the noise.
The little bat fell off the shelf, hit the floor, rolled across the room, and stopped at Stanley’s feet.
Stanley put his glasses on and picked up the bat. It was a Louisville Slugger made from a genuine Northern White Ash tree.
But the bat was too small for a major league baseball player. It was a kid’s bat, for sure.
Stanley noticed the branded, autographed signature on the bat's barrel. It read: Big John Reynolds.
Attached to the bat was a note addressed to Stanley.
Stanley,�this bat was returned to us by the parcel service.
It was sent to an address in Texas back in February, but was returned to us. Can you check it out and find out what the story is?
John, mailroom
Stanley was beside himself. He remembered he was supposed to have taken care of the little bat months ago.
He had tried to get in touch with an old friend, George Thomas, but without success.
George was one of those traveling baseball clowns, never in one place for any length of time, but Stanley was fairly sure George lived in southern Colorado.
Stanley was also sure George was the father-in-law of John Reynolds, who was supposed to be the recipient of the bat.
Stanley put the little bat back on the shelf. He shook his head. He recalled the sad story of John Reynolds, an outstanding Triple-A ball player who hit over 150 home runs in the minor leagues, only to lose his life in a car accident just days before he was to show up at spring training with the New York Yankees.
Stanley put on his coat. He scribbled four words on a notepad and left it on his desk. The note said: Get hold of Roscoe.
The following day, Stanley left his home a little earlier than usual.
He stopped in at his favorite diner for breakfast and read the morning paper from cover to cover, as is his normal routine.
On the back of the four-page sports section, something caught his eye. In the middle of the Associated Press's “around-the-world-in-sports” column, there was a four-paragraph sports short about a retired baseball clown named Roscoe.
Stanley brought the page up closer to his bifocals. Wasn’t this strange? First, the bat falls off the shelf and rolls up to his feet, and the next day, he picks up a newspaper, and there’s a story with a mug shot of Roscoe, just the person he desperately needed to talk to.
.
The article mentioned Roscoe’s real name, George Thomas, and even provided his whereabouts in Johnsonville, Colorado.
Stanley finished his breakfast, paid the bill, stuffed the newspaper under his arm, and headed to work.
In less than thirty minutes, he had made a couple of phone calls, one to the newspaper in Johnsonville, The Chronicle, and the other to the local drugstore in Johnsonville, Claire’s Fountain and Drug.
Claire Thomas answered the phone. “You’re calling from Kentucky, and you want to talk to George Thomas?”
“Yes, I’m an old friend, and I think I have something he would like to have,” Stanley said as he explained the situation about the lost and found little baseball bat.
Moments later, Stanley was on the phone with George.
“Stanley Johansson! It’s been a long time since I‘ve talked to you...a couple of years at least. The last time I saw you, I was in Louisville, and the Colonels had just won the pennant.”
I remember we went to the Children’s Hospital that same day, and Stanley, you made a bunch of kids happy...you gave them all miniature baseball bats.”
“That’s right, George, and you had all the kids in stitches. I can still see you in that clown suit and remember all those smiling faces.”
“So what’s up, Stanley? Are you ready to move out West to retire?”
“No, Kentucky is my home. I’m here to stay. I’m retiring in October. I finally had to break down and move into management a few years back...arthritis was setting in, and I couldn’t work the line anymore. I’m the head of distribution now, which is why I’m calling.”
Stanley related the story of the little bat struggling to find a place to call home.
“So, I saw the clipping in the paper with your mugshot. Aren’t you a little old to be wrestling with snakes?”
George laughed. “We have a nosy reporter out here. He told me the story would make the wire services. I didn’t believe it. As for the bat, my son-in-law ordered it. I remember him telling me it was for our grandson’s 12th birthday. I guess you heard the news about Big John.”
“Yes, I did, George. I was very sorry to hear about that.”
“Thank you, Stanley. It’s been tough on all of us, but especially on my grandson. We would love to have that bat.”
“George, I’ll take care of it. I’ll forward it to you right away. It’ll probably take a week or two.”
George gave Stanley the address to their box at the Johnsonville Post Office and thanked his old friend again for his help.
Billy would be in for a big surprise. George knew exactly what he was going to do. The bat would be an early birthday present for his grandson.
Chapter 24
The Johnsonville Tigers were rolling. The Tigers devoured their next three opponents — Ridgedale, Brighton, and Red Oak.
Coach Perkins had the Tigers operating on all cylinders. With Billy at the top of the lineup, the opposing pitchers would start off the game mighty frustrated.
Billy walked...and walked...and walked...and now and then he’d get hit by a pitch...on the arm, on the elbow, his left foot, his right foot.
