October Baseball

Ed and Wanda at entrance to Comerica Park

After 162 regular games that span April through September, you wouldn't think that baseball fans could still get excited about our team. Our Detroit Tigers kind of let us down -- well, really let us down -- in the first half of the season.

By August, I was getting my hopes up again and by September, well, suffice it to say that when I watched a baseball game on television, I couldn't even get any knitting done. I was too engrossed in the games.

The first games of the American League Division Series were played in Detroit Saturday and Sunday. We had tickets for yesterday's game and were thrilled to be three rows back of the Oakland A's dugout, right within sight of the pitching and batting. Great

Detroit's Miguel Cabrera, the first Triple Crown winner since 1967, did not disappoint the crowd at all. Miggy had three hits in the game. It felt like history in the making to watch Cabrera stride to the plate, square up to the batter's box and hit away.

Miguel Cabrera's first hit of the game

Cabrera, a native of Venezuela, has won the admiration of baseball with his winning smile and incredible prowess on the playing field. He is a wonder to watch. He swings with power and plays the game with panache. Plus, he always looks like he is having a good time.

 

An Oakland A's player tossed a game ball up to the guy sitting next to me so I got an up close and personal look at the official 2012 postseason ball. Yes, that is Bud Selig's signature, stamped on the ball. Selig is baseball's commisioner and, as such is like the mayor of baseball -- he gets his name on the baseballs just like a big city mayor gets his name on signs throughout a city.



Tiger managers and staff bear-hug Don Kelly after Kelly's game winning hit in the ninth inning

 

A ninth inning sacrifice out by Don Kelly brought in the winning run. Tigers won their second game of the five game series, beating the Oakland A's by a 5-4 score, with Kelly's hit. Kelly was swept up in hugs and accolades from Tiger players and managers at the end of this game.

 

A fine rain fell from the sixth inning on. The air was cold. The game started to get long. But it was October baseball and the Tigers won. Very cool.

 

 

Copyright 2012

Wanda Hayes Eichler