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