Thimbleanna » Number 35

Number 35

August 30, 2010 on 10:15 pm | In Family | 51 Comments

Before I start the Number 35 story, I should tell you that I’m not a sports fan. I grew up in a female household, except for BigDaddy and he wasn’t big into sports. We didn’t grow up with that incessant drone of monotone announcers and crowd noise on holidays and weekends. My idea of sport was the occasional bike ride. But, that all changed when my two boys came along. I made an exception for baseball.

I think I’ve mentioned here before, that from a very early age, TheFirstChild would sit to watch those long baseball games on TV. He talked so much about baseball that he made TheManoftheHouse crazy. But not me, I was thrilled that my little guy was so passionate about something. I became the only one who would talk baseball with him. We cut our baseball teeth on the White Sox — he learned from them and then he taught me. For several years I even knew the all White Sox players, their positions and their usual batting order. And most importantly, I knew about The Big Hurt. Frank Thomas.

Frank played first base and designated hitter for the White Sox from 1990 to 2005 — TheFirstChild’s entire childhood. TheFirstChild idolized Big Frank – Frank was the topic of so many dinner-time conversations that he was practically a member of the family. So, in February, when Frank retired from baseball, TheFirstChild called.

Him: Mom. The White Sox are going to retire Frank Thomas’s number on August 29th and we have to go.

Me: We do?

Him: Yes! You and Me and The Big Hurt. Remember?

Be. Still. My. Heart. Of course. Of course I remembered and of course we must go. And Yesterday was the big day.

It was awesome. We had seats in the nosebleed section, but we were behind home plate, so we didn’t care. Many of Frank’s old teammates were in attendance. Big Frank was presented with a few mementos and then he spoke. Or sobbed rather, as he thanked all the people in his life that are so important to him.

I cried too. I don’t know what TheFirstChild was thinking but I was remembering all those baseball games during his childhood. All the times I was making dinner and heard “Mom! Frank hit a home run!” or “Mom! Get in here! You have to come and watch the re-play!” All the times I’d come home from work and listen to the play-by-play of an afternoon summer game that I had missed.

I remembered the little guy who would be so excited when the White Sox acquired an exciting new prospect. There’s nothing quite like seeing a 7-yr old boy jump out of his seat yelling “You can PutItOnThe boooaaarrrrrdddd – Yesssss!” And the little guy who was so sad when one of his favorite players had been traded. All the times I said “It’s only a game” to try and cheer him up after a particularly painful loss.

Frank Thomas, circa 1997 — Twins Stadium

I remembered the excitement of being at the ball park with my wide-eyed little boys, hanging out by the dugout or the team bus in hopes of getting an autographed baseball. And what an exciting moment it was to hear the euphoric college junior on the other end of the phone declare “Mom! The White Sox are going to the World Series!!!” He went to the first game of the 2005 world series all by himself because we couldn’t justify buying more than one ticket at the obscene ticket prices. But to send him was worth every penny. I was in England with MeMum and BigDaddy on the day of the big game and I remembered standing in an old red phone booth in the dark, late that night as he told me all about the big game. What a thrill!

The ballpark was jam-packed yesterday and the heat was intolerable. I heard comments like “I’ve been coming to these games for 30 years and I’ve never seen anything like it.” We waited in long lines and they ran out of parking spaces. Yesterday’s game was a mastercard commercial writer’s dream. Ticket Price. Frank Thomas Bobble Head dolls for the first 10,000 fans {score!}.

And memories. Priceless, lifetime memories. I often wonder if Big Frank has any idea how many little boys’ lives he affected. If he knows how much joy he provided to those who cheered him on as he broke hitting records and hit home runs. Thank You, Thank You Big Frank. From the bottom of my mother’s heart.

And thanks to my little boy. Who pinched that heart when he called up and invited his mom to the baseball game. I love, love, love you Sweetie.

XOXO,
Anna

51 Comments

what a wonderful memory…and such a nice boy..

Comment by Nancy — August 30, 2010 #
This is a fabulous post, Anna. Choked up here. That’s all I have to say.

XOXO~
Cassie

Comment by Cassie — August 30, 2010 #
So sweet! You done good, mama!

Comment by Susan — August 30, 2010 #
Great story! Isn’t if funny what we do for our kids even though it might not have been high on our priority list. But that’s when the most beautiful memories are made, isn’t it? So glad you had a great time with your “little boy” once again. Incidentally, I just drove my “little boy” to the airport to go to the “far side” of the earth (Boston) and I’m feeling hollow inside (that’s what my daughter used to say when she was missing someone). Thanks for sharing this lovely story.

Comment by Vreni — August 30, 2010 #
What a sweet story! I’m sure you enjoyed your day with your son!

