out to the ballpark with mister willie!

Here he is, Mr. Willie Smith, Jr.,
being escorted to his seat
by Mr. Top Banana himself,
Jesse Cole.
Willie had called last week to say
that Berry Aldridge wanted him to
come in for an interview.
Willie then asked that I accompany
him... and so I did, of course.
(smile)

Willie finally made it to his seat -
hey, it's been months since he had to tackle stairs.
He was even joking that they needed to put in an elevator.
(smile)
Today was also rather humid and that makes breathing difficult, too.
Good thing he got a pacemaker for his 80th birthday last October!

Willie was showing Ben, the photographer and video guru Banana, how to do various pitches.
I don't know that Ben is much of a sports fan, but he did listen.
(smile)
And see that baseball?
Alex Rodriguez, a Savannah Banana last summer, signed that one for the old man and Willie had brought it with him.

I was listening, too, because I know that Willie's son, Willie Everett Smith, was a pitcher for the New York Yankees.
(smile)
Then Jesse returned to the stands, and magic occurred!
Bippity boppity boo!
Suddenly, Willie was transformed into a Bananas man, resplendent in shirt and ballcap!

Lookin' good!
Then there was the adjusting of the microphone and the light stand.
At last, time for the interview!
What was I doing?
Well, mostly I was being quiet and trying to stay out of the way.
(smile)
Surprisingly, I did manage to do well at both of those feats!

I learned a few things, too.
For instance, Willie picked out that seat as his favorite when he was in high school, in the mid-1950's.
That meant this: he has been sitting in his seat since before I was born.
Wow.
It's been his for six of the seven decades that he was been coming to Grayson Stadium.

And one of those sayings he has?
That "Sit down in your seat" admonishment to a player who was struck out?
He picked that up from a guy named Joe that he once sat with.
I'd never heard that story before!
(smile)
Now I have to wonder if any of those other chants might have been Joe's.

Perhaps some had belonged to Willie's dad.
He's responsible for Willie's love of baseball, for his appreciation of the game's strategy.
As Willie said, football is harder than baseball, but only because of the physicality of football.
Baseball is more difficult, because there are so many variables at play.
(smile)

What about music at the games?
Well, Willie didn't talk about Elvis, but he did speak of Ernie Banks.
Apparently, the man singing the 7th inning stretch song had made an impression.
Then, wonder of wonders, Willie regaled us with the song, a cappella!
Don't feel that you've missed out -
it's here on youtube, from 2014!
(smile)

Willie talked about me, too, several times, and my dancing - especially at the Bananas games!
I thought it hilarious that he mentioned that, as he is always after me to sit down in my seat!
(smile)
Then, the interview was over.
Nearly an hour had passed by, but it seemed a mere blink of an eye.
Time truly does flit more quickly during good times!

And what about the baseball season?
Well, the field is looking like it's ready for some action, isn't it?
Right now, a local high school team is making use of it.
Those college boys of summer won't test its turf until May 30th - and I already have my ticket, so I'll be here, Lord willing.
I hope Willie will be, too.
(smile)

a promise, even unto death, to his mom

I was late, or so I thought, but it turned out the timing was perfect.

Minister Murray was going through the acknowledgements as I entered and took a seat at Connor's Temple Baptist Church.

Then a woman came up and sang a religious anthem that started out slow, but gathered steam and energy as it went on to a rousing finish.

"At least I caught that part," I thought.

And when Reverend Sills, the pastor, took the microphone, I had expected a closing benediction and the end of the Home Going Celebration of Mr. Willie Smith, Jr., but that isn't what happened.

He began with the verse from Revelations about all being united with God some day.

Then he went to Ecclesiastes 5:5 "It is better not to promise anything than to promise something and not do it."

That led into his memories of going to baseball games with Willie in years past, to watch the Savannah Braves and the Savannah Sand Gnats, and how much Willie had loved that.

Me, too.

Then he spoke of Willie's dedication to church, being ever present for events there "unless there was a Sand Gnats' game," he said, with a twinkle in his voice.

But there was one exception: he was always there on Sunday.

