A Father, a Son, and the M's


Wednesday evening, we were FaceTiming our son when he surprised his father with a gift. That’s getting ahead of my story—but it’s a gift that ties the past and present together.

Baseball and boyhood always seemed a natural blend for life in our little cabin. With such a small home, we spent much of our time outdoors. From a young age, our son Tommy would pick up a driftwood bat and hit rocks into the ocean, carefully copying the swings of the Mariners line-up.


Baseball became the stuff of his dreams, and with a player like Ken Griffey Jr., it was easy to find a hero. But the real thrill was making the trip to Seattle to see the Mariners in person. We’d take the ferry, walk to the stadium, and wait at the gate with the hope of catching an autograph.

At the time, we didn’t know those outings would become indelible memories. But they shaped him. Tommy became one of them—a lifelong Mariners fan.


That comes with a cost. Every new season begins with anticipation, and too often ends with disappointment. In fact, the Mariners have only reached the postseason five times in nearly fifty years.

Now, Tommy is 35 and Dad is 68. Little League days are long past, but their love for the Mariners lingers. Tonight, Seattle plays the Detroit Tigers in hopes of winning the American League Division Series (ALDS). The last time the Mariners won the ALDS was back in 2001, when a young boy and his father cheered in front of the television.

And that’s where the surprise gift comes in. Tommy has given his dad tickets to the game, and the two of them will be there—together—rooting for their beloved M’s.

As Tommy said, “We’ll either be heartbroken or overjoyed.” But together in the stands, they’ve already won—reminding us that not all victories come with a final score.

 


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