O/T Hanging in the dugout for Red Sox BP

[Dboneesq]

Thanks for sharing. So nice to hear about the good things that professional athletes do. I'm sure that experience will stay with your son his entire life.

[Nunzio11]

Growing up in NY and now living in Maryland, as a baseball fan I have absolutely hated the Red Sox my entire life...your story and pictures have eased that hatred a little bit today. Thanks for sharing. What an experience for you and especially Xander.

[clydepepper]

Great Scott! Thanks for sharing.

Your experience is a good example of how aware today's players are (most of them, anyway) of how important it is for them to connect with younger generations.



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[frankbmd]

If I had only had an iPhone to have myself photographed getting Casey Stengel's autograph when I was 9.

[scooter729]

Thanks to everyone for chiming in - I'm happy to be able to share this story and hopefully spread a positive experience to you all!

One other photo I want to share, which really to me captures the importance of baseball, possibly even more than the ones above. And it wasn't even with a Red Sox player.

As the Sox BP was ending, my son wanted to watch the Rockies take some BP. So he went to the edge of the area where he was allowed to watch, and just started watching a bunch of players hit. He had no idea who the Rockies players were, but he just loved watching these giant players hit the ball so far.

Rockies' 1B Daniel Murphy was fielding grounders and saw this, and walked over to talk to Xander. Xander was decked in Sox gear, so he obviously wasn't there to cheer for Colorado, but Murphy wanted to talk to this kid who (literally and figuratively) was looking up to him.

Murphy came over, gave Xander a baseball, and had a conversation about baseball with him. Xander is normally a quiet kid and shy around people he doesn't know, but something about this damn game of baseball turned him into a chatterbox around these players.

I have a posed picture of Xander with Murphy, but prefer this one much better, from a distance - little kid looking up in awe at a real live baseball player, who is spending some time with him.

I think I'm sounding like Terrance Mann here, but it's just something about this damn game of baseball that does it for me. Daniel Murphy of the Rockies - you have two new fans, sir.

[DaveW]

Great story Scott! It looks like your son had a great experience at the ballpark. I’m jealous.

[JollyElm]

Where's the freaking 'Like' button???

[Leon]

Great story. I might have to get back to watchin' some MLB....

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