B1
THE ASTORIAN • SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2022
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FOR THE LOVE
OF THE GAME
Take us out to the ballgame
Coaching a
Little League
baseball team
By ROLAND HAERTL
For The Astorian
In February 1968, I was asked to coach a newly
formed baseball team. As assistant coach. The
request came from the head coach. On its face it
was an honor. But there was a condition attached.
If my son wanted to play baseball with the team, I
had to volunteer to coach as an assistant. In a sport
of which I knew nothing. On a newly formed team.
A Little League team.
Nine-year-old and 10-year-old boys. If c oach
Tom’s son and my son wanted to play baseball,
Tom and I were coaching.
So that was it.
I had zero knowledge of the game. What I knew
I had acquired from watching some World Series
games . Tom had much explaining to do. To me.
And then let’s make it fun for the boys.
Sixteen boys had signed up for our team. Tom
arranged for the necessary equipment. The boys
had to arrive with their own gloves. The team fur-
nished the rest: balls, bats, base bags. Tom decided
to hold a fi rst evaluation session. We wanted to fi nd
out about the boys’ fi tness and skill level. Every boy
arrived with a glove. We paired the boys, forming
two-boy teams, separating the partners by approx-
imately 30 feet. We handed each pair one ball and
asked them to throw it to their partner. Who should
catch the thrown ball?
Problem one.
Eight of the boys appeared to have never thrown
a baseball. Of the other eight four of them were rea-
sonably accurate getting their throws within catch-
ing range of their partner. We immediately desig-
nated them as potential pitchers. The other four
could throw, just off -target. This exercise addressed
pitching and fi elding. Tom and I spent the next half
hour with individual throwing instruction.
Then Tom and I looked at the general fi tness and
agility level. Our second task was clear. Get the
boys physically conditioned.
We capped the session with fi ve laps of jogging
around the baseball diamond at Portland Heights
Park next to Strohecker’s s tore. It was fl at. Tom
and I decided to move practice to Hamilton Park at
See Coach, Page B4
A youth baseball team plays a game at Tapiola Park in 2017.
Colin Murphey/The Astorian
two tickets to Game 2 of the Giants/Tigers
World Series. The series where the Giants
swept it. Peter always says that was the
any years ago, right around the
most expensive hot dog he’s ever eaten.
time I was dating a man that
Again, we sat on the fi rst baseline. We were
played nonprofessional baseball
struck by the man behind us. He was tall
who started to teach me how to throw, my
and thin and was a nonstop eating machine.
brother Peter and I made a decision.
From hot dogs to crab cakes, he had it all.
We wanted to go to Major League B ase-
That was the game that one of the sing-a-
ball games. Neither of us had been to one
longs was “City By The Bay” and on the
since leaving the Bay Area 30 years
giant screen popped Steve Perry in
prior. When I think about it, I
his box, singing along and wav-
was the fi rst one to go to a
ing an invisible conductor’s
Mariner s game. By myself.
baton.
I took the train up and had
We’ve gone farther
booked a room at the Four
afi eld, and our trips have
Seasons, telling myself
gotten longer to accom-
that it was within walk-
modate travel days and
ing distance of the ball-
exploring new-to-us cit-
park and train station. My
ies. We’ve been to Chi-
seat was six rows back
cago, Denver, Pittsburgh,
and behind home plate. I
Milwaukee and Boston, our
was a rookie. I didn’t know
favorite park so far. Our fi rst
that the seat that I had bought
stop at the ball park is always
came with a buff et dinner
the team store to buy a
and free drinks. I ate din-
THE GAME ITSELF hat to commemorate our
ner before I went to the
trip. We always root for
IS ALMOST
game. But I had a ball. I
the home team, although
loved the relaxing train
it was hard when we
SECONDARY TO
trip, the hotel of course,
watched the Cubs/Giants
and especially the game.
game at Wrigley Field.
THE EXPERIENCE
I convinced my
Peter and I go to one
OF THE CROWD,
brother he needed to
game on the trip. The rest
go. That next trip, Peter
of the time we investi-
THE BALLPARK
and I drove up and back
gate the local city and
to Seattle in one day to
surrounding area. We
ITSELF, AND, OF
catch an evening game.
research the regional
COURSE, THE
That was a long day. I
things to eat and invari-
remember scaring the
ably go on a ghost tour
FOOD.
THE
EVER-
crap out of myself when I
one night, the best one
nodded off for a split sec-
PRESENT FEAR
being in Denver, fol-
ond while driving home.
lowed by Boston. We
THAT WE WILL
It turns out, Peter
share a room because it’s
loved the experience of
cheaper
and I can con-
BE SELECTED
being in the ballpark,
vince him to level up a
FOR THE KISS
as did I. It’s like going
few notches since we’re
back in time. The food,
pooling our funds.
CAM IS REAL.
the people, the fans
Each city has its own
who bring their baseball
brand of fan and every
THANKFULLY,
gloves and carry their
game has its own person-
IT’S NEVER
clipboards to tally every
ality. We’ve had hot dogs
play of the game whether
at every park, marveling
HAPPENED, AND
it be a hit, walk or error.
at the distinctness of each
My brother and I decided
one. The game in Den-
PRAY IT NEVER
we wanted to branch out.
ver was delayed by two
WILL.
Then came San Fran-
hours for rain. The fans
cisco where we sat on the
got drunker and drunker,
fi rst baseline with a beautiful view of the
and surlier as the delay continued. We
bay. My oldest brother and his wife drove
always stay until the last pitch is thrown,
down from Santa Rosa and sat in a diff erent
and in that case, we were glad we did. Hav-
section. The game was against the Dodgers,
ing been behind the entire game, the Rock-
and where they were sitting, fi ghts broke
ies began scoring run after run and ended up
out. We were fi ne up in the second tier and
winning the game with a bases loaded walk
were surprised to hear of their experience.
with the count at 3-2 on the last out.
The game itself is almost secondary
In Boston the woman who sat next to
to the experience of the crowd, the ball-
me decided to take us under her wing and
park itself, and, of course, the food. The
explained all sorts of Red Sox trivia. I
ever-present fear that we will be selected for
remember her, and not what she told us. One
the kiss cam is real. Thankfully, it’s never
night we walked to the North End where we
happened, and pray it never will.
waited in line at Giacomo’s for some of the
In 2012, I got a bee in my bonnet that we
See Ballgame, Page B4
should go to a World Series game. I snagged
By ANN DUDLEY
For The Astorian
M