A Brand New Ballgame

by Declan Rhodes

  Huggins and Eckert were openly discussing figuring out a way to injure Chase. They knew about his previous minor shoulder injury and addressed the joint as a weakness. The injury was planned!

  Huggins’ voice was clear when he said, “We’re only going to slow him down. He needs to know that there are some risks when you don’t listen closely to the boss.”

  After the tape played the tenth time, I sat down and shivered. I wasn’t sure what to do, but I needed something to calm me down. If I acted immediately, I was likely to cause Chase more trouble instead of helping him. I headed for the refrigerator in my hotel suite and retrieved a beer.

  I didn’t do anything before reporting to the stadium for batting practice. I worked hard to keep myself from being distracted, but it wasn’t easy. Harv jogged up beside me and waved a hand in front of my face. “Are you with us, Coach?”

  I shook my head and said, “Yeah, sorry, I’m a little bit distracted?”

  Harv leaned close and asked, “From that tape you received?”

  I nodded. “Yeah, that.”

  He tugged on my elbow and said, “Leave the batting practice on auto-pilot for a moment. I’ve got something to say.”

  We walked up to the wall behind home plate, and I asked, “What’s up? I’ll get my head in the game. I promise. I’ll save the tape until tomorrow.”

  He put his hand on my shoulder and said, “I know I have no business getting involved, but I already consider you a friend. If you think that tape is important, then I understand that it is. I’ll do my best to cover for you during tonight’s game. If anyone asks, I’ll say you’ve got a sick parent at home or any other excuse you want me to give.”

  I grinned. “You are a good friend, Harv. Do you want to go out for a drink after the game? I’ll tell you the details of what’s going on. I know that I can trust you, and I could use another voice helping me figure out what to do.”

  Harv’s eyes widened. The ring around his huge dark pupils was a beautiful aqua blue. He said, “That’s crazy. Are you sure it is true? Would coaches do something like that?”

  “It’s right there on the tape. I know it’s their voices, and I watched the game. The catcher slammed Chase in a completely inappropriate way. He was paid for it. At least two other plays were ready to trip him up if necessary.”

  Harv growled. “They should be drummed out of baseball. People like that are dangerous for all of us. And players conspiring, too. It makes me sick.”

  I nodded. “That’s right. This isn’t just about how I feel about Chase. This is about baseball in general.”

  “What are you going to do about it?”

  “I’m going to buy us another round of beers, and then I’ll figure it out. Do you want another?”

  Harv nodded. “Yeah. It might help me calm down. Right now, I’m boiling inside. I want to hit something, but I know that I can’t.”

  I stood at the bar and waited for the beers. I thought about Chase lying in bed with a doctor telling him that his career might be over. I slammed a fist into my opposite hand. A fan standing next to me asked, “Hey, Coach. Are you okay? It was a tough game tonight, but we almost got ‘em. You’ll get ‘em back tomorrow night. Don’t be too hard on yourself.”

  I did my best to smile, and I said, “Thanks for the pep talk. Sometimes the best of us need that. Yeah, tonight’s game was rough. We’ll turn it around.”

  Returning to Harv, I handed him an icy-cold bottle of beer and sat at our table. He asked, “Have you figured it out?”

  I said, “Yes, I think so.”

  The next morning at 11:00 eastern time, I called the office of Meyer Huggins in Charlotte, North Carolina. His secretary said, “I think he’s in a meeting right now. Can I take your name, and he can call you back at his convenience.”

  I said, “My name is Aaron Beck, and I think he will want to take this call. Tell him it’s about the, ‘rookie sucker with a bum shoulder.’ If he doesn’t want to talk to me, things will get rough very quickly.”

  There was hesitation on the other end, but after a twenty seconds pause, she said, “Okay, Sir, I’ll buzz you through.”

  I waited for a few moments before I heard Huggins’ familiar voice. His unhappiness was obvious in the tone. He asked, “What’s this about, Beck? I heard you’re doing well in San Antonio. I interrupted an important meeting for this. I hope you have something good for me. My time is worth a lot of money.”

