7.06.2008

A weekend of its own

What. A. Weekend.

Almost a year’s worth of planning and preparation culminated this weekend as we rededicated what is arguably one of our city‘s most historic sites -- ok, there are a lot of them. We celebrated Simmons Field, and were blessed with a captivating women’s baseball tournament -- that’s right, I said women’s baseball …

It all started about a year ago when my friend Tom connected with a person involved in women’s baseball. Knowing the ballpark was once the home of the Kenosha Comets of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League -- think “A League of Their Own” -- the idea for some sort of a gathering to celebrate the ballpark’s history snowballed …

The idea evolved into a three-day tournament that involved five international women’s baseball teams comprised of some of the best female baseball players in the world. The event was set to coincide with tryouts for USA Baseball and the women’s World Cup team, and the centerpiece of the event was a rededication of the field that would reunite a contingent of about 20 players from the All-American Girls League …

Over the winter, myself and three other men I play with put in some crazy hours trying to organize the thing -- there were many nights we wondered how in the world we’d pull it off. We secured some key corporate sponsors. And some advisers we worked with estimated the tournament could draw thousands to the park, but even then we had no clues to what we could expect …

Now that the weekend is over, I can tell you … it couldn’t have gone off better. Our clearest dreams and visions became a reality ...

* * *

… Throughout last week, there was a buzz that started circulating in the community about the event -- maybe it was just our own excited anticipation … But on Thursday the teams began arriving and took practice at the field. We spent part of the day watching them and taking it in … We were immediately astounded by their play and knew we were about to share in something special …

Friday was the day we’d all been waiting for -- the start of the tournament and the rededication ceremony …We were at the ballpark just after sunrise, working the field, cleaning the clubhouse once more, opening the classic grandstand’s concession area and settling into the press box. Aside from the field, much of the ballpark’s other amenities hadn’t been used in years, but we wanted to show off the entire ballpark and all its glory … In the weeks leading up, we’d cleaned almost every corner, threw out years worth of junk and gave the grandstand a fresh coat of paint.

Eight o'clock came fast and the first game got underway between the Australians and a New England team. At the same time, we were at the main gates, greeting the now elderly All-American players as they arrived.

We had about 20 ladies come for the day, some who actually played for the Comets at Simmons Field, and even an umpire who told us the only ejection he issued during his career came at Simmons … All weekend, I heard golden stories like that from the women. Stories of them playing in the dense fog rolling off Lake Michigan. Stories about them having to go to Cuba for their spring training … My mind is swirling with so many stories, it would be unrealistic to try to retell all of them in this space …

As the opening game of our tournament continued, things got interesting … We had ruled the games would be seven innings long, but we didn’t anticipate the games would move as swiftly as they did. So when we scheduled our rededication ceremony for 11:30 a.m. Friday, and the opening game was in the seventh inning at 10:30 a.m., we started getting nervous that we would have too much dead space before the ceremony; we needed to keep things moving … Then we got a gift when the game went into extra innings -- it went to 12 innings actually! It was perfect, the stands were filling with fans who had come for the ceremony and a hugely entertaining, competitive game was being played on the field. There were some dazzling plays too, including a ball one player launched to deep left field -- The girl tried to stretch it to a triple, but the defense made a perfect relay throw to cut down the batter as she slid into third base …

By the time the New England team won the first game it was going on noon -- which turned out to be perfect timing for our ceremony … We seated the All-Americans and some of our dignitaries at home plate, dressed a local girl in a Comets uniform and I emceed the ceremony … We had “The Natural” theme music playing as I had the privilege of introducing each of the players, and the crowd soaked it in, rising to their feet for a standing ovation when I finished. It was such a moment, I had to step away to catch my breath and stop myself from choking up … Then, we unveiled a new plaque that will be mounted on the ballpark’s grandstand, and I handed off the mic to one of the ladies who led the All-Americans in their song

Friday morning’s ceremony was one of the most touching and special experiences I’ve ever had in my life. And -- I said it more than once this weekend -- no autograph I could have obtained was worth more to me than the experience of getting close and spending so much one-on-one time with those ladies, just sitting in the stands and talking or walking with them from stop to stop …

As the afternoon went on, we organized an autograph session with fans and catered a picnic, which we capped by serving the women a specially-made cake -- with the AAGPBL logo and all. The women were such troopers and remained enthusiastic through it all …Even that night, as the tournament games continued, I thought for sure they’d want to head back to their hotel to get some rest. But when I mentioned to one of the women that they were staying for the night game, she answered with spunk. “Why are we here?” she asked. “We’re here to watch baseball!”

* * *

On Saturday morning, I got another amazing opportunity and led the All-Americans on a tour of the city. We visited the downtown blocks and the harbor -- which was a sea of factories during their era and has since been developed into parkland and breath-taking lakefront property. We drove through the city’s two college campuses -- which are not only scenic but also held a lot of interest because a large number of the ladies became educators after their playing days. We visited a park outside of town where the ladies often had picnics, and we visited some of the remaining factories that were flourishing in their day …

In the meantime, we had another full slate of games on Saturday, including a couple more extra inning affairs. Throughout the weekend, we couldn’t have asked for closer, more competitive games … And these girls flat out knew how to play baseball. On the field, we had some 70 of the world’s greatest female baseball players, and they reminded us of that repeatedly. They had their fundamentals down, their defense was tight, their throws were crisp, and they could turn double-plays with the best of them …Also, like their predecessors in the AAGPBL, most of them were just teenagers. Some of them have even appeared in Nike commercials and movies … It was something special to be in their presence.

... There were several times during the weekend I thought about the irony of me being so deeply involved in this tournament and learning the culture of women's baseball -- the same year that I became the father of a girl ...

* * *

Today, the games came early once more, with the championship rounds starting at 8 a.m. A Washington state team easily took third place, and then we watched the Australian team beat New England for the championship …

Throughout the weekend, those of us organizing the tournament built such a camaraderie with the All-Americans and some of the girls playing in the tournament that we gathered on the field and conversed for quite a long time afterward. We continued exchanging stories and even laid out ideas for a second tournament next summer. The weekend was so successful, it seems there’s already a lot of support to make the tournament an annual event …

Finally, late this afternoon, the cleanup began one last time … I’ll say this -- After all the trash I picked up and peanut shells we swept from the grandstand and bleachers after each day’s games, I have a newfound respect for the ushers and people that clean up all the Major League ballparks …

Now I’m wiped. And I’ll be flat on the couch for the rest of the afternoon, I’m sure.

No Summerfest for me tonight.

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