Thrill of a Lifetime – Meeting Baseball Legends

Baseball season is still in full swing. We still have a few weeks before the final game and I would like to share with you, my readers, a very memorable experience of the season 2019.

Going to a baseball game is exciting but no biggie. It is a biggie when you’re sitting in a luxury suite.

That’s Gary Green with me in his Citi Field suite.

On Saturday, September 14, my parents and I were invited by Gary Green to his private suite in City Field, to watch one of the best Mets games of the season. Mr. Green is Chairman and CEO of the publication “Baseball America” and a very affable and interesting person, a baseball lover and a Mets fan. This game was a pitcher’s duel between two Cy Young contenders, Jacob DeGrom and Hyun Jin-Ryu. Then, in the eight, the relievers came in and the Mets did their magic (all because of my rally cap). They loaded the bases and then the most unlikely candidate for this kind of a hit came up to the plate. Rajai Davis broke open the stalemate with a double laced down the left-field line to clear the bases. It was a magical night and I was lucky to see the Mets win on such a great ending.

Bobby Valentine and me.

Also, I was lucky during the game to meet two baseball legends: one of them was Bobby Valentine, "Bobby V,” a former American professional baseball player and manager of the Texas Rangers, the New York Mets, and the Boston Red Sox.

Baseball legend Tommy Lasorda and me.

The second legend was Tommy Lasorda, a former Major League Baseball pitcher, coach, and manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers for two decades. Mr. Lasorda celebrated his 92nd birthday and I sang Happy Birthday for him and shared slice of his birthday cake.

A few days later I had another unique opportunity – to sit down with Mr. Green and talk baseball. First time in my life – and I am just 12, going on 13, I talked about baseball with a businessman, who sees this sport from different angles and gave me the information first hand. That interview will appear next in my blog.

I hope I will have another opportunity to continue the conversation with Mr. Green as I got new questions to ask!