I knew the backstory for that: Willie had made the promise to his mother that he would always be in church on that day.

No matter if it was a sun-shining, blue-sky, day, perfect for those Sunday afternoon games at Grayson Stadium...

he had promised her to forego baseball on the Lord's day...

and his choice had been to always keep that promise, even unto death.

i thank You, God.

Right place, right time, after all.

I was one of the last ones to file out.

I had tried to search out his niece, Jackie, but didn't find her.

One of Willie's neighbors came up to me, recognizing me as "the girl who would pick him up and take him to the games".

He also introduced me to Willie's son, and I told him how proud his dad was of him, being sure to have folks look him up on the MLB site.

He thanked me for helping to watch over his dad and introduced me to his sister.

I meant to ask about his daughter, Tian, but I didn't see her there.

I did ask about his stepmom, Gloria, and he told me she was not doing well and had not been able to make the trip from Ohio.

Now, I'm home and really not planning to go out any time soon.

The sky is crying, and I know how it feels.

I think I'll pull up the video from 2009 of Willie at the Sand Gnats game.

It'll be good to hear his voice.

true baseball, even in the rain

No, let me rephrase that.
True baseball, especially in the rain.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

I'm talking about the game last night between the Savannah Bananas and the Peninsula Pilots.

"Oh, I remember that name! That was one of the games you got when you traded in a July game, isn't it?"

You are correct! You may also recall that name from the 2016 Championship games. That was the Virginia team the Bananas had to best - and did!

"Very nice! So this game pitted your boys of summer against a team of their same caliber. At last! The Bananas have had a pretty mild season."

Yes, they have. I've been watching the board stats and knew this was going to be a challenge. I had hoped the boys would not scatter errors all over the place, especially as they did yesterday.

"You're telling me. They had two errors before even getting out of the first inning!"

Yeah, that was some sloppy ball to start with, but they remedied their playing and won. Still, it was a good thing Mister Willie wasn't there, or he'd have been having fits at these college boys.

"Heard! Having played ball himself, and with a son in the majors, Willie really cannot abide sloppy ball."

That is so very true!
(smile)

"What about this game? Was he there?"

Yes, he was, and in fine form, too. The day had been extremely hot, followed by thunderstorms, so it had been a source of debate between us as to whether he should go.
I had finally relented about 5:30, as the temperatures had slid back into the 80's.
Berry Aldridge had met us on the apron outside Grayson Stadium and took charge of Willie while I found a place for my car.

"I thought you had the Handicap parking permit from his car...?"

I do, but we had arrived so late - and the weather was such - that all nine slots were filled by the time we had arrived. No worries, though. I was allowed to park right across the way, in the special lot.

"Oh, that was good.
So, just what is going on in the above photo?"

Well, we'd just gone through the eighth inning, with the Bananas still having only the one run, from back in the third inning. Willie had been cheering them on, too, constantly and loudly - you know, like the old days... even if 2009 was not so long ago!
(smile)
But all his encouragement had gone for naught.
The Pilots had scored a run in both the third and fourth, and they were in the lead...
still...
four innings later.

"Well, that was certainly enough to cause concern for the fans in the stands!"

Yes, indeed. And see those four fellows off to Willie's right? They've sat with him several times over the last few years. I think they even took him to Charleston to see the Sand Gnats play the Riverdogs a couple of years ago.

"I remember that! Willie had been very excited about that little jaunt... and the boys had been elated about him being there to cheer for them!"

"Well, okay, that's one way to change the topic..."

Sorry, you just seemed to be rambling a bit and I have a story to finish.

"Well, do carry on, dear."

Thanks, I appreciate that.
Okay, what's happening here?
Well, there had been soft rains for about an hour and the mound had evidently become slick. The Pilots had noted the slippage of the Bananas' pitcher at the top of the ninth when he had successfully mounted his final attack on their batters. The Virginia team insisted that the mound be refreshed before their man took a final stand.

"There will come soft rains... wasn't there a Ray Bradbury story by that title?"

Yes, there was. It was also my favorite part of his book, The Martian Chronicles.
And... you have strayed off topic again.

