I was taking pictures of the equipment we’ll be bringing to the Pass the Torch: Youth Sports Equipment Rally on April 27 and when I got to a cute little, blue baseball mitt, a memory triggered and I can’t stop thinking about it!

I was raised by a single mother. We lived in subsidized housing and depended on Food Stamps for a time in Laconia, New Hampshire. We were pretty darn poor even though my mother was working hard. Somehow, she managed to register me for Pony League – the local little kids baseball organization. And, she bought me my first baseball mitt. I was so excited. 

I was in third grade, had long, light brown hair – usually in braids – and a pair of those huge 80’s-style glasses that sat at the end of my nose because they were so heavy and covered most of the real estate on my tiny face. I remember being so excited to hop on my little yellow Schwinn bike to get to practice on time at Opechee Park, about a mile from our apartment. I threw on my brand-new Dairy Queen team t-shirt and baseball hat, grabbed my mitt and off I went. 

My coach was really patient with me. My baseball skills were, let’s say underdeveloped – and of course I was relegated to the outfield. It didn’t matter to me. I was so proud to be part of that team, loved the dust devils that formed in the infield and the feeling of escape the games gave me. In that sun-saturated outfield I began having some serious day dreams of being a ball player. 

When I arrived home one night after a game, I realized that I didn’t have my mitt. Shame, sorrow, and fear immediately overtook my little body and mind. I felt so irresponsible and knew there was an angry lecture coming from my mother when I saw here the next day. She was working nights at the time. 

And, then what would I tell my coach? I was going to let my whole team down. I was absolutely crushed. 

When I saw my coach next, through tears and steam-fogged glasses, I told him what had happened. And, to my surprise he said, “don’t worry, you can have this mitt. It’s an extra one,” as he handed me a mitt very similar to the one I had lost. I’ll never forget that moment. That man was an amazing human being – he was “extra” to me! I don’t remember his name – but, after more than 40 years, I want to say, ‘thanks to my Pony-League hero!’

To all the coaches out there making a difference in kids’ lives, regardless of their socioeconomic situation – thank you. Consider grabbing some extra equipment, for those kids out there who really need some “extra” in their lives, at the Pass the Torch: Youth Sports Equipment Rally on April 27, 2024 at 25 Clarendon Street, Watertown MA. Shop for free from 12 – 2PM.

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