Every time Billy reached base, he would eventually scamper home with run after run as the heart of the Tigers’ lineup continued to knock him in.
Ridgedale put a scare into the Tigers early on when their hard-hitting third baseman, Cubby Simpson, hit a two-run homer off the Tigers’ starter, Carlos Ramirez, to give the hometown Reds a 2-0 lead in the first inning.
Fortunately, Carlos settled down and shut down the Reds the rest of the way, allowing only four hits while striking out three and walking just one batter.
In the meantime, the Tigers rallied in the top of the fourth inning.
Billy led off the inning and reached base when the Ridgedale starter, Donnie Duncan, lost control of a breaking pitch. The ball grazed Billy’s left arm.
Lenny walked on four straight pitches, followed by Willie Turner's three-run homer over the left-field fence.
Clayton Burnside, who was back in the Tigers’ lineup and now handling things at second base, knocked in Billy in the top of the sixth with a triple down the right-field line.
Billy, who had walked with two outs in the inning, scored from first for the Tigers’ fourth and final run of the game.
Defensively, it was becoming apparent that Billy, at short, and Clayton, at second, seemed to be the way to go as far as Carl Perkins was concerned.
Three double plays in the game, and all three on-ground balls to Clayton, who would turn and fire a strike to Billy at second base.
Billy’s quick release and his relay to first base were a thing of beauty.
The Tigers were becoming unstoppable up the middle.
With the Tigers’ infield intact — including the Jameson twins entrenched at the corners- Carl could keep his pitching staff, Willie, Lenny, and Carlos, fresh and ready for action.
Carl was able to use his eleven-man roster to the fullest, and he loved every minute of it.
It was the Billy and Lenny show at Brighton. Lenny won his second game of the season, hurling a two-hitter en route to a 5-0 shutout of the hometown Blue Jays.
Carl couldn’t believe what he was seeing in this one. Billy made four diving catches to help keep the shutout intact. Billy also started two double plays. This time, it was Clayton’s turn to cover the bag, and both times, it was a picture-perfect exchange — a real crowd-pleaser for the Johnsonville fans.
The Jameson twins supplied the long ball against Brighton.
Jimmy belted a three-run homer in the fourth, and Chucky drilled a two-run shot in the fifth to complete the scoring.
Billy walked three times and scored three times. The Tigers were now 4-0, and Billy had yet to swing the bat.
The Red Oak Orioles came to Johnsonville in hopes of knocking off the surprising Tigers, who were now within one game of completing the first round of their regular-season schedule unbeaten.
The Orioles, who had won three out of their first four games, did some damage early on and held a 4-2 lead after three innings of play.
But this time, it was the heroics of Timmy Chow at the plate.
Chow hit for the cycle — a single, a double, a triple, and a home run, knocking in four of the seven runs.
Willie pitched four innings in this one and improved his record to 2-0 as the Tigers went on to win the game, 7-4.
Carlos came on in the fifth and shut down the Orioles the rest of the way to pick up the save.
Billy walked three times in the game and played superbly in the field, his fifth straight game without an error at shortstop.
The biggest defensive play of the game came in the second inning. With two outs and runners on first and second, Willie tried to throw a fastball by the Orioles’ top hitter, Todd Tolleson.
But Tolleson timed the pitch perfectly and singled in the gap in left-center field. Ryan O’Hara cut the ball off and relayed his throw to Billy.
Billy caught the ball, turned, and then unleashed a perfect one-hopper throw to Corky, who had straddled the plate, awaiting the throw.
The ball bounced into the pocket of Corky’s mitt. Corky applied the tag on the runner, Jimmy Johnson, for the final out of the inning.
The Orioles’ coach, Wayne Chilton, shook hands with Carl Perkins after the game.
“I’ll tell you one thing, Carl. This is the best Little League team you’ve ever had. And that shortstop of yours...Well, I thought we had you on the ropes in the second inning. That was one heck of a throw to the plate.”
Carl thanked the Orioles’ coach. It was a nice compliment. If someone had told him the Tigers would be 5-0 at the midway point of the season, he might have had that person committed.
“This is fun,” Carl said aloud as he walked back to the dugout to join eleven smiling faces.
“Free pizza for everyone!”
Chapter 25
The Johnsonville baseball fans couldn’t wait for the Tigers to play again. It was standing-room-only at the next home game against Clarkson.
The parking lot was jam-packed with cars. Cyrus Jones, who had just received another shipment of Tigers’ hats earlier in the week, looked in the stands, and everyone had a Tigers’ hat on.
Mildred Robertson, who ran the snack bar at Johnsonville Park, had to triple her order of hot dogs and hamburgers from the local supermarket. She was afraid she would run out of everything by the third inning.
