1967 Birmingham Barons

Sometime in 1967 Daddy took me to a Birmingham Barons game at Rickwood Field (the oldest baseball park in the United States - google it). At some point during the game I caught a foul ball and was quite happy with my souvenir. But my daddy was never shy about

just going on and getting what others might shy away from. After the game he took me to

the locker room (no, they did not let me in!). They almost didn't let daddy in but he told them

that he was from NAPA (which he was - National Auto Parts Association). I guess they

assumed this was some news organization (which, of course, is what he wanted them to

assume!). Once inside, he simply got all the players to autograph the baseball.

I set that ball aside for years.

In 1972 many on that team went on to the Oakland A's (B'ham was then the farm team for

the A's - we are now the farm team for the Chicago White Sox). And the Oakland A's won

the World Series.

I took my baseball back out of storage and looked at it closely (now many names I still can't

make out - perhaps some of you might help?). But ONE stands one plainly. Reggie Jackson.

My baseball is in a UV case now and my memories of the game - well, frankly about all I

remember is that trip to the locker room and thinking how I couldn't believe daddy was

pulling this off. It was classic daddy.

smiles, Chris