Growing up in the south of the fifties, there was no big league ball - so our local team was the AA Birmingham Barons of the Southern Association. At times affiliated with the Yankees, Detroit, Charlie Finley A's, and lately, the White Sox - the Barons were a major resource to kids who loved to play ball and never had any money for equipment.

It was very good ball, with mix of players on their way up (Frank Thomas, Campaneris, Tenace) . .  and on their way down (Lou Limmer, Dick Sisler.)    We usually saw both teams take batting practice, but I really can't recall us sitting down to just watch a game - we always had a wider agenda . . . .   I don't remember how manyfans they drew - but, among a 'good' crowd I could sell 300 cokes during the game.

Every season, we would depend on selling concessions in Rickwood Field for as many as seventy homes games.  Nobody got rich, but we could make some waling around money as we called it back in the day. . .   On a good night game, a hustling kid might make as much as five bucks.  Or, as little as none if you didn't look good, have a good attitude and get selected to work that night.   We carried little wire cup holders for twenty drinks - and sold the cup full of ice and coke for a dime.  We made 1.5 cent commission on each transaction.

Worst part was the hours.  I'll tell y'all about it soon.

While visiting relatives in Southern California the 'admiral' experienced another 'first' to add to his baseball shrine.

On July 18, my brother-in-law treated me to a California League game in Lake Elsinore, California.  My sister and her family are Padres fans and the Lake Elsinore Storm, their local team, happen to be the Advanced A Padres affiliate.  The Storm plays in the Southern Division of the California League while our local Modesto Nuts (Rockies; formerly Reds and A's) ) play in the Northern Division.  The Storm and the Lancaster Jethawks, also a Southern Division team, were about to do battle.  The Storm ultimately won the game 4-2 after scoring three runs in the bottom of the 8th!!

We purchased tickets which placed us in the first row along the first base line.  Our seats were at the end of the Jethawks dugout where we could actually talk with the players during the game.  As players began to make their way to the dugout I stood up and motioned to an outfielder basically requesting he toss me the 'warm-up' ball they had been using.  He grinned and flipped the ball to me from about 15' away.  After I caught the ball, I turned to my brother-in-law and declared, "This is the first ball I have ever gotten at a game in 45 years!"  He admitted he had never caught a ball either in his 50 years of attending professional baseball games.  We tried in vain to get another ball but never did.  The player who tossed me the ball went 2-4 and homered in his first at bat!!

I prefer to sit on the first base side should an infielder decide to launch a ball into the stands; "one extra shot at a ball!"  So far this has only worked at local high school All-Star games and we had to give the ball back when it happened!!

Thanks for reading.

Chris C./admiral