The summer of 1967 was when I got interested in baseball. Growing up in New England (Boothbay Harbor, Maine to be exact), my family would gather around the TV during the summer months and watch as the “Cardiac Kids,” the Boston Red Sox, kept us and the region enthralled by capturing the American League pennant in one of the tightest races in MLB history. The Tigers, White Sox and Twins were all in the race until the final week but the Red Sox won out to face the vaunted St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series. Yaz and company fell to Bob Gibson and company in seven games but I was hooked.

Little League in the region started in 1969 and being 12 during that summer, I was able to play at least one season before “graduating” to Babe Ruth play the next summer. Our team, the Fisherman’s Wharf Giants, was mediocre and the Rotary Red Sox went on to win the region’s first Little League title. My longtime friend, Alan Miller, still rubs it in as he was their top pitcher that year. I couldn’t hit his curve!

Miller and I went on to face each other at our respective school teams; he played for Boothbay Grammar School and I suited up for Boothbay Harbor Grammar School. Again, his team usually prevailed. Games were played on the Boothbay Common (home field advantage?).

All these years later, I still enjoy watching baseball (though the games seem to be much longer with pitching changes, TV commercials, etc.). Like my wife says, you can do other things like read a book while watching baseball – when you hear the crowd roar, there seems to be the ever-present replay so you don’t really miss anything.

I am looking forward to my first trip back to Fenway Park in over 30 years this coming Saturday. Yes, I missed the championship runs, Pedro, Papi, Manny and all the others, but at least they kept me interested in the sport all these years.

Look for me near the Pesky pole if you tune into the game. I’ll be wearing my red Red Sox cap!