still my role model at 99

Attending my first baseball game, the opening game of the season, time was about to enter into my memory when Bobby Doerr hit a triple high off the famous wall in left field.

The crowd booed the pitcher, Joe Page, who was brought in to pitch to Doerr. I wanted to know why and the adult who brought me said he hit Doerr with a pitch last season. Known as a outstanding relief pitcher, I later doubted this explanation, but at the time bought it sympathetically hook line and sinker. I was already on Bobby's side even before he bounced the reliever's pitch off the green monster and tagged up at third. I learned he was a veteran, likely approaching thirty at the time. I respected and was very sympathetic to veterans.


What a great focus for my admiration he was! When he was inducted into the baseball hall of fame I was so ecstatic I thought I was in the hall myself right along with him. Enos Slaughter said that he was a person who played the game hard, but left with no enemies. Bobby turned out to be a clutch hitter who was a class act, and a fantastic fielder. His moves were so smooth and beautiful to watch, even handling a routine double play. His double plays got many a Sox pitcher, like old Rubber Arm Kinder, out of trouble.

Bobby never contested umpire's calls. He was a class act all around. I followed his batting average every single day in the papers. I loved my hero Bobby Doerr. When he retired because of a bad back my interest in the game drastically changed. At the time Bobby had more runs batted in than Ted Williams and I was going to graduate from high school.