Back door slider

“Give it your best and forget the rest” Mel Swavely

 

October has a way of making me feel glad to be alive.  The World Series in part can be thanked for that because so often the games I watch leave me feeling inspired not to give up.   Baseball to me is like a story nine chapters long that builds to an exciting conclusion right before your very eyes. Then, more times than not, it surprises you with an ending you didn’t see coming.

My best example of how baseball can inspire you not to give up happened some twenty five years ago late one very special October evening in Los Angeles, California.  The impossible happened on one magical night, when one man underestimated another. 

Here is the long story short of the 1988 World Series.  The Oakland A’s came into the Series as prohibitive favorites to win easily.  Led by ingenious manager Tony La Russa and a well-rounded team that had won over one hundred games and full of confidence.   The Los Angeles Dodgers were the underdogs no one expected to make the big dance and few expected them to even be a challenge to the mighty A’s  The Dodgers were led by spunky manager Tommy Lasorda, outfielder Kirk Gibson and ace pitcher Orel Hershiser.  Besides that, frankly they just were over matched. 

 

Kirk Gibson had his reasons for wanting to do well as a Dodger coming into the season, seeing this was his first year as a Dodger.  Unfortunately, the state of Michigan he had grown up in had turned on him and his family when left the Detroit Tigers via free agency.  Regardless the thirty one year old slugger brought a winning attitude to a team that hadn’t had a winning season in over two years and helped them win their division.  Then as a result of his tenacious playing style during the National League Championship he was able to propel his team to victory over the heavily favored Mets and on to a Series berth.  Regretfully in the process he had pulled his hamstring in one leg and twisted his knee on the other.

Already behind the eight ball the Dodgers were faced with a dilemma that Bob Costas so aptly described on the pregame show of the first contest.  “First item of business: Kirk Gibson will not play tonight.”  True to those words for the first eight innings of the game Gibson stayed in the Dodgers’ clubhouse as he writhed in pain that even injections could not alleviate.  Then as he lay on a trainer’s table with a bag of ice on each leg, it happened.  As the game played on the clubhouse TV Vin Scully, longtime Los Angeles Dodger announcer did the unthinkable- he angered Gibson.  Scully said this, “If you’re in the ballpark with binoculars, your first thought would be, late in the game- Is Kirk Gibson in the Dodgers’ dugout?  The answer would appear to be no.” 

Inspired to try the unthinkable, Gibson would get up and take a few painful practice swings off a batting tee.   Then he sent the clubhouse boy to tell his coach, Tommy Lasorda, that he thought he could pinch hit. What happened next is baseball lore.  The Dodger trailed the A’s 4 to 3 in the ninth inning with a runner on and two out as Gibby came to the plate.  Not only was He faced with excruciating pain each time he walked or swung, but he was facing major league baseball’s finest relief pitcher, Dennis Eckersley.  The A’s closer had just exorcised some of his own demons a few years prior by pulling his life back together after beating his alcohol addiction.  Needless to say Eck was steeled to finish the job and put Gibson and the Dodgers out of their misery.

Gibson later was awarded the MVP for the 1998 season for his work during the regular season, but one swing would define his career best.  Eckersley started Kirk off with fastballs so as to blow Gibson away. However, the hobbled hero feebly fouled off several pitches eventually working the count to 3-2.  Then just before the eighth pitch Gibson called time. What he did then was recall what longtime Dodger scout, Mel Didier, told Gibson before the game.  Didier told him that if he faced Eckersley in the ninth inning and the count goes 3 and 2,  “Partner, as sure as I’m breathing he’ll throw you a backdoor slider.” 

Swinging without using his legs and flat footed, Gibson hit a backdoor slider that Eckersley served up in an effort to fool his overmatched opponent.  However, Kirk hit the ball square and willed it over the right field fence for a game winning homerun. On the highlight reel you can even see the red glow of car’s brake lights stopping so they can hurry and get back into the stadium.

Who can forget Kirk Gibson fist pumping as he hobbled around the bases on two badly injured legs after he had just single handedly won the first game of the 1988 World Series.   He had just hit a backdoor slider into the seats in Dodger Stadium that was the fulcrum for the Dodgers upset of the mighty Oakland A’s. As fate would have it his dramatic pinch hit home run would be his only at bat of the Series.

This story reminds me of a time someone gave me a chance to prove myself and help me not want to give up. Sometimes, an act of kindness can be remembered in one’s life like a game winning home run. 

 

For instance, in my third year of playing fast pitch softball in my church league I was struggling to see any playing team, hopelessly stuck on the bench.  During this very frustrating year a guy named Chip, who I had grown up with, did me a solid.  With the game almost over and my team up by double digits the coach was emptying the bench and putting in the reserves.  Even then I did not hear my name called and began to feel foolish.

 

Just then Chip told the coach to let me play for him.  I don’t remember what I did with the opportunity or if I even struck out.  Just to get the chance to run on the field and be part of the team, if only for a brief moment, did my soul well.  I have never forgotten that feeling of exhilaration that someone thought I was worth his spot.

