Little League

My Dad coached Brian's summer baseball team a few years in a row. Dad was kind of new to the coaching business. Other Dads, who had been coaching longer, made sure he had the youngest, most inexperienced players in the league. My Dad had been working with Brian's baseball moves for a long time so by his first year in little league, he was the "anchor" of the team. Wait, that doesn't sound right. He was the anchor, as in holding down the fort, not as in bringing down the fort.

Two of the most pitiful boys, Learch and Zell, were in need of constant care. Dad made sure each of them got to play at least one inning and when he did send them back to bench, you could hear them breathe a sign of relief.

One year for Father's Day, my Mom bought the book, "Baseball is a Funny Game," by Joe

Garagiola. She asked his brother to autograph it. "You mean I should get Joe to sign it?"

Mom said no, she wanted him, Mickey, to sign it. Well, Mr. Garagiola went along with the

plan and wrote right above the title: "To Russ. After watching you coach, I can honestly say,"

and then the title, "Baseball is a Funny Game."