5/8/98

Softball: Anything to Cajole a Crowd

Dear People,

It is Friday morning and we are still a few short of a quorum for a game. I understand that Sunday---beyond being most importantly the day after the 97th anniversary of Cleveland pitcher Earl Moore's sublime 9-inning-no-hit-10-inning- three-homerun-tragiloss to Chicago---also happens to be mother's day. Yes, I realize that. But for those of you who remain on the fence, I want you to look deep into yourselves, and think about the ramifications of your decision.

I remember when I read Moore's first major biography---Carl Sandburg's "Gods of the Mound; Earl Moore, Eugene Debs and the Progressive Era, 1886-1913"---the part that really stuck with me was when Sandburg asked Moore's mom what hurt her son the most, and without flinching she said, "I think Earl really wanted to play on astroturf, but of course, it's wasn't invented yet so he couldn't. Still, Earl's convinced that if he hadn't been pitching on those lumpy organic grasses, they never woulda gotten those three homers in the 10th. Yeah, that makes my baby hurt so bad that it takes a little bit of my heart, too."

I think you see my point. It's not too late. Make that commit. Do it for Earl Moore's mom, whose love for her child is the esence of what makes mother's day so heartfelt and special for all of us...Raymond

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