Here is my 1985 little league photo from Bar Harbor, Maine. I was on the Mariners, and played right field. My hitting dramatically improved that season, and we won the league championship! I still have the trophy in my baseball room. Mr. Hubbard and Mr. Clark were the best coaches a kid could have. In the final game of the season, I hit a triple, and as I was dusting myself off, Mr. Hubbard leaned in, and told me he nominated me, and I made the All-Star team. That was the greatest baseball day in my life.
Last year, I was the plate umpire for a school game. As I was waiting for warm-ups to finish, I looked up, and saw Mr. Hubbard for the first time in almost thirty years. He was old, and really sick with cancer, but he made his wife drive him to the field so he could watch the game. I walked over, and said even though he probably didn't remember me, but I sure remembered him; that season was the greatest one I ever had, and he was the best coach I ever had. He immediately told me of course he remembered, and then told me he still had the team photo and team trophy from that year on his mantle. He died a week or two later. I was always glad I got to see him one last time.
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