Toward the end of my junior year at Weequahic High School in Newark New Jersey, I started hearing from my friends that I was going to make All City. How did they know I asked myself? In my usual mood of high esteem I was thinking that there was no way I would make the all city team. "Vailburg's catcher was better than me" is what crossed my mind. I make the grade - No way. I told you I had high self esteem. The two best teams in the city at the time, Barringer and Vailsburg would receive the most recognition for their players. We were 3-15. And our record did not display how really bad we were. I think I was the only player that batted over .300. In the last game of the season we were playing Central High. A poor to average team at best. But they had Richie Glenn. An above average pitcher with speed to burn. I went up to bat thinking home run. I was so determined to hit a home run I remember standing closer to the plate thinking I could reach an outside pitch. Most if not all of my hits that year were singles. While I had power I had not displayed much of it. I dug in deeper ready to smack one when Richie let loose with one that was very high and very tight. So tight it stuck in my ear. I guess it did not curve like I thought. Down I went. Out like a light.. While the ball did not stick in my ear it made quite an impression in my head. I think some thread from the ball is embedded in my ear lobe to this day. I was slowly escorted to Coach Ginsburg's office. When I finally awoke which seemed like hours, but was really minutes, Mr Ginsburg told me I had made the Star Ledger All City Baseball team. I was elated and soar. I was happy and groggy. I was proud and queasy at the same time. Wow what a day. I wonder if Babe Ruth or Lou Gehrig ever went through something like this. |
