Allen L. Gentzler of York sent us the following eloquent letter:
This past weekend my 27-year-old son and I made the pilgrimage to baseball’s Mecca for the induction of two of the classiest men in baseball, or any other professional sport for that matter. We endured the stifling heat, the crushing crowds and the never ending waiting in line for everything, to hear two of the most eloquent acceptance speeches ever given by incoming members to Baseball’s Hall of Fame. It was a weekend I shall always remember not just for the baseball aspect, but for a far greater reason, spending time with my son.
Tony and Cal both talked about values in their induction speeches, both talked about family, and doing things the “right way”. Tony in particular talked about believing in yourself and having the courage to follow your dreams and working hard to fulfill your potential. Cal stressed the importance of being a role model for the next generation of kids, of being someone the younger guys can look up to, as he did Eddie Murray for his work ethic. Poignant and eloquent speeches by both inductees, in my opinion. As I already said two of the classiest men to ever be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
I certainly would be remiss in portraying my weekend experiences if I did not mention the best part of my weekend in Cooperstown. My son and I found the Fenimore Art Museum, a hidden treasure to the casual Cooperstown visitor, where we sat and overlooked the lake for several hours re-establishing a bond between a father and a son who have drifted too far apart in recent years. We talked about days of T-ball and Legion ball. We reminisced about pitch and catch in the backyard, about curveballs off the shins and the broken thumb when I caught the fastball out of the pocket in the glove. We talked about the past and plans for the future. We discussed the different paths we follow as we travel through life, each choosing the direction they will go, but few having the courage to follow their heart. It was, without a doubt, the most memorable part of our trip to Cooperstown.
So, my visit to the Hall of Fame this past weekend was more rewarding, in so many ways, than any autographed baseball by Reggie Jackson or Cal Ripken Jr. I re-established a connection to my son and we shared a perfect weekend in Cooperstown.
I wish every father this opportunity.
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