  I sighed heavily. “I doubt that it’s good, but I know what you did to Chase O’Rourke.”

  He hesitated before he tried to brush me off. “I didn’t do anything to O’Rourke. I am sorry for his unfortunate injury. Bad breaks like that happen to players all the time. It’s a hazard of the job.”

  “Deliberate injuries are much rarer.”

  “What are you talking about?” The tone of his voice rose. I pushed the button on the cassette player and let him listen to his voice through the phone. After I turned the player off, a few seconds of silence followed on his end of the phone. Then he whispered, “What do you want?”

  “The resignation of you and your toadie Eckert effective tomorrow. If it doesn’t happen, this tape is going to the media.”

  He growled, “That’s blackmail, and you know it.”

  “So do you want it to go to the media? If they have it, then it’s not blackmail. If I send it to them, I’ll sit back and wait for due process to unfold.”

  27

  Chase

  Two days later, the radio station invited me to serve as a guest announcer for a second game. I told Jerry, “Of course I’ll do it. I loved the last game.”

  When we made the arrangements, neither of us knew the day would turn into a media circus. By the time the game rolled around, the Yellowjackets locker room was teeming with members of the press, and national sports reporters were flocking to Charlotte. Jerry said, “We’re getting call after call asking why Huggins and Eckert both resigned. They have released nearly identical statements saying they need to spend more time with their families, but the timing is suspicious. Do you know anything more about this, Chase?”

  I’d heard from Aaron about the real reason, and I was still trying to make sense of the entire situation. It was difficult to believe, but he said he had it all on tape. The catcher who hit my shoulder announced he would retire at the end of the current season, about five years earlier than anyone expected. I asked, “Can we drop the controversy for the length of the game and pretend like everything is normal until afterward?”

  Jerry nodded. “That’s been my approach so far. I suggest to the callers that they listen to the open call-in after the game, and we’ll discuss it all then.” He asked me directly, “Do you know something about it?”

  “I’m staying quiet about it for now. I want to focus on the game.”

  By the time the game was half over, it was apparent that I had a lot of questions to answer. Some of them I didn’t want to address. A few callers questioned whether there was any connection to me coming out as gay. I grumbled to Jerry that the suggestion was absurd, and he agreed with me, but that didn’t stop the rumor machine.

  Then another unexpected bomb dropped, and the resignation of Huggins and Eckert became old news. Jerry sent me to the media room after the game to see if I could figure out the atmosphere closer to the team itself. He requested that I not answer any questions directed at me and tell everyone that I was there to report and not be the subject of reports.

  I laughed at Jerry’s suggestion and said, “Wish me luck, but you know I’m itching to go down there and talk to people.”

  Mo pitched another save. He broke a tie for the lead in saves among all the relief pitchers in the league. He was sitting at the table to the right of the Yellowjackets’ field manager when I arrived. A ripple of sound swept through the gathered media spilling out the door of the room when they spotted me.

  To quiet the crowd, Mo tapped on the microphone. He said, “I want to thank my manager for bringing me down here.
I wasn’t aware of the saves lead until after the game, so I’m still smiling about it. However, I also want to use this occasion to share some other significant news.”

  At that moment, Mo looked out over the crowd and stared directly at me. I watched him nod, and I smiled. I didn’t know what he had planned, but Mo was one of the Yellowjackets players I trusted implicitly.

  Mo said, “I should have done this long ago, but hindsight is 20/20. I want to thank my buddy Chase O’Rourke over there in the corner for helping make it much easier to say what I have to say in public.”

  A hush swept through the gathered reporters. The room was silent. Someone literally could have heard a pin drop. I watched Mo beam as he began to speak again.

  “I wanted to let you all know that I’m a proud gay man, and I’ve been dating the best man in the world for more than six months now. I have nothing more to hide. Do with this news what you will.”

