Dedication pays off Fans who go deep
By Amy Bickel, The Hutchinson News, Kan. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
But far beyond
Call it a Cinderella story. The
Baseball, after all, doesn't have have political or even religious boundaries. Those on either side of the party line can find common ground with baseball, said
"I think that is one of the beautiful things about
And across
For
Regier, who lived in
"My wife was diagnosed with cancer," he said, adding that a family trip to a
She died in
"We were blessed to have four season tickets 10 rows above the first base dugout, and it became our home away," Regier said. "The
The 1985 playoffs and World Series were memorable highlights, he said. That included Game 7 when the
Meanwhile, the Regiers lived in a development that had a walking trail that went up to the backyards of the neighborhood homes -- including
"Brett lived in our neighborhood and if he was outdoors when we were walking the trails behind our homes, he would always take time to engage my son and one time he gave (a) button to my son," Regier said. "He really liked kids and he always wanted to talk to my son."
Regier figures it is one of a kind because the round button with Brett's picture is numbered.
Memorable birthday
His oldest child, Hannah, was born around that same time,
"That was in a time when Mom and baby stayed in the hospital for a few days," he said. "I'd hold her and watch the games."
Watching and listening to the team this season has been exciting, he said. "And they have captivated the nation, too, and it is really fun to see that."
"I'm very proud to say I've been a loyal listener and follower even during the rough times," he said. "There is something romantic listening to a baseball game in the summertime."
A fan of the
When the World Series airs this week, the dress code at Sheila Metzger's office will be jeans and a Royals T-shirt.
After all, she has long been a true blue fan, even during the down years, the
"I remember listening to them on the AM radio as a little girl, and my mom and dad had the games on when they were on television."
During the 1985 World Series, "I was 12 years old," she said. "And I will never forget it."
Now Metzger is one of the sponsors of
Reif, however, admits he grew up loving both the
"When I was a little boy, my favorite player was Carl Yastrzemski," he said of the
But it was the
"I can remember as a boy being on a farm tractor listening to
When he goes to
Reif was in
On Tuesday, he and Metzger and her 8-year-old son Hunter were at Game 3 against
"Oh my, it was so loud and fun," Metzger said. "Everyone around us was having a good time. There were other kids there -- it didn't matter what age you were."
"It brings those of us who are old enough, it brings us back to the glory days of the 1970s and the 1980s -- of
Cheering in Heaven
"She was their biggest fan," Morton said.
In fact, Morton, said, she doesn't remember a time when Grandmother Lois Kohls, who lived in
"I asked my uncle, and he said she was always a
"When she found out she had cancer, and we wouldn't have her very much longer, she said, 'I want to go see my
Morton said before she died, her grandmother wrote a letter to Morton's mother, Carla, and Carla's siblings, telling them she wanted to be buried with a picture of Morton and her brother, Andy, and a photo of
"I wish I could share this World Series with her like I did in 1985," Morton said.
World Series-bound
For
"This is a dream -- I can't believe this is real," he said.
Brown grew up watching the
"I remember all of us just jumping around the house like we had just won the lottery," he said.
Brown, who works at MKC, has always loved baseball, playing it in high school and recently starting a club baseball and softball organization -- the Central Kansas Crushers -- along with an indoor practice facility in
"I've even been a fan even when they were really bad," he said, adding he has an enormous
Brown said he's always optimistic about the
"We have one of the best defenses in the major leagues," Brown said. "The good thing about defenses -- they are not hot and cold. Our defense, every night, there is a highlight being made by somebody."
He took his son, Carter, 11, to Wednesday's clincher that garnered the team the World Series berth. He has five tickets to the World Series games in
But with a family of seven, he needs two more, he said.
Earlier this week, standing-room-only tickets were selling for about
Her wardrobe is
"I'm a diehard
"I'm a very excited 51-year-old lady who loves KC baseball," Shimel said, adding she wished she could afford a World Series ticket. "I'm a fan and always will be."
Traveling America's highways with the Royals{p dir="ltr"}It's not lonely driving the nation's highways during the summer for trucker
Smith will be tuning into the
Baseball nerd
When it comes to watching baseball,
He has the radio on, as well as the television. He has a running thread with friends and family via text messages. And he has a computer and tablet turned on so he can keep up with social media commentary.
"I tend to have four or five different text message threads going with my four older brothers -- a couple different groups of friends," he said. "My phone sounds like an xylophone. It's constantly ringing as we are all exchanging banter.
"With the social media, it is a wonderful vehicle to share frustration and jubilation."
Moreover, baseball connects people -- no matter their views or upbringings.
"The thing about sports -- whether it is youth sports, middle school, high school or pro, it connects people. You see people making lifelong friendships because they see something common with the people playing a sport. You have people with fierce convictions, and once you can get them talking about baseball -- especially if it is the same team -- they are suddenly arm and arm."
A longtime
He recalls having his son dressed in
"He probably doesn't remember," Naccarato said with a laugh.
Now, 29 years later and living in
As for the World Series, Naccarato doesn't plan to do anything different. He'll be in front of his television and his computers, his phone in hand, watching the games.
"I don't think I want to change anything," he said. "I tend to get superstitious -- do things the way we've been doing it. I may not change my socks."
___
(c)2014 The Hutchinson News (Hutchinson, Kan.)
Visit The Hutchinson News (Hutchinson, Kan.) at www.hutchnews.com
Distributed by MCT Information Services
Wordcount: | 2247 |
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News