Adventures of Pudge

BASEBALL FEVER

The baseball season was starting and Pudge was determined that this year he was going to play for the youth team, the

Wayton Wolves. The players ranged in age from 12 to 14 and as Pudge was 12 he was finally at an age where he could try

out for the team.

The problem was that Pudge was much smaller than any of the other players on the team and the manager might think he

was too small to play the level of ball at which the team played. After all, they had been the Massachusetts Class B state

champions for three of the last four years and, if the team was to maintain its standards the players had to be very good.

But Pudge had played baseball with many of these boys during the past few years and he knew he could play as well as

some of them. Not all of them of course; some of the players were excellent athletes and were among the best in the state.

Pudge had also played ice hockey against some of them during the past winter and, although he had been bumped around

plenty and received more than his share of lumps and bruises, he had held his own with them.

Pudge went to the tryout the first Tuesday in April carrying his fielder’s glove with him. As he had no spikes of his own he

wore sneakers; if he made the team they would provide spikes for him to wear. The manager, Buzz Heldrin, knew Pudge

from other leagues he had coached in and was willing to let him try out. Buzz doubted that Pudge would make the team this

year and told him so at the beginning of the tryouts.

“You’re a lot smaller than the other boys, Pudge and I’m concerned that you might get hurt if there’s any physical contact.

It might be better for you to play in the 10 to 12 league you were in last year. You would certainly play more regularly there

than you would on this team and be able to better develop your skills that way. However, if you are determined to try out for

the Wolves you certainly can.”

“I’m determined,” said Pudge. “I know I can play as good as some of your players. I might be small, but I can play.”

“We’ll see,” replied Coach Heldrin.

During the next several days the team went through strenuous workouts in which each player had the opportunity to show

his skills at bat and in the field. Pudge did well, better than many of the other new candidates. At the end of the tryout period,

however, the coach took Pudge aside and repeated what he had said earlier. “I think you will get to play more with the

Eagles than here, Pudge. I wouldn’t want you to be just sitting on the bench and seldom play.”

Pudge was very disappointed but realized he had no choice but to accept the coach’s decision.

Buzz put out his hand for Pudge to shake and added, “Keep working at it Pudge; you can help the Eagles a lot, and

maybe the Wolves next year.”

“Thanks,” Pudge answered.

When Pudge arrived home his mother could tell from his downcast expression that he had been given bad news. “I guess

you didn’t make the team, Pudge. Cheer up, try again next year.”

“Yeah, sure,” he replied.

For the next two days Pudge felt as if everything he did was wrong. He didn’t speak to his mom or dad except in short,

terse answers. When his good friend, Dan, called to see if he wanted to go for a ride on their bikes Pudge turned him down.

Finally, Mr. Hammond took him aside to talk to him.

“Pudge, you have to snap out of the bad mood you’re in. It’ not the end of the world because you didn’t make the team; it

means you have to work even harder to be better next year. That’s the wa life is; there are going to be disappointments

which you have to put behind you. When you reach a point when you can accept theses setbacks you become stronger for

it.”

“Yeah, Dad, I know you’re right. It’s just that I was so sure I would make the team.”

That Sunday evening, three days after Pudge received the disappointing news, Mrs. Hammond told Pudge he was

wanted on the phone. When Pudge picked up the phone the caller said, “This is Buzz Heldrin, Pudge. How are you doing?”

“Okay, I guess, but disappointed,” Pudge replied.

“How would you like to play left field for the Wolves?” Buzz continued.

“What! You’re not kidding me are you?” was Pudge’s instant response.

“I’m not kidding; in a way I wish I was. Our regular left fielder, Billy Dante, fell and broke his arm yesterday. As soon as I

got the news I thought of you. Can you come to my house tomorrow night to get fitted out with a uniform? The first game is

Wednesday and I would like you to be in left field for that game. Can you do it?”

Pudge was overjoyed. “Oh boy, let me tell my mom and dad; they’ll be glad to hear the news. I’ve been moping around

the last few days. What time tomorrow?”

When Pudge hung up he let out a loud “Whoopee” and went running into the parlor where his parents were listening to the

radio.