Carl Perkins expected a rough game with Clarkson. The Beavers would be out for revenge. Clarkson, sporting a 4-1 record, hadn’t lost a game since losing their opener to the Tigers, and the Beavers were still having nightmares, constantly reliving in their minds Billy’s triple play.
The Beavers’ top gun, pitcher Sage Carpenter, was a handful at Clarkson, and Carl expected the hard-throwing left-hander to be even more challenging the second time around.
Carl’s strategy in this one is to throw everything at them. Carlos would start. Lenny would pitch the middle innings, and Willie would finish up. Three different pitchers, three different looks.
As for Clarkson, it was Carpenter, and he came to play.
Aside from an opening-inning walk to Billy, Carpenter had little trouble with his control. He struck out five batters in the first three innings.
At the plate, the Beavers jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Carlos gave up back-to-back doubles to Carpenter and the Beavers’ big first baseman, Johnny Holland.
Carpenter rolled through the fourth and fifth innings, but Lenny and Willie were equally as tough, shutting down the Beavers without a hit in the third inning, the fourth, the fifth, and again in the sixth.
Trailing 1-0, the Tigers came to bat in the bottom of the sixth.
Carpenter caught Clayton looking on a third strike for the first out of the inning, and Chucky grounded out to third for the second out.
The Johnsonville fans cheered on the Tigers.
Carlos was up next, and he hit a slow roller up the third base line.
The Beavers’ third-sacker watched the ball come to a stop. The ball stayed in fair territory as Carlos legged out an infield single.
Billy stepped in. Carpenter tried his best to zero in on Billy’s strike zone, but he walked him for the third time in the game, putting the winning run on first base.
George, Claire, and Joan stood up. The rest of the Johnsonville fans were on their feet as well.
It was up to Ryan O’Hara to keep the inning alive. O’Hara accommodated. He hit Carpenter’s first pitch down the first base line and into the right field corner.
Carlos rounded second and then third and scampered home with the tying run. Billy was off at the crack of the bat. He blew by second base, clipped the inside of the bag at third, got the green light from third base coach Johnny Hayes, and headed home.
The relay throw from the Beavers’ second baseman, Ricky Horton, was right on the money, but Billy dove head-first to the right side of home plate. His left hand grazed the plate as he slid by, a split second ahead of the catcher’s tag.
“Safe,” yelled the umpire.
The Tigers had done it again. Billy had done it again. The Johnsonville Tigers were a perfect 6-0.
Chapter 26
The Tigers had earned a day off.
The next game was three days away, an away game at winless Carbon City. Carl figured it was the perfect time for the Tigers to get some rest from baseball.
After all, it was summertime, and there were other things to do -- fishing, picnicking, bicycling, roller skating, and maybe even a movie or two to see.
But Carl knew the players wouldn't forget about baseball for very long. The town would see to that.
Posters were everywhere. In the mini-mall, in all the businesses up and down Main Street, at the roller rink, the bowling alley, and in all the restaurants.
Wherever they went, the kids were reminded of how popular they were.
As for Billy, his day would turn out to be very special.
"Billy, pick up the phone; it's your grandpa," Joan Reynolds said as she put the turkey in the oven.
Joan had planned a family dinner for the late afternoon. Her mom and dad were coming over. It would be TV night. Her mom's favorite program, Hazel, would be on. She figured her dad and Billy might watch it, too. That's if she could keep them out of the Clown's Den.
Billy would be receiving a gift at dinner. She couldn't wait to see her son's face when he opened it.
"Hey, Billy. I'm on my way over with Belle. I've got a couple of errands to run. You want to come along?"
"Sure, Grandpa. I'll be ready."
George pulled Belle into the parking spot in front of the hardware clothing store. Billy jumped down from Belle and followed George into the store. "You about ready to close, Cyrus?"
"Just about, George". I see you have that hot-shot shortstop with you."
"Yeah. We are out running errands. I need some oil for my lawnmower and a rake. Mine has bit the dust."
"Coming right up, George," Cyrus said, glancing over at Billy, who was eyeballing the jar of sugar cookies on the counter.
"Billy, are you ready for Carbon City?"
"You bet. I'm hoping to get my first hit."
"I know, Billy. Somebody's bound to throw you a strike one of these days," Cyrus said, winking at Billy and handing him a couple of cookies.
"When they start pitching to you, they'd better watch out. You've been hitting the ball hard at batting practice. Batting off Coach Perkins and
Hayes is one thing, but the pitchers we have faced so far can't find the strike zone when you are batting."
"Cyrus, he is pretty frustrated, George said. "I know he's aching to get hold of one. But I keep telling him to be patient. His time is going to come."
