I caught the ball with my hat
I was sitting maybe 5 rows back in left field in the bleachers, and some player for the Los Angeles Dodgers had blasted a ball right at me. My dad and my twin brother both gave a little shout when they saw where the ball was headed, but all I was doing was tracking the ball and figuring out what I was going to catch it with. I had maybe 4 seconds to make a decision, and the only thing handy was my hat. So I whipped it off, and reached out to catch it, not noticing the man behind me getting ready to catch it. We both got to it at the same time, and he pulled the ball out of my hat and claimed the batting practice ball as his own. I didn't want to deprive the man, or his kid of the prize, so I let it go knowing that I had made a memory.
I have been to Turner Field in Atlanta 4 or 5 times, and every time I go I have a good time. Whether it was sitting next to my 11 year old brother experiencing his first major league game, or tailgating with my roommates on a beautiful April day, Turner Field has been good to me. My brother got to see Tim Hudson throw a gem and Billy Wagner throw gas during his first big time baseball experience, and Ubaldo Jimenez decided to be historic and throw a no hitter for my friends and I. Two wholly different experiences, and two different kinds of good times.
I am heading back down there on Friday as a kind of end of college event with my buddies, and I am anticipating having a good time when the Braves play the Mets. I don't really care one way or the other who wins, or who's pitching. I just hope that Turner Field delivers a good time on the last Friday of my college career.
I'll post here and let you know.