  My jaw dropped. So the romantic trouble he asked about was a man, not a woman. I wasn’t as surprised by the fact that Mo was gay as I was by the timing of his announcement. He nodded at me again, and that time many of the gathered reporters noticed. Those close to me turned in my direction and immediately began to ask what I knew about Mo.

  The timing of the announcement was exquisite. No one wanted to know about Huggins, Eckert, or me coming out anymore. They were focused on the veteran pitcher Mo Sadler.

  I hung around watching the circus atmosphere, and I contacted Jerry. He was still on the radio, but he had two other sports colleagues helping field calls. He asked, “Did you know about this in advance?”

  I said, “I’m telling you honestly that I had no idea. I have a suggestion, though.”

  “What?” asked Jerry. “This has to be one of the craziest nights I’ve seen since the Yellowjackets first started playing in Charlotte.”

  “How about an exclusive interview with Mo and me?”

  I heard the excitement in Jerry’s voice. “Could you arrange that?”

  “I have no doubt that I can. Let me hang out down here for another hour or so, and I’ll put it together. I owe you one.”

  Jerry said, “I think we might need to put you on staff. I’m sincere when I say thank you from the bottom of my heart, Chase.”

  I felt an incredibly warm sensation inside before I turned back to the crowd of reporters and photographers. I heard Mo say, “The timing was never right before, but I believe that I owed it to other LGBT folk to come out before retirement.”

  As I watched Mo, another sensation, one of tremendous pride, rose in my chest. He could have retired without the circus atmosphere. Mo was the first to admit that his arm only had a year or two left before he would need to seriously consider retirement. Instead, he chose to see a greater good, and it made me tremendously proud to call him a friend.

  45 minutes later, the team managed to successfully usher the media out of the room. I asked the field manager if I could speak to Mo briefly before leaving. He said, “I wasn’t going to ask you to leave. I don’t see you as a reporter. You’re still one of us. The disabled list doesn’t mean you’re off the team.”

  I grinned. I hadn’t told anyone on the coaching staff about my plan to end my career as an active player. Mo stood up from behind the press table and joined me. We shared a massive hug, and I whispered, “Careful of the shoulder. I’m so proud of you big Mo!”

  After he released me, Mo shrugged his broad shoulders and said, “All things considered, it was a lot easier than I expected.”

  I crooked a finger at him inviting him to lower his head so that I could whisper in confidence. I asked, “Did you time it to take the pressure off the news about Huggins and Eckert?”

  He chuckled. “It worked, didn’t it? The rumors about those resignations were not helping the team. I thought I could move things back in the direction of positive news. For once in my life, I was able to bend the path of news coverage to my will.

  I said, “Maybe you should run for office. You handled them masterfully.”

  He said, “I don’t know about that.”

  I held out my hand saying, “I’ll give this back.” I pointed a finger at my shoulder as the rabbit’s foot rested in the open palm of my opposite hand. I said, “I think maybe this only works for you.”

  28

  Aaron

  I was shocked by the news out of Charlotte. I never suspected that Mo was gay, too. Chase called me at nearly midnight. I was already sound asleep. After the fifth ring, I grabbed the phone worried that it was bad news from my family. For some reason, Uncle John flashed into my mind. I tensed even more when I saw that it was Chase calling.

  I practically yelled into the phone, “What’s wrong? You didn’t fall on that shoulder, did you?”

  Chase laughed in response.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “Hold your horses. Nothing is wrong. In fact, everything is pretty damn good. By the way, did you know Mo Sadler is gay?”

  I set the phone down on the sheets beside me and pushed the speaker button. I reached my hands up and rubbed at my forehead trying to wake up. I asked, “What did you say? Were you talking about Mo? Why did you call me so late?”

  Chase was wide awake. He said, “I was bursting with news, and I knew you’d want to know before you heard about it on the radio in the morning.”

  “Heard what? Are they still yammering about Huggins and Eckert? I hope nobody connects the dots, because then I’ll have to leak the truth.”

