BatDad's Bday Present:
Note:This is a rerun of a post from last year.
Today is BatDad's birthday, and Batgirl would like to extend a big birthday shout-out to the man who taught her to love baseball. (It was Dan Gladden that taught BatMom to love baseball, but that's another story.)
When Batgirl and Goober were young, BatDad used to take them to Met stadium, and Batgirl has fond memories of sitting outside munching on goodies while her father explained to her the intricacies of the game. Or yelled things at Roy Smalley. And when Batgirl was older and the Twins moved to the Dome, sometimes he'd come home from work early, find Batgirl doing her homework, and say, "Hey, do you want to go to the game?"
Batgirl always did.
Both Batgirl and Goober grew up playing t-ball. For Goober, BatDad often served as coach. One year, he signed up BatMom to be a coach, too, because the teams were required to have two coaches and he didn't want to work with anyone else. He never actually told BatMom, and she was very confused when she started getting phone calls about practices. BatDad had of course signed up Mom to be head coach, and himself to be the assistant.
Once, during t-ball, Batgirl got an unassisted triple play. This remains a high point in the lore of the BatFamily, it essentially consisted of the ball magically landing in her hands, and BatDad shouting from the stands, "Step on the base!" then, "Tag him, tag him!" Batgirl would not always obey her father, but then she did and she's not sure if he's ever been so proud.
There's a park in front of Batgirl's old house, and in the park was a big tree with a hollow that is now lost to Dutch Elm disease. But that tree was the world's greatest catcher, even better than Joe Mauer. Batgirl and Goober would practice their hitting while BatDad threw pitches and talked to them about their stance. He taught Batgirl to throw the ball like a good third baseman, and in junior high gym, Batgirl sucked at every single sport—but she always got picked early for teams when softball time came around.
When the Twins went to the playoffs in '87, BatDad got the whole family tickets. We had our homer hankies, our shirts, our hats—we bought out the entire pro shop, for two weeks our family was in baseball heaven. When something good would happen, BatDad would stand up and cheer louder than anyone--he'd turn to his kids and give us sky-high double barreled high fives, whooping and beaming.
BatDad doesn't go to the games as much anymore; he doesn't like the Dome, and he lost track of the Twins during the Dark Years. But when he does come with us and something good happens, he still turns to us, both arms raised high in the air, slapping our hands hard with the joy of baseball shining in his eyes.
Now, BatDad has started playing catch with the five year old neighbor boy, and Batgirl cannot help but be touched. The boy might grow up to be a major leaguer or he might grow up to be a Supreme Court justice, but no matter what, when he plays baseball with his own son, he'll think of BatDad and smile.
Posted by Batgirl at July 1, 2005 09:03 AMHappy Birthday, BatDad! We're very grateful for you!
(And an unassisted triple play totally impresses me even more!)
Posted by: Just Beth at July 1, 2005 09:33 AMHappy birthday to BatDad!
Posted by: brent at July 1, 2005 10:10 AMHappy B-Day BatDad! I love the shirt!
I wore my own BF shirt to the men's softball diamonds last night and got many compliments. Thanks again, BatGirl.
However short-lived, the shirts are genius.
Happy birthday BatDad! May your birthday be filled with much joy, many Twins runs, and many Js!
Posted by: ndtf at July 1, 2005 10:20 AMHappy Happy Birthday BatDad!!
Posted by: aurora at July 1, 2005 10:21 AMHappy birthday, BatDad!
Posted by: aussie at July 1, 2005 10:21 AMVery happy birthday, BatDad! And many happy returns!
And as a daughter of a very cool, baseball-loving dad who's now in a better place, I was very touched to read this remarkable tribute. Thank you, BatGirl, for sharing your wonderful stories.
k-bro
Posted by: k-bro at July 1, 2005 10:27 AMhappy birthday, BatDad! what a touching story. I missed it the first time around.
and dude... "Once, during t-ball, Batgirl got an unassisted triple play."
you are so cool.
