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Moments at Coors Field

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Contributed by: Jim Ladd on 9/16/2007

When my young son finished his first season of T-ball we decided to take him to his first Rockies game. On game day, as we neared the enlarging crowd outside the entrance, my son instinctively reached for my hand. As we weave through the crowd and into the dark, loud concourse, his grip becomes tighter and his walk more cautious.

Across the concourse and over the criss crossing streams of fans, the sunlight beckons. As we approach the opening overlooking right field, the big blue sky radiates and the greenest grass lays out before us. My son instantly releases my hand and steps forward. He tightens his fist into a ball and places it into the glove on his other. He stands alone, silently watching, absorbing, and experiencing the sights, smells and sounds. Several seconds later, he looks back and smiles in a way only youth and innocence can. It was a moment I will never forget.

A few seasons and several games later, my son desires an item that can't be purchased at the Diamond Dry Goods, a "real" baseball from a game he has watched. For the next games we attend, he selects seating locations with the sole purpose of catching a foul ball. Always with a ready glove, he has been close a couple of times but luck hasn't been with us.

My son's teammate and his father invited us to a game with seats directly behind the visitor's dugout. Wearing his Rockies Rookie hat and Todd Helton jersey, my son wasn't attracting the attention of the opposing team's players. The few balls that were tossed into the stands were toward seats away from ours. After catching one of the these precious souvenirs, a young boy, a complete stranger, gave the baseball to my son's friend. My son's friend, without hesitation, handed the baseball to my son. It was a very special moment, filled of kindness and gratitude and one that I will never forget.

My son's enjoyment of playing and watching grows into a true passion for the game, He wants to go early and seek his first autograph. Before the game, my son takes a position at the far end of the autograph line along the first base wall. I, standing a few rows back, watch my son wait patiently for the players. Thinking that he was too far away from the dugout, I didn't think his first autograph be that game. A couple of players came out, signed a few things, and then disappeared. Jamey Carroll appeared from the dugout and began signing autographs. He worked his way down the line, signing everything held out to him. Mr. Caroll didn't miss a single request. At last he reached my son at the end of the line. As Mr. Caroll signed the back of the jersey, my son looked up and smiled, with excitement and admiration. I thank you, Mr. Caroll, for a moment that I will never forget.

Some members of my son's youth baseball team that having been playing together since T-ball. We have practiced together, played together, and coached together for several years. Unfortunately, one of the families will soon be moving out of state. I wish to treat these families to a moment at Coors Field that all of us will never forget.

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Jim Ladd

Erie , CO

Jim Ladd has posted 1 story and 0 comments since joining on 9/16/2007. Jim Ladd 's average story rating is 0.

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