Batter Up!
I use to deliver the now defunct Washington Star newspaper when I was younger. Like any business, even with young carriers like me, there is a constant focus on new customers. To motivate young lads, like carriers, the Star came up with all kinds of promotions. The most effective methods that work for me were the ones that offered tickets to baseball games with a certain number of new customers. When I was younger, I just loved going to baseball games.
It was September 30, 1971 and our beloved Washington Senators played their last game at RFK Stadium. They would move to Arlington, Texas and become the Texas Rangers. We had to settle for exhibition games. The Washington Star came up with a new customer promotion that included a pair of tickets, a pair of hot dogs, and a couple of soft drinks to one of those exhibition games. I worked like never before to get me a set of those tickets. My Dad and I went to the game after I achieved that goal.
He was born in 1931 and would be elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979 in his first year of eligibility. He currently ranks fifth as that all-time home run hitter. He was an All-Star twenty-four times. He was twice voted National League MVP. He was the Rookie of the Year in 1951. He led the National League in Home Runs and Stolen Bases four times each. But he was not just a hitter; he could also play center field with the best of them. People, even today, are amazed by some of his catches. He was a twelve time Gold Glove winner. His number 24 is retired by the San Francisco Giants.
This other baseball player is also in the Baseball Hall of Fame. He was elected there in 1989. He mainly played left field, but also played a few games at third base. Later in his career he would mostly play first base or was the designated hitter. He was an eighteen time All-Star and won the American League MVP in 1967. In 1967, he won baseball’s prized individual jewel, the Triple Crown (most home runs, highest batting average, and most RBIs during a season). He was a three time American League batting champion. The Boston Red Sox would retire his number 8 jersey.
The exhibition game I got to witness in the early 1970s was between the New York Mets and the Boston Red Sox. Both of these future Hall of Famers were there as players for their teams. Willie Mays played his whole career with the Giants (when they were in New York and then moved to San Francisco), except for his last two years in which he played for the New York Mets. Carl Yastrzemski played his whole career, all twenty-three years (1961-1983), with the Boston Red Sox. For a young lad like me it was a real treat to see such legends.
I think the most memorable thing about the baseball game, though, was something that actually happened before the game. There was a home run hitting contest between Willie Mays and Carl Yastrzemski. I remember Carl Yastrzemski clobbered Willie Mays. We should be fair though. You have to remember that Willie Mays was at the end of his career and Carl Yastrzemski was still in his prime. To be able to say you saw two of the greatest baseball players ever slugging it out has really left an impact on my life.
The phone rings. He picks it up. It is his former business partner Bill DeWitt. DeWitt’s father, Bill DeWitt, Sr., was the owner of the Cincinnati Reds baseball team. DeWitt, Sr. had many contacts in the baseball world. Senior heard that Eddie Chiles, the principle owner of the Texas Rangers (my former Washington Senators), was trying to sell the Rangers. That was the purpose of the phone call. This future President would say in his book, “I almost jumped out of my chair. Owning a baseball team would be a dream come true. I was determined to make it happen.”
Bill DeWitt, Jr. tells him that he will have to raise half the $89 million asking price and agree to make DeWitt’s friend, Rusty Rose, co-managing partner. He readily agreed and went to work lining up other investors. He would borrow $500,000 to buy a small stake in the team. He also convinced the investment group to make him managing general partner. Rusty Rose assumed control over the financial side. He also starts lobbying the city of Arlington, Texas to contribute $135 million to build a new stadium. In 1994, The Ballpark in Arlington opens. He reportedly makes a salary of $200,000 for this job.
He will eventually add $106,302 to his original investment, for a total investment of $606,302. When he becomes Governor of Texas he resigns as managing partner but keeps his ownership investment in the Rangers. He would have a 1.8% equity interest in the team. He also had another 10% bonus if the team is later sold and the investors get back their original investment plus interest. In 1998, this investment group would sell the Texas Rangers to Tom Hicks for $250 million. His share of that investment was $14.9 million.
Often I wonder what Jesus must have been like when He was walking the earth. The Bible portrays Him as so serious, most of the time. But very few popular people in life get there by being serious all the time. There has to be a charisma that attaches itself to a person. That charisma, at times, lets down its guard and lets people see the not so serious side, too.
One of those times, I believed, happened in Cana. Jesus and His rag-tag band of disciples were attending a wedding. He was probably there because he knew one or both of the people who were getting married. He was just there as part of the celebration. Then His Mom asked Him to do something. His response is our verse today (John 2:4). Almost like a little kid, you almost hear something along the lines of: “Oh, Mom! Do I have to?”
Jesus was probably having a good time until His Mother called Him over because there was a problem with the wine. The problem with the wine was that there wasn’t any left. Jesus then performs His first miracle or at least the first miracle mentioned in the Bible. He turns the water into wine. The Bible really doesn’t say what Jesus did after this miracle. Did He go back to the party? Did He leave? The story stops when the “ruler” of the wedding feast questions why they saved the best wine, the wine Jesus changed from water, for last. Then the Bible goes into the next story.
In 1992, the baseball owners decided to oust its Commissioner Fay Vincent in an 18-9 no-confidence vote. George W. Bush, a part owner of the Texas Rangers, was interested in the job. He decided instead to run for the governorship of Texas. In January 1995, he would become the forty-sixth Governor of Texas after defeating the popular incumbent Governor Ann Richards. As a funny side story, Condoleezza Rice, Bush’s Secretary of State, was a very serious football fan. In 2006, her name was mentioned as a possible replacement for National Football Commissioner, Paul Tagliabue. That was always a dream job for Ms. Rice, but she decided to remain as Secretary of State.
Life is full of times where our attention is focused on more serious times. But God is also a God who wants us to enjoy His creation and the talents He has given us and others. Baseball has been a pastime that I have greatly enjoyed. It sounds like former President George W. Bush is also a great fan. I’m sure Jesus also found, despite having the world’s salvation on his shoulders, time to enjoy things, too.
Prayer: Dear Mighty Father, Thank You for things like baseball that help take my mind off the stress that sometimes surrounds my life. Thank You for giving me such a wonderful world to enjoy. Amen.