Posted by: kafumbly at July 1, 2005 10:28 AM
Batdad has the same birthday as my sister!
AND he has an awesome shirt!
Happy Birthday, BD!
Posted by: TwinsGoddess at July 1, 2005 10:30 AMHappy B-Day BatDad!
What a great piece, BG. And it prompts many of my own memories of games with my dad at the Met. I was mortified one game when he lept to his feet and hollered "Go back to the Bronx, Billy!" Now of course, I'm proud of him, and worse at the games than he ever was.
Thanks, Dad.
Thanks, BG.
Happy Birthday BatDad! Thanks for raising such talented kids. You did a good job.
Posted by: Angela at July 1, 2005 10:44 AMHappy Birthday, BatDad!
I raise my favorite toasting beverage to you!!!
Posted by: heraldguy at July 1, 2005 10:49 AMHappy Birthday Batdad, and many more!
What a touching entry! Humor, warmth, friendliness, Bat-girl has it all! Thanks again!
Happy birthday BatDad.
I think I speak for all Batlings when I say:
We thank you and BatMom for passing along your BatDNA to your BatKids.
Posted by: bubblemint at July 1, 2005 11:17 AMHappy birthday, BatDad!
Posted by: Katharriet at July 1, 2005 11:28 AMSweet post, Beege. I'm glad you can write the sappy stuff as well as the funny stuff. Happy Birtday, Bat Dad.
My own dad pays no attention to sports, except to root against the Redskins (he's lived in Washington a lot and hates the Redskins), but I took him to a Twins game once and he got completely sucked into yelling at La Troy Hawkins with me when he blew a 3-run lead in the ninth and the Twins went on to lose in extra innings.
Posted by: Kurtis at July 1, 2005 11:40 AMHappy birthday BatDad!
I can tell you that my own father is very jealous of your shirt. Also, I think my father may have met his match for cheering duting the games.
Posted by: Hannah at July 1, 2005 11:42 AMHappy Birthday to BatDad!
Amen to k-bro. Tributes such as these have become bittersweet to me for the same reason.
And to those of you who still have your baseball-loving dads, remember to treasure them everyday.
Smitty
Posted by: Word Smith at July 1, 2005 12:18 PMHappy Birthday, batdad!
And thank you, batgirl, for the wonderful post. It also reminds me of games at the met with my dad. Which were cool, because he was an ex-groundsman, or some such.
Yay BD!
Posted by: NY-Brian at July 1, 2005 12:37 PMHAVE AN AMAZING BIRTHDAY, BATDAD!!!!!!!
This post made ma tear up, what a great batdad!
Posted by: Stacy at July 1, 2005 12:42 PMHappy happy birthday Batdad
That brings back sooo many memories of my little years! My barn was my catcher. The squares painted on made great targets!!
Happy Birthday Batdad, and Happy Canada Day as well.
Makes me wish my dad were cool like that.
CJF
Posted by: closetJaysfan at July 1, 2005 01:48 PMBatDad, you did an awesome job on the dad-ing. Many happy returns!!
Posted by: LaurieNY at July 1, 2005 02:25 PMKeep up the fine dadding, BatDad.
Posted by: Haplo at July 1, 2005 04:21 PM
Today, RD agrees 101 percent with Laurie!
Happy Birthday, BD!
Posted by: RonDavis at July 1, 2005 06:38 PMThank you for the reprise, BG. BatDad is indeed a very special Bat, evidenced not least by one of the most wonderful BatFamilies there could ever be. Blessing to the whole batclan.
Oh
Posted by: joe oh at July 1, 2005 08:16 PMthe redux is as good as last year if not better. :)
hb,bd!
Posted by: jekyll at July 2, 2005 12:25 AMHappy Birthday Batdad.
Batgirl - loved it last year, loved it again this year. Thanks for sharing!