"Sure it will, Billy. Have you seen the latest statistics? Carl dropped them off this morning. Look at these," Cyrus said as he handed George the clipboard.
"Billy, you are leading the team in walks with 13. and runs scored with 17. That's unbelievable. You can't do much better than that, even if you got a hit every time."
"Thanks, coach, but I still want a hit!"
Both Cyrus and George chuckled.
“Well, Cyrus, we’re off to the post office before they close. I have a very important package to pick up.”
“What is it, Grandpa?”
“You’ll see, Billy, you’ll see.”
Billy noticed a tall, thin man standing behind the counter when they entered the post office's vacant lobby. The man was wearingimmed glasses on his nose. He had a set of keys in his hands and was locking up several drawers.
“Hi Henry, you called and said I had a package to pick up.”
“Sure do, George, two packages, as a matter of fact,” said the senior postman, Henry Eggerson.
Henry walked into the back room and came out with two cylinder-like containers.
Billy noticed one was slightly smaller than the other, but both were long and thin. They looked like they might contain a rod and reel. They were neatly wrapped and appeared to have been well-traveled.
Billy thought he saw a return address on one of them. He could make out the state—Kentucky! He was sure of it.
“Let’s go home, Billy. We’re going to be late for dinner.”
Billy wanted to know what was in the packages. But his grandpa told him to be patient.
He was learning a lot about patience these days.
After dinner, the Reynolds family moved into the den. George had everyone sit on the couch and brought in both packages.
“What we have here is a present for Billy. A couple of weeks ago, I received a call from a friend in Kentucky. I’ll read the letter he forwarded us in a minute, but first, Billy, I want you to open the big one.”
Billy tore into the package.
“Wow, it’s a Louisville Slugger!” The bat was long and heavy. Billy stood up and put the barrel of the bat on the floor. The handle of the bat went all the way up to his chin.
Billy looked at the barrel of the bat. He saw the engraved signature. It was his dad’s handwriting and, unmistakably, his dad’s signature, Big John Reynolds.
“It is my father’s bat.” A big smile crossed Billy’s face.
“Now, open this one,” George said, handing Billy the smaller one.
Billy clawed his way through the paper as fast as he could...another bat emerged.
The bat felt like it belonged in his hands. His fingers tingled as he touched every inch of the bat from top to bottom.
Billy eyed the barrel. His dad’s branded signature was also on the bat.
Everyone looked up as George read the letter from Stanley Johansson.
Stanley explained what happened to the “little bat without a home,” and he was sure it was finally in the right hands.
The final paragraphs of the letter were for Billy. George read on:
“Billy, after my conversation with your grandpa, I made some calls and got hold of one of your dad’s bats. According to what I found, the bat you have now is the same one your dad used when playing in the Triple-A All-Star game in 1959.
“Your dad batted twice in that game. He singled and hit a home run that was measured at 525 feet.
“I’m sure you’ll find a special place for your dad’s bat, and I hope you get plenty of use out of your new bat. I’m sure your dad would have wanted you to use it well.”
Yours truly,
Stanley Johansson
George put his right hand on his grandson’s shoulder, and with his left hand, he grabbed the small bat by the handle and took a look at it.
“Billy, last Christmas, I talked with your dad about getting you this bat. He wanted me to check with Stanley and see if I could find just the right bat for you.
“Somehow, in all the confusion, this little bat was lost. But now you have it. Your father wanted you to have it, and now is the perfect time to use it.”
“I know you’re frustrated with all the base-on-balls this summer, but I feel this little bat may have some magic in it. For some unknown reason, this bat rolled off a shelf and found its way to the feet of Stanley Johansson, and now it’s in your hands,” George said, handing the bat back to Billy.
Billy rubbed his fingertips up and down the bat. He felt his hands tingle. “I think you’re right, Grandpa.”
Billy decided to take his bat upstairs, but he was very concerned about the well-being of his dad’s bat, so he asked his grandpa if he had another glass case back at the Clown’s Den.
“Sure, I do. I have just the right place for it. It’ll fit perfectly right next to the others. You leave it with me, Billy. You don’t have to worry.”
“Thanks, Grandpa.”
George, Joan, and Claire watched the young man head upstairs. Billy held the bat tightly as he made his way.
While his elders settled in to watch the latest episode of “Hazel,” Billy was busy in his closet upstairs. He placed the bat in his secret hiding place. There was plenty of room right next to his boxes of baseball cards.
The bat was safe. It was a great present. Billy ran downstairs and joined his family.
Billy sat down and looked up at the ceiling. He thought he heard something rattle upstairs. It was probably his imagination.
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