Monday, June 14, 2010

Chapter One

On April 5, 1993, Charlie Hough, a grizzled knuckleballer known by all to be well past his prime, stood on the mound of what was then Joe Robbie Stadium, looking for the signal from his catcher, Benito Santiago. At the plate was Jose Offerman, the shortstop for Charlie's old team, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Charlie's new team, the Florida Marlins, was about to play the first real game of its existence a few short years after being given life by a group of major league owners thirsting to expand into previously unexplored geographic areas, and hungry for the added cash that expansion inevitably brought. The Marlins had struggled through an expansion draft which brought them unproven minor leaguers and major leaguers who had once been or never quite were. They wept after their President suffered a fatal heart attack during the team's first Winter Meetings. They looked ahead to their first opening day, playing meaningless Spring Training affairs and counting down to the first pitch of the team's first season.

Charlie Hough moved into his windup. The sellout crowd of excited fanatics and pretenders laughed, screamed and fought to capture the moment. Flashbulbs exploded throughout the park.

The ball left Charlie's hand and fluttered towards Benito's expectant mitt.

Every book has a first chapter. Every life has a first breath.

So it begins.

10 comments:

  1. Very interesting. I had no idea the team president had suffered a fatatl heart attack. Now for the second chapter?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Congratulations! I will follow it with eagerness.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Felicidades on your first blog!

    jjr

    ReplyDelete
  4. Congrats on your new blog! What's your thoughts and feelings about the World Cup?
    - David Leffler

    ReplyDelete
  5. OK - I have gone through all sorts of machinations and may have given my first born, but now I am an official follower. You have a lovely flair with words.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Excellent job, Elio! I am looking forward to following this. Congratulations!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Very cool, Elio! I love your writing style and the stories. Can’t wait to read more of them.

    ReplyDelete