TRADITIONAL BASEBALL GAME

On February 2 1999 Adam Cartwright was in Virginia City with his 6 year old son Mitch. Suddenly the youngest saw a poster hanging on the wall.

“Daddy, there hangs a baseball poster”, Mitch said pointing at the poster on the wall.

“Let’s see what’s on it”, said Adam.

He walked to it and pushed the wheelchair in which Mitch sat.

Adam read,

“Are we going there to daddy?”, Mitch asked excited.

“We will have to because your uncles and I will join the team”, said Adam.

“It’s because I am too young to join in, isn’t it?”, his son asked a bit disappointed.

Adam kneeled down near the boy and explained, “Kid, you just have had an operation at your ankle. I understand that you want to join eagerly but now that really can’t be so.”

“Yes, but about that time I can walk again, can’t I?”, Mitch asked hopeful.

“Maybe yes but the team is for grownups only. I am really sorry. But you may watch though”, answered Adam.

“Looking at baseball is nice but playing itself is even nice”, Mitch remarked.

“Especially when you are playing too”, Adam answered smiling.

He got up and pushed the wheelchair further to the shopping centre. There waited the younger brother of Adam, Hoss, for them.

“Mitchy, are you coming for a run?”, Hoss asked teasing.

“No, but shall we hold a race whereby you run and I ride?”, the boy asked sneaky.

“Adam, can’t you raise your little son well and being polite for his uncles?”, Hoss asked now Adam.

“He already is raised much better that other children. Are you playing too with that baseball game on May 1 coming up?”, Adam wanted to know.

“No, but I will come to watch”, answered Hoss.

“Good. Mitch, then your uncle can babysit you while uncle Joe and I will play”, said Adam.

Hoss wanted to protest but knew from experience that it wouldn’t work. Though he loved to babysit his only nephew.

A week later the training began for the baseball team. It was notable that the men weren’t really in shape because the training went difficult. They couldn’t hit the easiest ball away and also base running was far from excellent. Coach Ben Cartwright saw it in dark and knew that his team had to practice much And hard for the game.

It went a lot better with Mitch. He was allowed to be moving around on crutches and sometimes without. The plaster was replaced by plaster cast. Because Hoss didn’t play with the baseball team he helped his nephew with his revalidation. Mitch helped his big uncle with simple chores at the ranch.

One afternoon Hoss and Mitch went to take a look at the training. First they had been to the hospital because the plaster cast was to be removed. Fortunately for Mitch the ankle operation had been good and the healing process had done its best.

Ben had seen his 2^nd son and grandson already but didn’t let anything show.

“What is that for a bad pitcher? Even I can throw to the catcher”, Mitch said a bit too loud on purpose.

The pitcher Kevin Stone heard that and said, “Just prove that then little one!”

Ben let Mitch come and gave him a ball. To put on the pressure more the young Cartwright let everyone wait and threw then a flawless fastball to Adam who was the catcher.

“That was just pure luck”, Kevin said angry.

But Mitch didn’t let himself become put out and threw several balls to his father. Ben realized that his grandson threw better than Kevin. Even though the little lad was just 6 years old.

“Cartwright, I stop with it!”, said Kevin.

He grabbed his glove and bat and left the field. Adam came to Ben and looked at him.

“Pa, you just can’t let Mitch play too? He is too young”, said Adam.

“Adam, nobody throws better than he does”, answered Ben.

Adam knew that too. Mitch looked waiting at his grandpa and father. Hoss and Joe went to help their nephew with hitting. Suddenly Mitch hit the ball so far away that Adam had to give permission to let his son play too.

“Alright. He may play of me. And his left ankle will be taped in and he wears an ankle bandage around it”, said Adam.

“Deal”, said Ben.

Mitch came to his father and grandpa and asked, “I may not join in, may I?”

“You may not join in but you must join in. You play along and your ankle gets taped in plus you wear an ankle bandage around it”, said Ben

Mitch answered, “The doctor at the hospital said that too.”

Hoss told what the doctor at the hospital had said.

“Kid, you never go off the mountains again with your skateboard without protection. This time the operation went well but maybe not the next time”, said Adam.

Mitch solemnly promised it.

Because Mitch was joining the son of Dan Walker, Matthew, went to train along as well. The boys were best friends and crazy about baseball. They also were talented and this had a very good influence at the other players. Hereby they went to play better and the coach saw that too.

As a precaution all trainings of the Virginia City Boys were behind closed doors.

Meanwhile Kevin had joined the Carson City Cows and was blabbing all about the over the Virginia City Boys to them.

“So they let 2 six year olds play with the thought that they shall win? Don’t make me laugh”, said Hank Parker.

“That one is even the grandson of Ben Cartwright. That little thing has made sure that I wasn’t allowed to play with them anymore”, reacted Kevin.

The coach Jim Cooper heard everything and decided to take action.

That evening Jim went to the Ponderosa. Ben happened to be outside and saw the visitor coming. He walked towards him.

