Touching Baseball Story

[I.Am.Canadian]

Hey guys, someone sent me this e-mail, and it was a touching story. It's about baseball. Here it is.

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning

disabled children,the father of one of the students delivered a speech that

would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and

its dedicated staff, he offered a question:

"When not interfered with by outside influences, everything

nature does is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things

as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do.

Where is the natural order of things in my son?"

The audience was stilled by the query.

The father continued. "I believe,that when a child like Shay,

physically and mentally handicapped comes into the world, an opportunity to

realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes, in the way other

people treat that child."Then he told the following story:

Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay

knew were playing baseball. Shay asked,"Do you think they'll let me play?"

Shay's father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on

their team, but the father also understood that if his son were allowed to

play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence

to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.

Shay's father approached one of the boys on the field and asked

if Shay could play, not expecting much. The boy looked around for guidance

and said, "We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I

guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth

inning."

Shay struggled over to the team's bench put on a team shirt with a broad smile and his Father had a small tear in his eye and warmth in his

heart. The boys saw the father's joy at his son being accepted. In the

bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still

behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and

played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was

obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from

ear to ear as his father waved to him from the stands. In the bottom of the

ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases

loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be

next at bat.

At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their

chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew

that a hit was all but impossible 'cause Shay didn't even know how to hold

the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.

However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher,

recognizing the other team putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's

life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least

be able to make contact. The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and

missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly

towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow

ground ball right back to the pitcher.

The game would now be over, but the pitcher picked up the soft

grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay

would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.

Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the head of the

first baseman, out of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and

both teams started yelling, "Shay, run to first! Run to first!" Never in his

life had Shay ever ran that far but made it to first base. He scampered down

the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.

Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to second!"

Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming

and struggling to make it to second base. By the time Shay rounded towards

second base, the right fielder had the ball, the smallest guy on their team,

who had a chance to be the hero for his team for the first time. He could

have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood

the pitcher's intentions and he too intentionally threw the ball high and

far over the third-baseman's head. Shay ran toward third base deliriously as

the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.

All were screaming, "Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay"

Shay reached third base, the opposing shortstop ran to help him

and turned him in the direction of third base, and shouted, "Run to third!Shay, run to third" As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams and

those watching were on their feet were screaming, "Shay, run home! Shay ran

to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the

"grand slam" and won the game for his team.

That day, said the father softly with tears now rolling down his

face, the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and

humanity into this world.

Shay didn't make it to another summer and died that winter,

having never forgotten being the hero and making his Father so happy and

coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the

day!

[Big M1ke]

Wow..... just.. amazing!

Thx alot for sharing this!

[aaronuconn]

Ya, that is a great story.

[bravesj858]

this is a classic story, but touching every time i hear it. thanks for sharing the story to us here at mvpmods.

[AstroEric]

I bet the coach from that team yelled at his players after the game for blowing it.

--Eric

[mrmariner]

Thats a nice story!

[MarkB]

Nice story, thanks. Gave me a smile before I get ready for work. :)

[Stix]

Really good story. I'm glad those kids were willing to help bring some joy into those people's lifes.