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The World Series and Parenthood
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Yet another little reminder of how being a prent changes you.

This was a pretty good World Series, with some good play and plenty of dramatic swings. I saw most of it, but the image that sticks with me has nothing to do with baseball.

When I hear people talk about this Series, all I can see is the fleeting image FOX showed of Dusty Baker’s three year old son crying as the Angel’s celebrated their victory. At one point, the Giants were 7-0 in the post season when Dusty’s son was a batboy. He was their good luck charm, as far as he was concerned. He was even reported to have said that he HAD to go to the ballpark, sick or not (he stayed home from game 4 with a cold - a game that the Giants lost) - the team needed him. In his mind, in the peculiar logic of small children, he thought the Giants lost the World Series because HE let them down, becasue he was no longer lucky.

A couple of years ago, before my son was born, I would have noted that, and moved on. Yesterday, it broke my heart.

October 28th, 2002 General | 4 comments

4 Comments

  1. Bob writes:

    Heartbreaking, indeed. Poor little kid. I’m happy for the Angels, but I always feel bad for the losing team, as they’ve poured their hearts and souls into the game and gotten this far, only to see it end in defeat.

    Comment 10/28/2002

  2. Bradford Holcombe writes:

    Dusty Baker had a policy of welcoming children into the dugout. I think there were eight of them down there last night. It was great to see them all, horsing around, and I think it made a big difference in the behavior of the players. They seemed more adult, less petulant. There was no helmet throwing, no yelling, no smashing water coolers, unlike the behavior of some players on the Angels. Aside from Darren Baker almost getting creamed at home plate, it seemed an admirable decision. However, allowing a child to think that they are responsible in any way for the success of a baseball team is as short-sighted and unfair as an adult can be. When my wife and I saw Dusty Baker carrying Darren, tears streaming down his face, our hearts broke too. Dar, our 15-month old son, was sitting between us, without a care in the world.

    Bud Selig, Commissioner of Baseball, who gets my vote for Grinch, has decided to curtail the whole thing. “We look ridiculous and very unprofessional.” So, it is back to watching grown men kick dirt on one another, head-butt umpires, and spit in their faces. Very professional.

    Bradford Holcombe
    Trip Reports from Imaginary Places

    Comment 10/28/2002

  3. kevin writes:

    Bradford

    I don’t think Dusty did it on purpose. I think one of the players mentioned it in passing to Darren, and it stuck.

    I, too, liked the tone having the children in the dugout set. You are right, the Giant dugout did seem more mature, even with all of the kids. I don’t think that banning them is required. Simply assigning a club house attendant or an older child to ride herd would do, I believe.

    Comment 10/28/2002

  4. Bradford Holcombe writes:

    I agree. I did, and still do, think quite highly of Dusty Baker. I am sure he is kicking himself for not seeing the issue ahead of time. As a new father, I am continually discovering new areas of peril in the universe, and I am trying to avoid as many as possible. In hindsight, it is obvious how painful losing could be to Darren Baker. Thinking back, however, it didn’t occur to me, even though the FOX coverage repeatedly referred to his “good luck charm” status. Any note of disapproval from me should be read as self-criticism.

    Great blog. You are on my daily read list. Thanks.

    Comment 10/29/2002

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