When Jim had gotten out of his car asked the rancher, “Welcome to the Ponderosa. What can I do for you?”

“Thanks Ben. Is it true that your grandson also plays with that game on May 1^st?”, asked Jim.

“That is indeed so. Though Mitch is only 6 years old but now it already is clear that he won’t be living here forever. Let alone work”, answered the rancher.

“If that is true and if you say so that it’s so. Then I will keep a close eye on him. I have quite a lot of contacts in the baseball world”, said Jim.

“On condition that Mitch wants it himself and his father gives permission”, said Ben.

“I understand that. Maybe it’s good to let Mitch play at every position. Then he can discover for himself which position is the best for him”, said Jim.

Then Adam came outside and he heard the words of Jim.

“I already let the children take turns but Mitch couldn’t catch. And now not at all anymore after that ankle operation”, answered Adam.

“That will come again. I happened to be physiotherapist and can learn him how he can’t trouble his ankle but use it well”, said Jim.

He gave his card and left again. Adam looked at Ben.

“He is the coach of our opponent but also fair”, said Ben.

“I will talk about with Mitch. My son is the only one in the area with a baseball equipment for all 9 positions”, Adam answered smiling.

“And you find that strange? I had given him that myself”, reacted Ben.

“You spoil him far too much and he just abuses that”, said Adam.

“I am his grandpa and may do that so”, said Ben.

Adam had no answer to this.

The next morning Ben let Mitch catch but the boy clearly disagreed with it.

“Grandpa, I really can’t catch. Maybe I break my ankle again”, Mitch said indignant.

“Lad, your ankles are both wrapped up plus you have ankle protectors on. Do it for me”, said the rancher.

Mitch wanted to refuse but didn’t have the heart for it.

With a deep sigh he said, “Alright then.”

He put on his catcher equipment and went to play. Ben and Hoss watched from the side.

“Mitch has to less self confidence to learn something new”, Ben said worried.

“He is too afraid to learn something new. Mitchy let his tricycle 4 months standing in the garage before he learned to ride a bike. Until he heard that Adam was going to make a bike trip”, said Hoss.

His father nodded.

Mitch did his extreme best not to disappoint his grandpa but Ben too saw that his grandson wasn’t a catcher or would ever become that.

Finally he said to his grandson, “Mitch, you have convinced me. Your father is going to catch and you.”

“I don’t mind”, answered the boy.

He took off his catcher’s equipment and went to concentrate at throwing different sorts of balls.

Of course the upcoming game got much publicity and especially Kevin Stone made a lot of abuse of that. He even sent a letter to the newspaper,

Of course everyone has heard about the upcoming baseball game between the Carson City Cows and the Virginia City Boys. Now is there with the Virginia City Boys a little player who has come there illegal. That lad may only play along because he is the grandson of Ponderosa owner Ben Cartwright is. With this letter I demand that the child gets entrance refused to the stadium!

Kevin Stone.

This letter caused a lot of commotion, especially with the Cartwrights. Ben read the letter out loud and especially Mitch became worried.

“May I not play along anymore?”, he asked.

“I am the coach so you just play along. But I don’t know how the others think about it”, answered Ben.

“We don’t mind that he and Matthew play along”, Hoss said on behalf of his brothers.

“Nice but you three are biased what Mitch is concerned. Adam is his father and you and Joseph his uncles”, answered Ben.

“What am I glad with such uncles”, Mitch remarked dry.

Ben and Adam laughed but Hoss and Joe didn’t.

“Why does that Kevin Stone hate me so much?”, Mitch asked then seriously.

“When your mother and I had just got married Kevin came to work here at the ranch. He became smitten with your mother but she refused to leave me for him. And when you were on the way he totally felt humiliated” , answered Adam.

“I can’t help that, can I?”, asked Mitch.

“About that no but that you tease your 2 old uncles so yes”, answered Joe.

“How can you be old when you are only 20 years of difference with me and uncle Hoss 26 years”, reacted his nephew.

The brothers decided to ignore him and went to finish their chores.

Then it was finally May 1^st. The stadium was sold out and crammed. Besides it was lovely baseball weather.

The Carson City Cows were the away team and started with hitting. The starting pitcher for the Virginia City Boys was Tim McKay. He started well by throwing 3 strikeouts. But that did the starting pitcher of the Carson City Cows, George Palmer, too.

Inning 2 was also run less. But in the 3^rd hitting turn of the Carson City Cows the away team did strike. George Davis hit a double where after his brother Frank hit the ball out of the stadium. But also in inning 3 and 4 no player of the Virginia City Boys came over the home plate.

The game went bad for the baseball team which represented Virginia City. They were trailing at the start of the 4^th inning with 2-0. Hoss and Mitch saw that too.

“Then they should’ve put me on there”, said the boy.

“Your father doesn’t want that you end up in a wheelchair again with an injured ankle”, answered his uncle.