"No, I haven't! You were just talking about putting some fresh dirt out there because the Pilots were concerned that their pitcher might not fare as well in keeping the Bananas down."

You have been paying attention! Good!
And, yes, indeed, the Pilots had cause to be concerned, as it turned out.
Here we have Alex Rodriguez tying up the score, thanks to a double by Cade Marlowe...
and the crowd goes wild!!!
Yeah!!!

"Hooray! Does that mean the game went into extra innings?"

Thankfully, no.
Justin Dirden hit a single and Marlowe sped around third and landed safely at home!
And the crowd went wild again!
And the Bananas bounced as a bunch out of the bullpen, joining Justin at first base!
What a magnificent way to end the game!!!

"WOW!!!"

Wow. That was baseball at its finest, it truly was. Two evenly-matched rivals, playing their very best, down to the very last of the game.
Believe me, Willie was as happy as I to have been present there!

Afterward, he had one stalwart young man to steady him on his bad left leg. Two other young men held umbrellas over them all, keeping Willie dry.
Very nice.
Thanks, y'all!

"Wow... what a wonderful night!"

What a wonderful night...
i thank You, God.

1st bananas for me is a winner!

What a game it was for my first one of the season!
Yes, I realize the first home game was actually last night, but I have the ten-game package, remember?
So, my first baseball was tonight.
i thank God for that!
This was Willie's first game of the season, too.
I just know I would have freaked out if I had come last night and he wasn't there...
nice coincidence!
(smile)

I had known it was
going to be a good one
from the moment I arrived!
This band from
South Effingham High School
was out front,
playing loud and proud...
I even danced in line
while we waited for the gate to open!
You know I did!

Then I found
Mister Willie and
managed to slide on in
next to him.
(smile)
Sit in my seat?
Not for this game, thank you!
And here we are about to begin!

What a treat, too!
Not only did we have
the school band before us,
but also the Tis'
with his childrens' choir!
Hooray!
And hooray for the
first responders
there tonight, too!

Ah!
Nothing like the sight
of the lush green
of the outfield and
the dark clay infield,
splashed with the yellow
of thee boys of summer!
Such a welcome scene for my eyes!

And would you look at that?
Mister Willie was wearing his
yellow socks for good luck!
He also had a Sand Gnats shirt on
beneath his regular one...
shhhh... don't tell anyone...
(smile)

Those socks must have done the trick!
Last night, the Savannah Bananas
had lost to the Florence Red Wolves.
The Lexington Blowfish would have
no such luck tonight.
This is the first run of the evening...

... followed right quickly
by the second run
for the home team!
Then the visitors dribbled in
another and I went downstairs
for more ice-cold soda...
and I missed my Bananas
scoring runs three and four!
Just that quickly!

I was right there for
the salute to the troops, though!
Hooray!
I do so enjoy the recognition
for my eight years of service
to this country
and to the Navy.
Thanks, y'all!

Then, about the sixth inning,
it was nightfall.
Baseball at night,
such a delight...
especially sitting by
my Elvis-crooner,
Mister Willie.
i thank You, God.

Willie had just said
that the boys needed to score
a few more runs.
Their 4 to 3 lead rested
on just one buffering run...
and they must have heard him.
In the bottom of the 7th,
they turned it loose,
in a big way!

That was run number 5
in the previous photo.
Here is run six...

followed quickly by
lucky run number seven...

and an even luckier
run number eight,
made by a sliding Banana
after a wild pitch
flew by the catcher.
Woohoo!

You would think their coach
would have pulled him...
but you would be wrong!
Instead, we scored again...

... and again...
(this was run number ten!!!)

... and one more time,
for run number eleven!!!
After that, the pitcher was
swapped out by the Blowfish,
but too late for them.

The Bananas had won!
Those seven runs
in the seventh inning
had definitely cinched it!
Woohoo!

Then me and the moon and even Mister Willie were treated to a grand fiReWOrKs display.
Hooray!
Why had Willie stayed for them?
He was waiting for me to give him a ride home.
Woohoo!
Now, I'm going to visit the artist and give him my ticket for Thursday's game...

i thank You, God, for such a grand evening!

damp bananas with bill and joe and willie!

