The Perfect Catch
Henrietta's Perfect Gift to Leroy Leftwitch
Ball that
landed like a feather between Leroy's feet.
From the first time every little boy or girl plays baseball or softball catch with his or her Mom or Dad, Big Brother or Sister, or friend somehow America’s Pastime (Baseball) becomes a part of us.
The first time we play catch with a real baseball glove, catching can be a little awkward and we need to practice until we can catch the ball the proper way. Many become so good at catching the ball they make it look easy but it is really a matter of hard work, timing, hand-eye coordination and a lot of other conditions like desire to make the perfect catch to help their team’s efforts to win the ballgame.
When I was a little boy my dream was to play Major League Baseball. I would listen to games on the radio, and then later was able to watch on TV and my Grandfather took me to live games at out Minor League Home team stadium.
I dreamed to be able to hit and catch the ball like my heroes, Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle and Ted Williams just to name a few. In the 1957 World Series I was fortunate enough to see on TV Don Larson pitch the Perfect World Series Game.
I practiced and pretended to be in a World Series Game and to make the perfect catch and to hit the perfect Home Run.
My life’s path didn’t take me to become a baseball player but my dream of seeing the perfect catch became a reality. My family has in person witnessed some pretty amazing baseball events, Hank Aarons number 715 Home Run breaking Babe Ruth’s Record. Reggie Jackson’s four straight Homers in two World Series Games but the story you are about to hear is just as spectacular, maybe more so if you believe in miracles?
This story is about a little boy named Leroy that grew up and became Grandpa Leroy and in the last year of his life at age 82 he made the perfect catch.
Leroy grew up on a farm during the Big Depression and had to move to the city to find work. He always loved baseball but couldn’t play because he had responsibilities and as he became a young man he had children and an Oil Business to operate during a period of time when many people used oil heat to keep their homes warm in the winter.
When I was a little boy I lived with my Grandfather and his house was only four doors from Leroy’s house so I knew Leroy my entire life. He was a good man, a true gentleman in every sense of the word.
As time moved on and Mr. Leroy became a grandfather and a great grandfather and became unable to walk without the aid of a walker and or a wheelchair.
After his first two wives died he was alone a lot and never ever missed an Atlanta Braves baseball game on TV. He was an avid fan, knowing all the names of the players and their stats.
He had never been to a Major League game and he dreamed of seeing the Braves in person. Well one day my Mom who was his special friend and had known him for fifty years or so, after my Dad and Leroy’s wife’s had passed away told me of his wish to see the Braves play in person.
We went to work, my wife asked our second son to help arrange for tickets for a Hot Atlanta July Saturday afternoon game.
Meanwhile my mom invited Leroy’s granddaughter, her husband and their children and pretty soon they all showed up at our Atlanta area home for a grand weekend of fun and baseball at Turner Stadium.
Magically great tickets appeared and they were great seats, right behind home plate but out of the Sun. When we arrived a nice elderly gentleman special services or and Angel, we will never know, said let me take this gentleman (Leroy and Lady My Mom) and the wheel chair to a special place where Leroy could be rolled in and not have to get in and out of his wheel chair.
The game was great, lots of great hitting and pitching but suddenly time stood still and a perfect catch was made. Yes you guessed it; Leroy made a perfect catch at his first major league game. A foul ball hit the concrete stairs several times and bounced high as the sky on the first bounce, then a little lower, and a little lower and then made a gentle, feather like landing between Leroy’s two soft leather black shoes.
You could see his smile and feel his joy as if he were the centerfielder making the perfect catch. Do you believe in miracles? Leroy does and so do I.
This completes a circle for me as I am amazed that a man I had known all my life who was truly a gentleman and a kind man that I had known so many years ago as a child now somehow a circle of circumstances, some would say coincidences all was made possible for the PERFECT CATCH. What do you say…coincidence or miracle?
Ronald Cleo Harris 26 July 2005
This story is dedicated to Leroy Leftwitch and to my Mom Henrietta Hester Harris, two people destiny brought together in the last days of Leroy’s life, I think so she could give him the joy and love he deserved and had in many ways in his life had been denied.
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