  “No, that’s what’s so great! They don’t care about those two anymore. Mo took over the news cycle. He’s the man of the moment!”

  “Okay, yeah, I’m trying to wake up. Why is everyone so excited about Mo? He is an excellent pitcher.”

  “He’s gay!” shouted Chase. “He announced it in the press room.”

  “You’re kidding.”

  “Cross my heart. I’ll let you go back to sleep now that you know. It will be the big story in the morning. I just wanted you to know first. Hugs and kisses!”

  “Oh, great, you wake me up and then tell me goodbye.”

  Chase shifted his voice to a tone dripping with seduction. “We could change to video chat, and we could have a little fun. I just wanted to let you sleep if that’s what you want.

  I sighed and said, “It’s so tempting, but I’d better sleep for now. It’s an important game tomorrow, but after the game…are you available?”

  “Always available for you, love. Give me a call when you’re back home tomorrow night.”

  I smiled and said, “I love you, Chase, and thank you for the news. I can’t wait for tomorrow night.”

  “Neither can I.”

  Nine hours later I had more news to rock my world. I was awake and lounging in the hotel suite. I curled up in just boxer briefs on the sofa with a blanket over my bare legs to watch sports news and see what they were saying about Mo. The cell phone rang. I wasn’t used to calls first thing in the morning, and I began to worry all over again like the night before.

  It was Harv on the phone. He whispered, “I just heard some backroom scuttlebutt.”

  “And it can’t wait until I get there?”

  Harv said, “Well, I can keep a secret, but I’m not sure that you want me to hold onto it. The news might be big for you.”

  “For me? Please don’t tell me they’re making me manager. I’m not ready for that.”

  Harv laughed. “You don’t have to worry, but this is about jobs.”

  “I’m getting fired?”

  “Wrong again!” exclaimed Harv.

  “Okay, you’ve got my attention. Tell me the big news.”

  “The Yellowjackets want you back.”

  My eyes opened wider. My eyes opened wide. “They what? Who said that?”

  Harv whispered the details. He said, “People are milling around, and I’m sure I’m not supposed to be leaking this to you. The story goes that the field managers for each team had a conversation. Since that guy resigned in Charlotte, the
y want you back. Our manager insisted that he would be able to call in a favor at some point in the future if he lets you go.”

  I asked, “Does he really think he can make that decision for me?”

  “I think it was a little tongue in cheek,” said Harv. “He’s smarter than that. I have a question.”

  “You do?”

  “If they make you an offer, will you go?”

  I almost blurted out my response without thinking. Then I realized what a good friend Harv had become so quickly. I spoke slowly and quietly saying, “I have to say I’d probably go back in an instant, but it wouldn’t be without regrets.”

  “Regrets?”

  “You’re a good man, Harv. I can’t leave you easily.”

  He responded with a gentle laugh. “Aw, that’s very sweet of you, but I know who else is there in Charlotte. The two of you can buy a cute little house together.”

  I smiled at the thought, but I said, “That might be getting the cart a little ahead of the horse. We still don’t know about Chase’s future, and if he’s not playing, I will be gone a lot in the coaching position.”

  “Can’t he travel with you?” asked Harv.

  It was all a little too much for me first thing in the morning. I said, “Let’s not push things too far ahead. I still haven’t heard an offer. Let me wake up and get some breakfast. How about I meet you at the stadium at 1:00. Will you be there?”

  “Yeah, I’ll be there even earlier,” said Harv. “Two of the starters are meeting with me to go over some film. I think they both have similar issues, and it might help to talk about it together in a small group.”

  “You’re a great coach, Harv. I love to hear about you thinking things through.”

  He said, “Remember me when you snag that manager contract.”

  Thirty minutes later, it was my turn to disrupt Chase’s sleep. I called, and the phone rang five times before he answered. He growled, “Hey, can’t a guy get a good night’s sleep?”