Some people know the story of what happened next, but they actually only know part of it. Today, as baseball season is once again nearly upon us and I'm feeling nostalgic for times spent on diamonds throughout my youth, I want to reflect on that moment, what led up to it, and tell you the strange twist of fate that led me in no small part to where I am today.
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When I was ten I tried out for the Cubs--one of six teams in the Golden Valley Little League "major" league. Our Little League was divided into the Majors, consisting of the best 9-12 year olds, the Gold league (the rest of the 10-12 year olds), and the Blue league (the rest of the 8-9 year olds). Most leagues use similar systems, even if they have different names.
I was a scared ten year old. I was pretty good at baseball, but I honestly wanted no part of being in the "Majors." I had two years in the Blue league under my belt and I had played very well, but I wanted to have at least one year in the Gold league before trying my hand against the big boys. This was part of the reason I didn't make the Cubs. I actually skipped one of the tryout days to go to a Twins game (the real, professional Twins, of course). I was one of the last cuts and I was, frankly, relieved.
By the time the next year came around I was trying out for the Twins (the Little League ones) and this time I made the team as a confident 11-year-old. What followed was my best year of baseball at any level. Back then I could hit--not for power, and I wasn't super fast--but I didn't strikeout and in Little League that's about as valuable as anything. In my 11-year-old year I set all-time team records for batting average (.767), on-base percentage (something higher than that), doubles, and triples.
Yes, those who know me might find it hard to believe that I once held a record for triples (something usually reserved for fast people). I'm sure the Twins don't still keep records, but I'd consider it unlikely that anybody has batted better than .767 in a year. But, even then, I was a pitcher first. I loved to pitch, and that stuck with me for years after Little League, through Babe Ruth and high school. There was something about pitching that made me very happy.
I arrived in the Golden Valley Little League at exactly the right time, surrounded by a confluence of talent. The year before, while I was enjoying my time in the Gold league, twelve of the best ten-year-olds from the majors came together to win the State Championship for 9-10 year-olds. I didn't even know this was happening at the time, but the next year I found myself amongst many uniquely talented 11-year-olds. The expectations were high for our 12-year-old year. 1998 was that year.