June 7, 1936

Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

Proverbs 17:6 (KJV)

This day in history is, to my understanding, nothing special. However, it became special to me when I found an old church bulletin from St. Bonaventure Church from that date. You see, on the other side of this church bulletin, my dad had kept the box score from the game that day between the Boston Bees (now the Atlanta Braves) and the Cincinnati Reds. In his own hand, he captured the action that day between two teams that played at old Crosley Field in Cincinnati.

I had heard him talk about Ernie Lombardi, Ival Goodman, Lew Riggs, Kiki Cuyler, and Alex Kampouris, but here they came to life because my dad had kept score. The Reds lost that day 8-3. Just another in the long line of games that go on daily in baseball. But this one is captured for all time. I framed that somewhat messy, pencil smeared box score, and it will stay in my office as long as I can keep it.

Just another day, another in a long succession of baseball games, is now a cherished keepsake because my dad decided to capture it that day. Why he kept it, I do not know. Was he at the game? Did he score it while listening to the game on radio? I am sure that I will never know. I do know that this is a piece of him that was dear to him, and therefore, it is dear to me.

Maybe it was just another lazy summer day. Maybe it was special to him.

I know it is special to me.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving me parents who loved me and cared for me so well, Amen