“Why am I then on the ration?”, asked Mitch.

“I don’t know that either”, said Hoss.

They kept on watching but not for long. Ben came to them and looked at his grandson.

“Mitch, you must come along at once with me”, said the rancher.

Mitch gave his bag and scoring book to Hoss and went along.

“You are the relief pitcher”, Ben said while he and Mitch walked to the locker room.

“But I thought that I wasn’t allowed to play too? Daddy said that to me”, Mitch said amazed.

“He said that to stimulate you to recover from your ankle operation. Taped in and with a ankle bandage around it you are able to play”, answered Ben.

Mitch quickly got changed and went to warm up.

In the 5^th inning Mitch came on the mount. Adam was the catcher and knew the relief pitcher through and through.

James Wilkins was the first batter who Mitch got opposite him.

“Geeh, I didn’t know that toddlers were also allowed to play”, James said hatefully to Adam.

“You may play too, or not?”, was the counter-question of Adam.

Hereby James was so distracted that he didn’t even pay attention anymore and had to go back to the dug-out with a strikeout. But that also happened the next 2 batters.

“A 1, 2, 3 inning for the VC Boys”, said the commentator.

In the 2^nd half of the 5^th inning the Virginia City boys stroke. The pitcher van the Carson City Cows was Hank Parker and het was for him the first time that he stood on a baseball field. Joe Cartwright was the first at bat and hit a double at once. Ponderosa hand Griff King got a walk, just like Matthew Walker. Adam was the next to bat and hit like his youngest brother a double. Then it was 3-2. Dan Walker also got a walk. Mitch hit right away the ball as first out of the stadium so the score became 7-2. Candy hit a homerun too and the ball ended up in a garden. But then there came 3 strikeouts and the inning was over.

The 6th inning began and Mitch got from Ben the instruction, “Make sure that no one comes at the bases.”

“Just take them away then”, was his dry reaction.

Hank Parker was the first batter. He hit the ball straight into the glove of Mitch. The young Cartwright didn’t get the ball out of his glove and threw the thing with ball to his uncle Joe who stood at first base.

“Hank Parker is out by 1 to 3. The next is Frank Stone”, said the commentator.

Frank got a strikeout served. Then Kevin Stone came to stand at the home plate. Because he was heavily humiliated by Mitch Kevin decided to get revenge at the young Cartwright. Kevin too got a strikeout. Out of anger he threw his bat in the direction of the pitcher. The bat hit Mitch against his left ankle. Adam had seen what happened and hit Kevin to the ground. Ben directly put ice on the painful ankle of his grandson to stop swollen.

Sheriff Roy Coffee, who had the role of head umpire, said, “Kevin Stone, you are out of the game!”

“And that little nasty piece of work of a Mitch Cartwright don’t suppose to be here either! He is just 4 and already plays along”, snapped Kevin.

He grabbed his bat and left. The coach of the Carson City Cows, Jim Cooper, came to Ben and Mitch. Jim checked the injured ankle of Mitch and put a supporting bandage on.

“Wear this during the day. Then soon it will be over”, Jim said who was also a physiotherapist.

Mitch nodded.

The 2^nd half of the 6^th inning started. By all the commotion the Carson City Cows had lost their full concentration and Hank had soon all bases loaded. Jace Taylor, a Ponderosa hand, hit the ball so far that he hit a triple and brought the score to 11-2. Mike Miller got a strikeout and Joe Cartwright got a strikeout served. But Griff king hit a homerun and made the score higher with Jace to 13-2. But Matthew Walker was the 3^rd zero by the action 4 to 3 (2^nd baseman to 1^st baseman).

At the start of the 7^th inning Ben made a change in his field.

“Jace Taylor plays left field”, said the commentator.

The first batter was George Davis.

For a second he looked scornful at Mitch and said then scorning, “I am going to smash you!”

The young Cartwright signaled 3 times a fast ball so that George was out. Frank Davis was also out with a strikeout. Then Jack Smith hit as single. Simon Blake wanted to hit when Jack wanted to steal the2nd base. Mitch saw that and threw the ball to 1^st baseman Joe Cartwright. Here by Jack was the third out.

After the traditional ball game Adam was at bat and he hit a double. Dan let him come home by hitting a homerun. Mitch hit a single but at first base he got pushed away by first baseman Jack Smith. The boy kept lying on the ground. Ben, Adam and Jim ran to him. Quite soon Mitch came up and felt his painful ankle. Adam went with him to the hospital. Jack saw Hoss coming and ran away hard. But his teammates did that too to big hilarity of the audience and the Ponderosa Cowboys. Roy directly made a stop to the game.

“Hereby the game has stopped”, said the commentator.

“Ben, you have won fair and square and those 2 six year olds are born talents. Do we do this next year again?”, asked Jim.

“Only when you join us”, said the rancher.

“Deal”, said Jim.

With this an old tradition got a new life again.