It's the bottom of the ninth, there's two outs, the score is tied 3-3. The South Siders would love to send their fans home happy right now with a win over their north side rivals. It would put them back into first place in their league, a coveted position to be in on Labor Day. Their clean-up hitter steps up to the plate, with one thing in mind.The play-by-play announcer is getting excited.
"And here comes Homer Harrison up to the plate, fearless right handed power hitter, leading the league in home runs. Oh, for a long one now! The fans are on their feet, the batter is digging in. Watch this pitcher, he's been known to throw a spitball now and then. He's chewing a wad of tobacco, let's see if he takes his hand to his mouth. He shakes off a sign from his catcher..... now he has the one he wants....Here's the wind up......and the pitch..."
"There's a drive...
waaaaay back...
it might be outa here....
it could be....
IT IS...
A HOME RUN!"
"The South Siders win! Holy Cow!"
"Homer Harrison hits the first pitch for a game ending home run. That ball just barely cleared the fence, a souvenir for some lucky fan sitting in the very first row of the bleachers! The wind may have helped this one go out. Not a long home run, but certainly one that will long be remembered.
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The above section of commentary in red is the way Harry Carray used to call home runs, back in the day when he was broadcasting Cardinal games, when I was a kid growing up in the St. Louis area. Back then I would eat, sleep, and breathe baseball all summer long.
One year in league play I broke my ankle on the first day of summer vacation as a runner slid into me "trying" to steal 3rd base. He hit me awfully hard, but slid with metal spikes down, and there wasn't a drop of blood shed. As I was being carried off the field they were looking for the ball and I showed them it was still tightly clenched in my glove. They called the runner out.
But I only told you that so I could tell you this.
Laid up the entire summer with my ankle broken in three places, I still went to the neighborhood sandlot games, kept score, and did the play-by-play announcing in the same manner as I learned it from the countless hours of listening to Harry Carray on the radio. Ah yes, those were the days.
Make sure to replace the cache in the same spot.
To the FTF: There is a container for you in the base of a tree behind you. I considered using it for the cache but decided against it. Please take it.
.............and the game ball goes to...