The visitors to Mister Willie's
place in the stands
began an hour before the game
even started.
This young man was a boy
when he first started
checking in with Willie.

Not ten minutes later,
the fellow Willie calls 'Doc' came up.
He's to the left.
That's his son there on the right!
Doc has been calling on Willie
every time he's there.
Tonight, his whole family sat right behind
Willie - and me - for the game.

This young woman was right on their heels
to take her turn with
the ballpark royalty!
Let me make this clear:
Willie is much too humble
to refer to himself that way.
That's strictly my doing!

The blonde lady sitting beside
Savannah's Mr. Smith?
That was an older woman
who was at a game last week.
She had assured him that she and her family
would return for this game... and they did!
How very nice that they were able
to sit with him again
on this sold-out evening!

Of course, I was a little busy
socializing myself to keep up
with all of his callers.
My dear friend Bill the artist
was right there by my side!
How glad I was that he was there!
Of course, I had taken him a ticket
earlier today to make sure he would be.
(smile)

Gotta love those Zaxby Bananas
family deals!
Joe, the peace Guy,
was down from the ATL
and got another of the
tickets from that deal.
Hooray!

Does Joe know baseball?
Not hardly!
This was the first game anywhere
that he's attended this year...
or maybe ever!
His sweetie knows baseball, though -
and Joe was asking questions to
amaze those at home.
Hahahahaha hahaha!

Of course, it wasn't just baseball
at the stadium tonight.
As always with the Savannah Bananas,
there's a bit of the circus in the air, too!
Here, we have the first-ever
Father and Sun game of catch
between a dad and daughter.
Fabulous!!!

And this episode of the
Keystone Banana Kapers featured...
a girl!
That's right!
A ten-year-old T-baller bested them!
She may have tripped right before
tagging home plate,
but she still won and
was lifted to their shoulders!

Here we have the arrival of Split,
scariest Big Banana of them all!
Not really, though.
He's always willing to pose
for fan selfies
and has been known to dance
a pretty mean jig!

The Dancing Nanas are so-called because
- well -
because they're somebody's grandmas
and they know how to cut a rug!
They don't move as quickly
as they used to,
but they can still stay in step
with the music!

And these guys are their counterparts
on the dance scene!
I call them "Daddy Got Back" -
in deference to Sir Mix-A-Lot's tune,
naturally!
How hilarious to watch them
shake those baseballs
out of their fanny packs!

Who do we have here?
Why, it's the Band In The Rain!
(Hey, I know Sir Paul would be
quite pleased to have his song
mentioned in this context!)
And what's that about rain?
At this game, too?

Sad, but true.
Bill went home to await the renewal of play;
Joe and I stayed to catch up on each other's love life.
(Rather, for me to get up to date on his... lol!)
The delay was for almost exactly an hour,
but when play resumed, the game between
the Bananas and Grizzlies simply flew!

Here's the highlight
of the pre-rain game:
a home run over
the left-field wall
by Bryce Fischer,
in the third inning.
That ball was
gone, baby, gone!

This shot is from the bottom of the sixth.
The Bananas had loaded the bases and
Christian Hollie was next to bat.
Grand slam?
Almost!
His double drove in those three men
standing on home plate -
and he's the yellow blur on his way
to being safe at second!

And what have we here? Was this the turning of the wheel, so to speak?
Yes, yes it was. In fact, this photo documents the fourth time in that seventh inning that the Grizzlies' pitcher walked in a Bananas' run.
You see, said pitcher kept hitting the batters and loading up the bases.
The bases were filled with Bananas for multiple turns of the wheel -
it was hilarious!
I think the team gained eight runs from that one inning!
Seriously, if not for our late-game pitcher having pity on them, the score would have been quite lopsided.
As it was, the Bananas took the win, 14 to 8.
Even with the rain delay, we were still on our way by 10:30 pm.
What an incredible evening, made even more so by me sitting between two of my favorite men: Bill and Joe!
And what a blessing to have Willie right there, too!
i thank You, God!