Lynda and I arrived in Ft. Myers so I could play in the Roy Hobbs World Series of baseball. My team, the Tallahassee Classics played in the 55-59 age bracket.
I played a double-header the first day at historic Terrry Park, which was built in 1925 and has been the spring training home for several major league teams.
Some of the greatest baseball players in major league history have played on this field, such as George Brett.
Also Roberto Clemente, along with greats such as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Ted Williams.
Playing right field in Terry Park.
On deck and getting ready to bat.
Waiting for the next pitch.
The second game was a night game and I took a strike on this pitch.
The next day, we played on the player development fields of the Boston Red Sox.
Waiting on a really good pitch to hit.
I hit this low outside pitch up the middle for a single.
For our fourth game, we got to play in the Minnesota Twins spring training stadium.
As you pull into the parking lot, the streets are named after Twins' greats like Kent Hrbek and Jim Kaat.
Looking for a new bat......
but after trying out several, I decided I'd stick my current one.
Getting ready to head into a really beautiful baseball stadium and play "America's Pastime".
Of course, being a major league stadium, the field is in perfect condition.
Being a MAJOR Twins fan, this was really living a dream to be able to play in this park.
At my age, you better stretch some prior to playing or end up on the disabled list!
Talking some strategy with the "boys" prior to warming up.
Warming up in the outfield. Beautiful day. It just doesn't get any better than this.
Pre-game meeting at the plate with the umpires and managers.
It's time to get the game underway.
Out in right field during the first inning.
Waiting to get a chance to bat.
Here, I'm warming up the pitcher between innings while our catcher gets his gear on. I'm re-living my boyhood.
Life doesn't get much better than taking a low outside curve ball to right field for a single and an RBI.
On base after the hit.
And then back to the dugout after scoring a run.
Warming up in the outfield between innings.
The late afternoon sun was brutle in right field.
Up to bat again later in the game.
The orange bat is mine.
We won the game in the bottom of the ninth, Tallahassee Classics 9, Athletics 8.
Shaking hands with the other team after the game. There is no substitute for good sportmanship in athletics.
A team photo for the winners on the infield of Twins stadium.
Our team photographer, hamming it up.
My friend, George English. We have played softball together for over 20 years, and he convinced me to come out and play baseball for the first time in 41 years. Am I glad he did!
Time to pick up the gear and clear out of the dugout.
Game over, time to discuss where we go to eat!
On Wednesday, Lynda and I drove from Ft. Myers to Clearwater to see the Steve Miller Band in concert, since I didn't have a baseball game that day.
The concert was at Ruth Eckerd Hall. The Steve Miller Band is one of my favorite groups from the late sixties and seventies.
They played all their big hits, like Jet Airliner, Fly Like An Eagle, Take The Money And Run, Rock N' Me and Swingtown.
Here, Steve Miller plays The Joker solo. Awesome concert.
Lynda and I arrived in Ft. Myers so I could play in the Roy Hobbs World Series of baseball. My team, the Tallahassee Classics played in the 55-59 age bracket.
I played a double-header the first day at historic Terrry Park, which was built in 1925 and has been the spring training home for several major league teams.
Some of the greatest baseball players in major league history have played on this field, such as George Brett.
Also Roberto Clemente, along with greats such as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Ted Williams.
Playing right field in Terry Park.
On deck and getting ready to bat.
Waiting for the next pitch.
The second game was a night game and I took a strike on this pitch.
The next day, we played on the player development fields of the Boston Red Sox.
Waiting on a really good pitch to hit.
I hit this low outside pitch up the middle for a single.
For our fourth game, we got to play in the Minnesota Twins spring training stadium.
As you pull into the parking lot, the streets are named after Twins' greats like Kent Hrbek and Jim Kaat.
Looking for a new bat......
but after trying out several, I decided I'd stick my current one.
Getting ready to head into a really beautiful baseball stadium and play "America's Pastime".
Of course, being a major league stadium, the field is in perfect condition.
Being a MAJOR Twins fan, this was really living a dream to be able to play in this park.
At my age, you better stretch some prior to playing or end up on the disabled list!
Talking some strategy with the "boys" prior to warming up.
Warming up in the outfield. Beautiful day. It just doesn't get any better than this.
Pre-game meeting at the plate with the umpires and managers.
It's time to get the game underway.
Out in right field during the first inning.
Waiting to get a chance to bat.
Here, I'm warming up the pitcher between innings while our catcher gets his gear on. I'm re-living my boyhood.
Life doesn't get much better than taking a low outside curve ball to right field for a single and an RBI.
On base after the hit.
And then back to the dugout after scoring a run.
Warming up in the outfield between innings.
The late afternoon sun was brutle in right field.
Up to bat again later in the game.
The orange bat is mine.
We won the game in the bottom of the ninth, Tallahassee Classics 9, Athletics 8.
Shaking hands with the other team after the game. There is no substitute for good sportmanship in athletics.
A team photo for the winners on the infield of Twins stadium.
Our team photographer, hamming it up.
My friend, George English. We have played softball together for over 20 years, and he convinced me to come out and play baseball for the first time in 41 years. Am I glad he did!
Time to pick up the gear and clear out of the dugout.
Game over, time to discuss where we go to eat!
Lynda and I took the six oldest grandchildren to the fair. It seems like every year, the first ride HAS to be the swings.
Getting ready for the ride to start.
Of course, our "twins" just HAVE to sit next to each other!
Getting ready for the kids roller coaster.
You can't ride a roller coaster properly unless you have your arms in the air!
Mike is getting ready to take Neil and Dillan for a spin.
Auburn, Melina and Emily are ready for a leisurely ride on the merry-go-round.
Our family has a tradition of eating corn dogs at the fair each year, and the grandchildren really look forward to this portion of their visit.......
as the "twins", Melina and Emily can attest.
After dinner, we go to feed the animals. We thought Dillan, being the youngest, would be hesitant, but he obviously was not.
The "twins", giggling as usual.
Even Papa got into the act.
The kids decided that they wanted to try the "adult" swing ride and we thought they might not be able to handle it, but their comment afterward..... "THAT WAS AWESOME".
Even Lynda managed to ride with the boys on this one.
I would say that this year's trip to the fair was a huge success.
