| The winter thaw was in full bloom. All I thought | | | | Attached to the end of the rope was a baseball. |
| about from the fall of 1963 to the winter of 1964 | | | | The rope went through the middle of the ball and |
| was playing baseball. Weequahic High School's | | | | out 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 arrive | | | | up against the wall, under the basket. The ball |
| fast enough. Even if tryouts started outside in the | | | | hung about two feet from the mat. |
| snow, I would have been there. But they started | | | | I was nervous as I heard the coach tell us what |
| in the gym, because it was so cold outside. Hey | | | | to 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 on | | | | an hour of tryouts? |
| that first day of tryouts in a baseball daze. I was | | | | Batting was it for me. If I couldn't hit this |
| like a baseball zombie. I kept thinking about how I | | | | somewhat 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 not | | | | hard the sound it made hitting the mat had |
| want to embarrass myself. After school was | | | | everyone in the gym looking at me. Boom. I can |
| where the phase of the daze turned into the hits | | | | still 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 Mr | | | | my first test. |
| Ginsburg say, as he strolled out of his office. The | | | | Please pass this on to your friends. The great |
| coach had spoken. It was time to get moving. My | | | | game 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 to | | | | job of joy for a long time. For over 45 years he |
| have a glove on and playing ball. The winter is | | | | has followed the game by coaching, watching |
| always too long when you yearn to be playing | | | | games, reading stories and checking player's stats. |
| baseball. | | | | Playing baseball, softball and stickball were his |
| After tossing the pill around for a while it was | | | | games of choice. Join Aron as he looks at the |
| time to hit. We had no pitching machine so we | | | | game from some different points of view. You |
| improvised. Now get this. The gym at Weequahic | | | | will find his stories moving. You will be amazed |
| High had a regular sized basketball court. On both | | | | when you see some of the unusual statistics he |
| sides of the court there were two more | | | | presents. The quotes will move you or make you |
| basketball baskets. From each basket a rope was | | | | laugh. |
| tied that hung to a height of my stomach. | | | | |