Baseball!

Anyone who knew Jerry knew that he loved playing baseball.   I remember one time he told me it was too boring to watch on T.V., but he loved getting out there and playing it.

Jerry was a little bit of a workaholic.  But I think that's what happens when you're a software developer... you get on a programming roll, and it's hard to quit when you're making progress.  There was only ONE THING that could make Jerry push back from his computer at quitting time... and that was a baseball game.  He was up and outta there! 

He always got a special "skip" in his step when he was off to play baseball with his team.    Originally, since he was under 30 years old, he played for the "Expos".   Then after he turned 30, he moved up to the "Twins".  After a few years, they changed their team name to the Rockies. 

Maybe I was just biased a little bit, but I always thought that Jerry was the best team member.  I say that because he was always there to cheer everyone on.  I would hear him from the dugout saying to whoever was batting, "Come'on now, be a hitter!"  or "Shake it off, man, the next one's yours."  He'd always be up for coaching first base if they needed someone.  I was always so proud of him.

Aside from the game, I think the things he liked best were the people on his team... the guys.   He was always up for going out to get something to eat after the games.  The team would go to some taqueria somewhere and buy a couple of pitchers of beer and shoot the shit about how the game went.  I could tell he really enjoyed himself. 

This is one of my favorite baseball "items" of Jerry's that I have.  In 1993, before he and I started dating, he drew this map for me to find my way to watch one of his baseball games at Mason park.  I told him to be sure it was *very detailed*.   I thought this was an awesome drawing (so I kept it all those years).  Funny thing is, I got lost anyway!  (haha)  I especially like the "Mason Park trees" and "more trees":

Double-click to enlarge

Sadly, I don't have any good pictures of Jerry in his baseball uniform.  But here's one of him after one of his games eating pizza at my apartment.

After he died, his teammates designed a patch to wear on their sleeves in memory of Jerry.  Here it is:

The stand-in coach (Jerry was coaching that year) explained that when the team's pitcher was on the mound, he would always cheer him on by saying "You're the one!".  

That's so very true for me today... Jerry, you're the one!  You'll always and forever be "the one" for me.

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