Chapter 74
Seventy-Four
Before I know it, it’s Major League Baseball’s Opening Day, and I’m glued to the television for Terry’s debut as an Oakland Athletic. They’re playing the Seattle Mariners in our hometown. Kendra told me he was traded over the winter, and I’m not missing this for anything.
Emmy pokes her head in the living room. “Whatcha watching?”
I pat the couch cushion, inviting her to join me, and she clambers alongside. “See number forty-three?” I ask, pointing at the screen.
She nods .
“That’s my friend Terry. He’s a professional baseball player. Isn’t that cool?”
She shrugs, watches all of sixty seconds, and runs off. Apparently not that cool.
Even Butch doesn’t totally get it. He grew up in Virginia, where there are no professional baseball, football, or basketball teams. In fact, many other states on the east coast don’t have teams. I realize how fortunate I was to grow up with several in the Bay Area.
Sports united our city, which splintered into factions over crime, class, racial divides, culture, and more. And on a personal level, they bonded my father and me during those early, difficult years.
Needless to say, I’m vibrating with excitement. Terry made it home.
I’d give anything to be at the Oakland Coliseum watching him live, and I wonder which of our friends are at the game.
Mick and Remy? Kendra? Vinny? Jeremy? I hope they’re all there cheering him on.
A flash of grief washes over me, and I pull the bowl of popcorn onto my lap and shove a handful in my mouth.
No crying over the past. The players finish warming up and I only recognize some on the roster: Rickey Henderson, Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire, Dennis Eckersley.
It’s an exciting few hours of shrieks, pride, and glee—enough to make Hemi abandon me eventually too.
Oakland jumps into the lead in the first three innings, and Seattle answers in the middle innings, but the A’s prevail 3-2.
Terry gets one hit and scores, thanks to an RBI by McGwire.
I leap into the air once it’s over—I’m so proud of him, elated he’s back in our hometown, and riding the high of a real success story. The guy couldn’t deserve it more.
Two days later, Terry is dead.