“That was Coach Heldrin. I made the team! I made the team! Can you believe it? He wants me to come to his house

tomorrow night to get my uniform. The first game is Wednesday afternoon and he wants me to play left field. Can you

believe it?”

Pudge was so excited that all of this was said very rapidly. Finally his dad said, “Whoa! Slow down, Pudge. As I

understand it that was Coach Heldrin and he told you that you have made the team after all. What else did he tell you?”

By this time Pudge had calmed down enough to speak more slowly. “He said that their regular left fielder broke his arm

yesterday. I need to go to the coach’s house tomorrow night about seven to get a uniform and then be at the ball field

Wednesday afternoon to play left field. This is the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me.”

“Congratulations, Son,” said Mr. Hammond. Pudge’s mother gave him a hug to show how happy she was for him.

Wednesday afternoon couldn’t come soon enough for Pudge. Monday and Tuesday crawled by and he had difficulty

concentrating in school. It seemed like the school day would never end on Wednesday. As the game was to start at 4

o’clock he rode his bike home quickly, put on his uniform and rushed back to the ball field. When he arrived most of the

players were already there, as was Coach Heldrin.

As luck would have it, their opponent for the opening game was their toughest competitor in the league. The

Binghampton Bears were usually one of the top two teams. This year would be no exception as their pitcher was by far the

best in the league and had defeated the Wolves the last time the two teams played. The Wolves had an excellent pitcher

also, his name was Richie Banks. Not only was he a good pitcher, he had led the league in hitting the previous year.

The Wolves were fortunate to have Richie on their team. He was the only player to get a hit against the Bears’ pitcher.

As it was a home run and the batter preceding him had walked the Wolves eked out a 2-1 victory. Pudge had to be satisfied

with the team’s victory as he went hitless along with most of the other batters. His efforts in the field were mixed. The first

ball hit his way went through his legs and resulted in a run for the Bears. He made up for it on the next play when he made a

spectacular diving catch of a low line drive for the third out of the inning. This play turned out to be the best fielding play of the

game and Pudge receive much applause and backslapping from his teammates when he returned to the bench.

The Wolves won the next three games easily by scores of 7-2, 5-1, and 12-4. During those three games Pudge

managed to scratch out only two hits, one of them a bunt. His fielding was consistently good and coach Heldrin was sure

Pudge would start hitting better as soon as he learned to relax at the plate. Because of his poor hitting the coach had placed

him ninth in the batting order. In attempts to improve his hitting the coach had Pudge stand a little farther back in the batter’s

box and to use a lighter bat. Coach Heldrin also had him watch their star hitter, Richie Banks.

“Watch how he keeps his eye on the ball all the way to the bat,” said Buzz. “Many batters take their eye off the ball at the

last instant, perhaps to look at where they want to hit it, or perhaps at where the fielders are playing. I think you might be

guilty of that, Pudge.”

Apparently the suggestions were what Pudge needed. In the fifth game Pudge had four hits, one of them a double with

the bases loaded to drive in three runs. Also, because he was on base more, he had a chance to demonstrate his quickness

on the base paths and stole three bases. The Wolves needed Pudge’s hits in that game, they won by a mere 6-5.

In the next game Pudge had two hits and also walked once. He scored two runs in an 11-2 victory for the Wolves.

Based on Pudge’s sudden flurry as a hitter Coach Heldrin elevated him to leadoff position for game number seven. Pudge

considered this a reward for his newfound batting success and responded with a double, two walks and two stolen bases.

The eighth game was a rematch with the Binghampton Bears. It was held on a Saturday afternoon in Binghampton and a

large contingent of fans from Wayton, including Pudge’s parents, was in the stands to root for their team. As before, the

game was a pitcher’s battle. After five innings neither pitcher had allowed a run and each team had one hit. The only hit by

the Wolves was a double by Richie Banks in the second inning. He remained at second as the next three batters struck out.

Pudge had no luck whatsoever in solving the opposing pitcher’s style. Leading off in the first inning he struck out. When

he next batted he was the third batter in the third inning and managed to roll a soft grounder to shortstop for the third out.

