My High School Tryout

The winter thaw was in full bloom. All I thoughtAttached to the end of the rope was a baseball.
about from the fall of 1963 to the winter of 1964The rope went through the middle of the ball and
was playing baseball. Weequahic High School'sout the other side of the ball. It was my job to
baseball season started in the middle of March.hit the baseball into the mat that was positioned
Sometime around March 15, 1964 could not arriveup against the wall, under the basket. The ball
fast enough. Even if tryouts started outside in thehung about two feet from the mat.
snow, I would have been there. But they startedI was nervous as I heard the coach tell us what
in the gym, because it was so cold outside. Heyto do. So simple a concept. Hit a ball into a mat.
that makes sense.What if I messed up? Would I be cut in less than
I remember walking through the halls of school onan hour of tryouts?
that first day of tryouts in a baseball daze. I wasBatting was it for me. If I couldn't hit this
like a baseball zombie. I kept thinking about how Isomewhat stationary ball - I should rest my bat in
was going to do. Would I hit? How would I look?the bat rack for good. Fat chance. I hit the ball so
Would I trip over my uniform? Hello. I did nothard the sound it made hitting the mat had
want to embarrass myself. After school waseveryone in the gym looking at me. Boom. I can
where the phase of the daze turned into the hitsstill hear the echoes in the gym. My buddies
and the mitts.patted me on the back. I was relieved. I passed
"Okay start throwing the ball around." I heard Mrmy first test.
Ginsburg say, as he strolled out of his office. ThePlease pass this on to your friends. The great
coach had spoken. It was time to get moving. Mygame of baseball. What could be better? Loving
time to show em all what I had.the game of baseball for Aron Wallad has been a
So I started playing catch. I was so excited tojob of joy for a long time. For over 45 years he
have a glove on and playing ball. The winter ishas followed the game by coaching, watching
always too long when you yearn to be playinggames, reading stories and checking player's stats.
baseball.Playing baseball, softball and stickball were his
After tossing the pill around for a while it wasgames of choice. Join Aron as he looks at the
time to hit. We had no pitching machine so wegame from some different points of view. You
improvised. Now get this. The gym at Weequahicwill find his stories moving. You will be amazed
High had a regular sized basketball court. On bothwhen you see some of the unusual statistics he
sides of the court there were two morepresents. The quotes will move you or make you
basketball baskets. From each basket a rope waslaugh.
tied that hung to a height of my stomach.