My favorite game
Over at How to Save the World Dave Pollard asked: "What is your favorite game?" I just had to leave this comment:
To play? That's easy -- baseball. Not what you watch on tv, but what we did the entire summer I was 12. The sky was bright blue and the wind gentle as we'd walk through the neighborhood picking up players. Rousing some out of bed and convincing others to sneak off with chores unfinished. The few with bats leading the way, others grabbing likely bases and occasionally nicking a roll of electrical tape from their dad's garage.
By the time we'd reach the field we were 16 to 20 strong. Shuffled feet and quiet whispers as we'd fan out around the captains. The two most talented would toss the bat to get first pick. Many frozen hearts later we'd fly out onto the field and settle in for a game that had no time limit. Players would come and go all day and scores would stop and start over.
I can close my eyes and it all comes back: the infectious laughter; the quick arc of a ball heading toward the outfield; the smell of fresh cut grass; the taste of a toothpick as time slowed in the batter's box. The time available to stand in the outfield and watch birds fly by. The chance to stand at the plate and perform that most difficult of tasks: take a cylinder and hit a flying sphere squarely.
The dusk deepening as we'd head back home. Gangly kids, dusty gloves in hand, knees skinned, smiles bright, veering off to walk down quiet streets for dinner, a bath, some sleep and the chance to do it all again tomorrow.
That will always be my favorite game I ever played.