In the sixth inning Pudge came to bat with one out and a runner on second as a result of a walk and a stolen base.

During a conference with Coach Heldrin, who was in the third base coaching box, Pudge was instructed to bunt if either of

the first two pitches was over the plate. They were both high and Pudge had indicated a bunt on each pitch. Then the bunt

was changed to a hit sign.

On the next pitch, as the third baseman came charging to the plate expecting a bunt, Pudge lined it over his head to

score the runner from second. Pudge raced to second as the throw came home. The Wayton fans were ecstatic. This was

the beginning of a four run rally, the most ever scored by any team in one inning against the Bears’ outstanding pitcher. The

final score: Wolves 4 - Bears 0.

The league games ended in late May with the Wolves having a perfect 12-0 record. As a result of this outstanding

season they were once again invited to participate in the state championship playoffs, a double elimination tournament to be

held Memorial Day weekend in Fitchburg. The Wolves would be playing again in Class B which matched teams from smaller

communities against each other.

The players were all invited to stay for the weekend with the families of other players in the area. Coach Heldrin and

many of the parents, and other Wayton fans reserved rooms at a hotel a few blocks from the ball park. The players rode to

Fitchburg with their parents, or other adults, and were dropped off at their temporary homes late Friday after- noon. Pudge

and another player, whose parents were not able to attend, rode with Mr. and Mrs. Hammond and arrived in Fitchburg about

5 P.M.

Six teams representing six different geographical areas of the state had been selected to participate in the Class B

tournament. The towns represented were: Amherst, Athol, Bridgewater, Concord, North Adams and Wayton. The first three

games were to be played Saturday morning beginning at 9 A.M. Three more games were scheduled for Saturday afternoon

starting at 3 o’clock. Either two or three games would be played Sunday morning, depending on how quickly teams

sustained two losses. Semi-finals were scheduled for Monday morning and the finals at 2 P.M. Monday afternoon.

Teams were seeded from 1 to 6 according to three factors: their won-lost record, the quality of competition played, and

the population of the town they represented.

Pudge’s team, in spite of their excellent record, was seeded third. This meant they would play the fourth seed, Amherst,

at approximately 11 A.M. Saturday morning. Coach Heldrin considered this a good break for the Wolves as they wouldn’t

have to rush to get to the park early and they would be able to watch at least part of the first two games. This way they could

size up their possible future opponents.

As 11 A.M. approached on Saturday the Wolves had watched the number one seed, Bridgewater, defeat number six,

North Adams, and number two, Concord, defeat number 5, Athol. Both games were close, Bridgewater won 3-2 and

Concord 4-2.

The Wolves had their number one pitcher, Richie Banks, well rested as he had pitched only three innings the previous

Wednesday. Coach Heldrin’s plan was to pitch Richie as little as possible in the frst game. If the Wolves could get an early

lead Richie would switch places with the right fielder, who was one of two others in the lineup capable of pitching. That way

Richie’s bat would still be in the lineup and his arm could be rested for later games.

This strategy worked. The Wolves scored two runs in the first inning when Pudge walked, stole second and then scored

on an error by the Amherst first baseman. The runner who reached first on the error later scored on a single to center by

Richie Banks. When, after two innings the Wolves led 3-0, Coach Heldrin made the switch. Amherst managed to score two

runs against the Wolves second pitcher but the Wolves, scoring three more runs in the fifth, won 6-2.

The Wolves next game was at 5 P.M. on Saturday. Their opponents were the number 6 team, North Adams. Coach

Heldrin cautioned the players that they were to consider the opponents just as dangerous as any team they had played that

year.

“Remember guys, they didn’t reach the tournament by being pushovers.”

The coach was right. The Wolves started ther second pitcher, Herbie Adams, who normally was a control pitcher and

was almost as good a pitcher as Richie. This game, however, Herbie didn’t have his usual control and walked the first two

batters he faced. Before he could get out of the inning North Adams had scored three runs. The inning might have been

prolonged and more runs scored had Pudge not made another out- standing catch in left field. The ball was hit over his head

so that Pudge had to take off on a dead run to catch it. Fortunately, this was the third out.