Six years later, I became a coach and I think subconsciously felt I needed to do for others what had been done for me.  I just wanted to give anyone and everyone who wanted to play a chance to be part of a team.  Team first, me last, everyone wins. 

May both stories serve as a pleasant reminder that we should never give up.  Maybe the best part of any story is not whether you succeed and win the game, but at least you got the chance to make a difference.  When you don’t give up, you cannot fail.

“Better to take a swing at the impossible and miss, than just sit on your butt talking about what might have been."

Swavel

Illegal Formation

 

When making a point it is always best to be clear, say little and when appropriate use hand gestures.

Football can apply to everyday life and no better way to exemplify this than though penalties that referees call every Sunday through hand signals.

SAFETY

A safety occurs when a team is tackled in their own end zone resulting awarding the team doing the tackling two points.  The referee signifies this by putting his palms together above his head, like a triangle. As a father keeping the family safe should be our number one priority.  It is a foregone conclusion that a dad must provide a safe environment.

 

HOLDING

This is call is made when one player hinders the ability of another player to move freely . Usually this occurs by grabbing and clinging to the opponent and on occasion throwing him to the ground. The referee signifies this call by grasping his wrist just below his clenched fist, directly in front of his chest. In real life it is nice to be held by others and in turn do the same to others that you love.  In essence, it is necessary to show others you love them by squeezing them.

 

TIME OUT

This is when the game clock is stopped to give a team a chance to make a call or slow up the game and re-group.  The referee signifies this call by crisscrossing his hands above his head, like in an x pattern.  Everybody needs a timeout whether you are a child or an adult.  It provides a moment to reflect and find some peace and quiet and get your act together.

PERSONAL FOUL

This is a reckless action such as face masking an opponent, helmet to helmet contact, hitting an opponent late or tackling them out of bounds.  This is often referred to as a cheap shot. The referee signifies this call with one wrist striking the other above his head. Sometimes this is followed by an ejection and on occasion a fine from the league depending on the severity of the blow or incident.  Often in life it is easy to commit a personal foul especially around those we love or are around the most.  This often occurs when emotions run high and we allow our feelings to bubble up to the surface. On one such occasion, while in junior high school, I hit a friend with a monopoly board on the head.  Accordingly, my mom penalized me and banished me to the den for an hour.

 

PENALTY REFUSED

For strategic purposes often a football team will not accept the penalty and take the result of the play instead.  The referee signifies this penalty by waving his hands directly in front of him in a horizontal plane. In life, there is no better call than to forgive someone who has wronged you. This does not mean you become a door mat, but rather you release yourself from harboring ill feeling against you fellow man.  Jesus summed it up best, “let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”

OFFSIDES

This occurs when a player on either team grows impatient and jumps across the line of scrimmage creating an unfair advantage.  The referee signifies this infraction by placing both hands on his hips.  When it comes to life how often do we all get impatient and tired of waiting either on God or for a situation to clear up and make it worse by taking matters in to our own hands.  Life is all about the timing and often instead of a quick remark I should be quick to pray and let God deal with it while I stay on the correct side of the line.

 

FIRST DOWN

A first down occurs when the offense cross the first down marker, which is ten yards away from the line of scrimmage, giving the offense a fresh set of downs.  The referee signals this by adamantly pointing his arm toward the defensive team’s goal and saying first down.  In life we gain more first downs than touchdowns.  Such as saying and doing nice things for our family and friends.  Doing stuff around the house, taking the time to read to your kids or play ball with them in the yard, etc.   Remember,  in the end often first downs result in touchdowns.

INTERFERENCE

This occurs when one opponent tries to prohibit the other player’s right to run a route or catch a pass. The referee signifies this with two open hands extended forward from his shoulders, like he were two hand touching someone.  For some strange reason, at one time or another, we all seem to gain some pleasure by making others’ lives more difficult than they need to be, instead of offering to help.  Rather than putting others down or making them feel lesser than us we should strive to lift them up.  It has been said, some people are a blessing when they visit and others are a blessing when they leave.

TOUCHDOWN

This is the most exciting play in football and is when a player crosses the end zone line and scores six points for his team.  The referee signifies this by raising both hands straight up in the air like he is trying to touch the ceiling.  In real life, at least for me, a touchdown is marrying your best friend, seeing your kids embrace your values, denying yourself and taking up your cross, and helping those who can’t help themselves.  Good stuff that matters long term with eternal significance.  

 

ILLEGAL FORMATION

This occurs when the football is snapped with less than seven players on the line of scrimmage.  The referee signifies this by rolling his  hands over one another in front of his body.  My youngest daughter got me to thinking about this infraction the other day when out of the blue she started yelling “Illegal formation” along with doing the accompanying hand signal. I used to think this was a dumb rule, however even in sports there need to be a semblance of order. I once heard this quote, “there is no right way to do wrong”, no matter the intended outcome.

The best signals we can show our fellow man is that we care deeply about them and that they are worth our time.

Swavel