Kindness Was the Name of the Game
By Russ Towne
In 2012 my wife and I experienced a most unusual baseball game between the Giants and the Yankees. During it we got to see a 5-run homer, a batter run the bases backwards, and players skipping in the outfield and doing somersaults in the infield.
Perhaps I should explain…
My Beloved, a Special Education teacher for Kindergartners and 1st Graders, was invited by the parents of one of her students to a baseball game in a Special Education league. She invited me, and off we went on that beautiful sunny day, which featured a strong brisk breeze.
The home team was named the Giants and the away team was the Yankees. This was no ordinary game. In fact, it was a special game indeed.
All the fans cheered equally for every player of both teams. Each player was matched with a “buddy” on the field, a Little Leaguer who volunteered to help their little buddy to field or hit the ball and stay safe.
Every one of the young volunteer buddies was amazing! They stayed focused during the whole game while patiently guiding their little buddies in gentle, loving ways.
The grown-up volunteers, coaches, managers also kept everyone safe while helping children who were physically, mentally, and behaviorally challenged to experience the thrill of playing baseball.
Every child got to bat every inning. There were eight players per team and the score was tied 8 to 8 at the end of the first inning and ended in a 16 to 16 tie. It wasn’t exactly a pitchers’ duel, and the fielding needed some work, but their bats were on fire!
On the field was a player in a motorized wheel chair and players who could barely run or hold a bat. Boys and girls played for each team. The players went through a range of emotions during the game, with smiles dominating, but there were frustration and tears, too. Some were show-boats, some were painfully shy, and a few got overwhelmed by it all.
You couldn’t ask for a better announcer or fans. It was a wonderful way to spend part of the day.
To say I was touched by it all was an understatement. My vision blurred several times during the game as I saw people being beautiful to each other. It must have been the brisk breeze blowing dust into my eyes.
Yeah, that must have been it…
Russ Towne's A Grateful Man 
What a lovely story…
Thank you, Mimi.
What a fabulous day for ALL that must have been, Russ….you painted a perfect picture of it ❤ !
Thank you, Heather. The day was perfect indeed. A bit dusty though! ;-D!
This is a fine story Russ, I once saw a softball game where blind kids hit a ball that beeped. That touched me too.
Cool! I’m glad the blind children now get a chance to find out what it feels like to hit a ball!
isn’t it amazing, those kids had hand-ear coordination. How cool is that ? 🙂
Yes. They’d have probably clobbered me and many others if we had to wear blindfolds while playing against them. Come to think of it, a baseball can be kind of scary flying near my face even with my ability to see it. I can imagine how much more intimidating it would be having it buzz by my head without being able to see it!
this is a beautiful story, full of love and compassion. how lucky that your wonderful wife invited you along.a breeze must have blown a bit of dust into my eyes too, as i read this in my living room –
Lucky indeed! That dust sure does get around…
Another wonderful, warm and feel-good story. Thank you for sharing. 😛
Thank you for your kind comment.
~(*_~)~~
Awww, very touching. It even made brisk breeze blow dust in your eyes. Based on what you wrote, the same thing would happened to me.
I appreciate your kind comment, Shian. It is good to hear from you.
Love, love, love when people care for each other. ❤
Diana xo
Me too, my friend. Me too. I just started writing a story about a place where everyone does that. I’m having fun with it but it may be a week or so before I begin posting parts of it. Sadly it will need to be posted on my fiction blog.
Russ
That should be interesting! No villains?
Oh how touching and lovely makes one glad they came for a visit
Thank you, Joanne. It was certainly a special day.
I love this Russ. I love people being beautiful to one another. Other people seeing it, sharing it, it’s a fantastic ripple. 🙂
A fantastic ripple indeed. Thank you for keeping the ripple going by reading the post and commenting on it. It is wonderful to spread the beauty of the actions and connections of such people far and wide.
This is lovely, Russ. What a wonderful way for the two of you to spend time together.
I’m always so behind in my blogging….but this such a wonderful post.
Ellepeth
Thank you, Ellespeth. I know what you mean. It’s hard to keep up sometimes. I read a post or two of yours earlier today and enjoyed the experience.