Comment by Janet — August 30, 2010 #
Oh my gosh, you’ve got to get a book deal. I mean, I’m not a sports fan, and (don’t tell your son he’ll hate me) I think baseball games are *so* looooong (especially on TV), but man are the waterworks flowing for me! What an incredibly touching, well-written essay on the bond between a mom and her son.

You should find out what Big Frank’s email address is and send him a link to this post. Wow.

What a special, amazing relationship you have with your child. We should all be so lucky – and work so hard for it.

Comment by Michelle — August 30, 2010 #
You could have been a fly on the wall at my house. After 3 girls we finally had our boy! He was the one who completely fell in love with baseball. I too went along on the adventure with him. We still go to games (The Angels) and have made so many wonderful memories. In fact, my son learned to read at a very early age by reading the sports page to find out how his favorite players were doing. Your story was so touching. Thank you for sharing. I hope with all my heart that when he’s grown I get a call like yours with a wonderful invitation to one of our beloved games. Thank you again.

Comment by Alisa — August 31, 2010 #
What an enchanting post! A whole lot of treasured memories for you and your son – I’ve got a tear in my eye after reading this!!

Comment by frayedattheedge — August 31, 2010 #
What a wonderful post Anna and what a beautiful memory to share with us.

Comment by Judy — August 31, 2010 #
how wonderful for you & your son…& what sweet memories & stories to share with future generations!

Comment by linda — August 31, 2010 #
you are the best mom ever.

(that’s the biggest compliment i can ever give someone, because i can’t think of a better thing to be.)

Comment by brigita — August 31, 2010 #
Oh, Anna, that was the sweetest story. My little boy and I had such moments, as well. (Still do.) It makes all the other stuff worthwhile, doesn’t it!

Comment by Elaine/MuddlingThrough — August 31, 2010 #
What a wonderful story. My 2 boys were baseball players through college and I sat through many, many of their games with all their highs and lows. Your story takes the cake…brought tears to my eyes also.

Comment by Karen — August 31, 2010 #
Awwwwww. A day to treasure, for sure.

Comment by dottycookie — August 31, 2010 #
Oh wow. I am all teary-eyed after reading this post.

Comment by Rachel — August 31, 2010 #
Anna~

You have me in tears. This story is so sweet and touching. I am thinking of my own son, who is 7 and what it will be like to for him to be all grown up. It sounds as though TheFirstChild has grown to be a very thoughtful and good man. I hope for the same for my own son.

Thanks for sharing.

Lisa

Comment by Lisa — August 31, 2010 #
What a great post! It made me tear up. I am expecting my first baby, a boy, in January, and I hope so much that we can share the game of baseball.
I can remeber when the Braves went from worst to first and how excited my entire family was that season. I think most of our dinner conversations were about the Braves that year.

Comment by Blakely — August 31, 2010 #
What an incredible story, Anne. Enough memories for a life time. There is something about the relationship between a mother and her son that is priceless!!!

Comment by Miss Jean — August 31, 2010 #
Awwww. *sniff, sniff* So, so sweet.

Comment by MichelleB — August 31, 2010 #
Lovely story! It is so like my own, my son loved the Angels from the time he fist picked up a ball. He played baseball by himself in the front yard for years if he couldn’t round up someone or get his sister to play. He had a particlarly annoying game of calling an invisible game play by play on long car rides…my brother still talks about a 5 hr car ride in No Wisc when Sean was 8 yr old. Flash forward to the Angels first appearance in the Worlds series. At the last minute he coughs up an obsene amount of money for game 7….says he has to be there! As they win guess who he calls on his cell phone so I can share all the noise and excitement! yep, Mom…nothing like our little boys is there..even when they’re grown up!

Comment by Mary Ann — August 31, 2010 #
Gosh darn it Anna—You made me cry! Ditto to Brigita’s comment……Baseball was never big for my boys, but Lily’s boys are another story. Such enthusiasm! They know all the guys names and all the stats! It boggles the mind—-Dad’s a big fan too, so they have long grown-up-man sounding discussions about the whole business. They’re 8 and 6, so it’s pretty hilarious!

Comment by molly — August 31, 2010 #
Me too. You brought tears to my eyes. What a GREAT post!

Comment by Jen — August 31, 2010 #
Dang it! I don’t have time for crying today, especially about baseball.

Comment by Cindy — August 31, 2010 #
Oh My Gosh You have me crying like a baby. Thanks so much. I being the mom of a grown Man with his own family I know the feeling of the Phone call. I saw the life of your son grow as I read the story not blog today it was a life moment to always remember. Thanks for sharing. Terri
P.S. It shows what a great Mom you are.

Comment by Terri Fisher — August 31, 2010 #
Anna, you know I love baseball AND little boys. You’re makin’ me cry!

Comment by Karen — August 31, 2010 #
Of course this made me cry! My “baby boy” turned 32 Sunday and he can still melt my heart! So glad you were able to go do this! What a special day to tuck away in your memory!

