I LOVE the All-Star Game. And I’m so looking forward to tonight’s showdown from Cleveland. The last All-Star game that I missed was the 1968 midsummer classic from Houston, which occurred the day before my birth. The game was a 1-0 snoozer so I’m somewhat glad that I missed it.
Tonight, once again, it’s the best of the American League vs. the best of the National League.
Trout and Yelich,
Mookie and Max,
Cole and Kershaw.
Harper and …. Oh wait, Bryce and his $330 mega-millions didn’t make it this year.
In a strange turn of events that can only be described as divine intervention, I got up in the middle of last year’s game and went to make a delivery to a new essential-oil customer. A little over a year later, next Friday, I will be marrying her, the one and only -- Beautiful Karla. The last year has been a new season of love for me, and with our wedding just 10 days away, I thought it was time to dust off the Dickson Baseball Dictionary for my annual collection of baseball terms. What’s the theme? Nothing but LOVE, of course.
A is for Appreciation Day – A celebration dedicated to a particular player, held in conjunction with a baseball game. Since our first date on August 5th, everyday has been BK Appreciation Day.
B is for Baseball Bride – The wife of a baseball player. Karla might feel like a baseball bride given how often she gets to watch Angel games and the MLB Network with me.
C is for Cheese (a synonym for a fastball) and Cake (something done easily; e.g. a pitcher who says retiring the side will be a “piece of cake”). BK isn’t a fan of frosting, so instead of three-tiered confectionary tower, our reception will feature a cookie bar with a slice of cheese-cake.
C is also for Cutie – A pitcher who specializes in throwing curveballs and slow stuff on the corners. My step-daughter-to-be, Alyse, is so adorable that if she decides to play Little League baseball the opposing hitters won’t have a chance with her off-speed pitches.
D is for Diamond Artist -- A term used in the 1930 for a ballplayer. Pierre from Marquis Jewelry, who made our rings, is the best diamond artist I know.
D is also for Dodge the Bullet – To get out of a threatening situation; esp. appropriate to pitchers. It’s also appropriate for a certain left-handed teacher who was facing terminal singlehood.
F is for Fight Off – To be a persistent batter who fouls off pitches until getting the pitch wanted or drawing a walk. Also what Karla and I will repeatedly have to do to prospective suitors when Alyse hits high school.
G is for Give Oneself Up – To hit the ball behind a teammate on base in an effort to bring him home or advance him to scoring position. Also the sacrificial posture of a successful marriage or when the husband relinquishes the control of the TV remote.
H is for Hitch – A hesitation a batter makes with the bat before starting his swing. I felt no uncertainty in my decision to ask BK to get hitched.
K is for Kiss – To hit a ball exceptionally hard or a wedding officient’s final ceremonial command.
K is also for Knock Out – To cause a pitcher to be removed from the game or one of my favorite monikers for Karla.
L is for Leading lady – The first batter up in an inning. Or a term for Karla when I fall behind on a long hike.
Off the Schneid – Said of a player or a team coming out of a slump or a winless streak. Or yours truly after nine years of singleness.
R is for Ring Up – To strike out a batter or what confident boyfriends do on bended knee at proposal time. It’s also the job of Eli, my step-son-to-be and our ring-bearer, during the ceremony.
S is for Sweetheart – A star player, esp. a pitcher, who rises to the occasion. Sometimes Karla thinks Mike Trout is my favorite sweetheart, but it’s not true. He’s a distant second.
T is for Take the Blankets Off – To use a player in a game. Or what couples do in the summer when the air conditioner goes out.
Y is for Youth Movement – The process of trading or releasing old players and bringing up highly promising rookies from the minor leagues. While not exactly robbing the cradle, Karla is eight years the younger, so my youth movement should provide a dedicated caregiver in my old age.
That 1968 All-Star Game was the first ever to be played at night, indoors, and on artificial turf. It was also loaded with future Hall of Famers. Four consecutive NL Future Hall of Famers took the mound alone: Drysdale, Marichal, Carlton, and Seaver. So it’s no wonder the AL didn’t score.
Time will tell how many future Hall of Famers are playing tonight. But the game will feature a youth movement, as there are 19 All-Stars who are 25-years-old or younger. The game is also the first I get to watch with my leading lady and Hall of Fame fianceé. We’ll both be rooting for Trout to pick up his unprecedented third All-Star MVP award. Just don’t tell him he’s no longer my No. 1 sweetheart.
No comments:
Post a Comment