After the first inning Herbie settled down and gave up only one more hit the rest of the game. In the meantime, the

Wolves pecked away at the North Adams’ lead, finally catching them in the fourth inning. Pudge scored the tying run when he

singled after two were out, stole second and then raced home on a single by the Wolves’ next batter. The Wolves won the

game in the fifth when Richie Banks hit a home run. Final score: Wolves 4, North Adams 3.

Sunday morning at 9 the Wolves faced Concord, seeded number two in the tour- nament. Concord had won its first two

games, defeating Athol 5-2 and Amherst 3-0. Moreover, they had won those games without their best starting pitcher, who

had not been able to be there on Saturday. For the Wolves’ game he was primed and ready to go.

Coach Heldrin decided to start their regular right fielder, Jimmy Belden, who had pitched so well in relief in the first

game. That way Richie Banks could pitch Monday morning in the semi-finals. This time the strategy backfired. Concord

took an early lead by scoring two runs in the first inning and the Wolves were not able to catch them. As a result the Wolves

suffered their first defeat of the season, losing 6-4.

Monday morning found the Wolves facing the number one seed, Bridgewater; the only team in the tournament still without

a loss. They had defeated Concord in the second game Sunday by a score of 2-1. Richie Banks was rested and ready to

start for the Wolves, with Herbie Adams ready to come to his relief if Richie faltered. As things turned out, Richie pitched an

almost flawless game, limiting Bridgewater to two scattered singles. Pudge was the batting hero; his two singles eeach

drove in a runner frm second and the Wolves won 2-0.

The Wolves’ victory left the top three teams each with one loss. A coin toss then gave the Wolves a bye and matched

Bridgewater against Concord in a second Monday morning semi-final. This matchup was a lucky break for the Wolves. Had

they been required to play a second morning game and somehow managed to win, the afternoon final game would be their

third game in one day for them and would find them with a tired pitching staff.

The Bridgewater-Concord game was exciting. Each team scored a run in the first inning, then the teams took turns

scoring runs, with Concord finally emerging as the winner by a 5-4 score.

Both teams arrived early for the 2 o’clock final game. The Wolves had returned early to loosen up and try to get rid of the

butterflies that were in many of the young stomachs. Pudge was so nervous he couldn’t stand still. If he sat on the bench he

kept scuffing his feet into the ground until he had dug a hole. Noticing this, Coach Heldrin, five minutes before game time

sent Pudge and another nervous young player to run a lap around the ball field. This seemed to help both players; at game

time they were more settled.

Herbie Adams was scheduled to start for the Wolves against the number one Concord pitcher, the one who had

defeated the Wolves Sunday morning. Of the two, the Concord pitcher seemed the more nervous. Herbie, usually a quiet,

steady worker, was exuberant at his chance to pitch in the state finals.

The game was exciting to watch but somewhat frustrating to the Wolves. In each of the first three innings the Wolves hit

the ball hard but couldn’t hit it out of the infield. The Concord players made one spectacular fielding play after another and

the Wolves always seemed to be half a step short in beating the play at first base.

The Concord Colonials, on the other hand, encountered a different kind of frustration. Herbie’s control was so perfect

that the Colonials swung and missed more often than they connected. After three innings Herbie had six strikeouts and had

allowed only one hit, a harmless single in the second inning. The Wolves also had one hit, by Richie Banks in the second

inning. Neither team had scored.

Frustration became delight for the Wolves in the top of the fourth. The first two batters each laid down a perfect bunt and

caught the Colonials napping. Richie followed by doubling into right field and the Wolves were on their way. Before Concord

could close the door six runs had crossed the plate. The Wolves went on to win 7-1.

The team celebrated joyously as soon as the final out was made. Richie Banks added to the celebration by dumping the

team’s water bucket over Coach Heldrin’s head.

Pudge was ecstatic, his baseball dream had come true. Although he had gone hitless in the final game his team had

won and that’s what really mattered. Besides, he knew he had made a contribution to the team during the rest of the season.

And with summer approaching he was looking forward to more baseball, perhaps another team and hope-fully, another

championship.

Such was his baseball fever.