Comment by Gurney — August 31, 2010 #
you brought tears to my eyes! what a great day for you!

Comment by Jenny — August 31, 2010 #
Be still my heart. *tears*

I made my little boy go to bed without a story because he was a bad boy. Now feeling extreme guilt.

Comment by Beth — August 31, 2010 #
What a thoughtful, sweet young man to share this baseball moment in history with his mom. And thank you, Anna, for sharing it with us too.

jody

Comment by Jody — August 31, 2010 #
Oh my gosh, Anna, what a wonderfully sweet story and such a great memory for you and he to hold onto! Sounds like you have a great kid!

Comment by MJ Smith — September 1, 2010 #
What a lovely read, I now understand how these sports stars can be such strong role models. What wonderful memories you’ve got. I can’t say anymore, I’ll get all teary at the lovelieness of it all.

Comment by Janet — September 1, 2010 #
Oh my gosh sister, this post is killing me! I’m going to go hug my girls now. And next time you better be on the devil barge with us when we go whale watching! xoxo

Comment by AnyoneCanQuilt — September 1, 2010 #
A sweet story, and i cant believe the big hurt had his number retired. (he totally deserved it, i just cannot believe it has been that long) I even followed him from up here…..

Comment by nicole — September 1, 2010 #
Mwah! Tears in my eyes reading that story and hoping that my boys and I will share something similarly ‘special’ x x

Comment by saskia — September 2, 2010 #
You made me cry! Such an special thing to have shared with your son all these years.

Comment by Andrea Q — September 2, 2010 #
nice memory, great Mom, wonderful Son.
miss you, robin

Comment by Robin Brown — September 2, 2010 #
That is so neat – what a great story!! And what a good mom you were to participate with your boy in something he loved – I grew up in an all-girl, non-sports dad house too, so sometimes it is really a stretch for me to get into all this baseball stuff. You sure got your reward though, he’s all grown up and he wants mom to come with him. That’s the best!!

Comment by rohanknitter — September 2, 2010 #
Anna- Sob. Weep. You made me cry. That is such a beautiful story. You are such a good mom. :)

Comment by Karin — September 2, 2010 #
Wonderful, wonderful story.

Comment by Caroline — September 2, 2010 #
What a wonderful, heartfelt, Mother’s-love post!!
XX

Comment by meggie — September 3, 2010 #
What a lovely story! And what a great compliment to you as a mother to have raised such a great young man. :)

Comment by Doni — September 3, 2010 #
Oh, my. Sitting here crying…

My DH is a die-hard NY Mets fan, having grown up on Long Island. He loves to love them and he loves to hate them. All part of the deal. We had two girls. No boys. Both are die-hard Mets fans. DH flew to NY with DD14 (at the time) two years ago for the next to last game in Shea Stadium. (Had to fib for the school excuse – but worth it.) Oldest DD married a die-hard Red Sox fan. He’s not allowed in our house wearing Red Sox paraphernalia.

Family traditions are wonderful. I’m so glad you were able to be TheFirstChild’s special date for the game – I’ll bet it made it all worth it!

Sniffle! ME

Comment by Michele in Huntsville — September 4, 2010 #
Ohh you know how to tempt a woman. Those scones look so delicious.

Comment by alison — September 5, 2010 #
What a gorgeous post Anna! Lucy xxx

Comment by lucy locket — September 6, 2010 #
Anna. That is the Best and Most Awesome Story and Nemory of your life with your firstchild. Wow! It made me tear up to read it. Very. Special. Story!!!

Comment by Kim Walus — September 6, 2010 #
Memory not Nemory. lol. I had a tear in my eye. Best MEMORY EVER!!!

Comment by Kim Walus — September 6, 2010 #
A Wonderful post about a great kid!! I had tears in my eyes sharing in your special bond with your son.

Thank you for sharing and you are one lucky mom!!

SheilaC

(still getting caught up!)

Comment by SheilaC — September 6, 2010 #
I am actually phobic about things like baseball and football (so I did not read your post) because of my crazy father screaming and throwing stuff around. But I am sure it was a good post ; -) xoxox Clarice

Comment by clarice — September 7, 2010 #
Awwww…such a sweet story :)

Comment by Tammy — September 7, 2010 #
Oh Anna…
I love it…it pulled at my heartstrings:)
My number one son is all grown up now and is a new daddy…where does the time go?
We had him when we were both 19 so he and I and Mr.Honey all grew up together.
The bond and special thing that we shared…(and still do) is music….oh the concerts we have been to together!
He is 6 foot 3 but I when I look at him…I still see my little toeheaded brown eyed boy who wanted to hold my hand everywhere we went…aaahhhhh.
A mothers love for her son.
Thanks for sharing yours.
xx
lori

Comment by lori holt — September 8, 2010 #
What a PRECIOUS story! It made me cry! Wonderful memories with your son!

Comment by Lisa — September 11, 2010 #