"You're Killing Me, Smalls"

A familiar line from the film "The Sandlot", probably my favorite film about baseball and growing up. I was simply 10 years later or so. At 9 years old, I lived in Richmond, Virginia, getting ready to move to South Texas. I became a fan of the local Richmond Braves team. Not sure if the Braves were AAA, AA or whatever they call it (sounds like a type of battery), I just knew it was not the major leagues.

In my church congregation, I vaguely remember a man named Jack who told me about a hot new baseball player named Dale Murphy. He was a handsome tall fellow, just became a new member of our church.

In the spotty remembrance of that time, I remember going to the stands of the games and pointing him out. Then, we met him after the game outside of the locker room. Seems like he might of stayed at our house, not sure the relationship. I just remember I wanted to play baseball and when I moved to Texas, I was going to be on a team.

Jack sat with us in the stands during the games. At the time, Dale was being considered to play for the Atlanta Braves. Sitting in the stands was a man who was there representing the Braves, names Henry Aaron. I sat next to him and he talked to me, but to this day, I can't remember what he said.

I was finished and I went to sit back with my parents, I was thinking to myself "I wonder if he's related to Hank Aaron". It was one of my many "Sandlot" moments, me fitting into the Smalls character very nicely.

I remember when moving to Texas, I was going to play baseball (I was 10). I decided to tryout for the little league. First, I think I was the absolute next to the last player to be picked. I too remember I couldn't throw the ball. I couldn't hit either. In fact, once when I did hit the ball in the middle of the game, I threw the bat (just like on TV) and accidentally hit my coach. I knew there were so many other boys who were better than me.

The end came when I got a black eye during practice and used the pain as the excuse on quitting the team.

Dale Murphy sent me a ball with all of the Braves autographs on it, including Hank Aaron. What did I do with that ball? Well, what did Smalls do with the Great Bambino ball? Yup.

I managed to still keep my hat he gave me, so a few days ago, I got to see Dale again, for the first time in 35 years. I do the video work for the Orem Owlz team and Dale came to speak at the opening season dinner. I went up to him and, not surprised, he didn't remember me. But he remembered the location, the atmosphere, Jack. I related my story and he kindly autographed my hat, noticing it was old and realized what I gem I kept.

I'm not one to run up to someone for an autograph and chat with a celebrity. But this one I couldn't pass up.

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