One Strike Away....

(2005) I am still in shock.

Nearly 12 hours later and sleeping it off hasn't helped.

All we needed was one measly strike and the 44 year drought would be over.

But oh, how our hopes were put out with one big blast.

Baseball is called America's pastime. It truly is the nation's best sport. Everyone that knows me knows I am a Dallas Cowboys freak.....I rarely miss a game and own more Cowboys keepsakes than anyone, yet, there is just something about baseball. It's the most emotional sport of them all.

After moving to Houston in the early 70s, as a child I grew up an Astros fan. Do you remember those wonderful multi-color, horizontally striped jerseys they wore along with the bright orange hats? Wow. Those were some fun times. Thanks to my dad, I learned to love the sport. We went to many a game at the Astrodome and I always dreamed of them making the World Series.

As of last night, my 30+ year wait isn't over.

In 1980 (before the Wildcard Series was introduced) they lost to the Phillies in Houston in the National League Championship Series. In 1986 they beat the Dodgers in a one game playoff to decide the Division and won, only to lose a heartbreaker to the Mets in extra innings in the NLCS, again at home. I remember my entire family being in tears watching it on TV. In 2004, 18 years later, my Astros made it to game 7 of the NLCS against the Cardinals. They were 6 outs away with Roger Clemens pitching and a 2 run lead, only to lose it. My World Series tickets had already been bought and I was ready. But no.

Then, last night, the Astros were again facing the Cardinals in the NLCS with a 3 game to 1 lead. They were at home. They got the lead late at 4-2 and had their unhittable closer on the mound in the 9th to get the last two outs. He struck out batter number one! He struck out batter number two! We were one out away! But then two men got on, bringing baseballs biggest hitter to the plate in Albert Pujols. I told my wife, "This guy is a homerun hitting machine". I was nervous and barely could sit still.

Earlier I had called dad, "You watching the game?"

"Yea," he said, "Let's hope they do it this time."

Lidge threw two strikes past him! I was fidgeting wearing my old time orange "H" hat and waiting to scream and wake the babies.

"We are one strike away!" I yelled to my wife. "One strike away!"

Lidge threw the ball and...."Whack!"

Pujols sucked the living air out of Minute Maid park and the Speers household as he literally crushed the ball well over 400 feet out of the ballpark. The Cardinals took a 5-4 lead and won the game just minutes later. Just like that it was over.

My childhood dreamed had once again been squashed. Though we still had a 3-2 game lead, the series would now go back to St. Louis and Busch Stadium would be nuts. It would be the last games in that ballpark and the Astros have only won 1 out of their last 6 there. The odds are long and the hopes are faint.

The Astros have failed me again. Just days away from being 36 years old, father of 2, husband of one, CEO of a multi-million dollar company, and here I was about to cry. My heart sank.

Fans of baseball wait years and years, each time believing and hoping this will be "their year". Yea, it's just a stupid game, some might say, but you can't help but get emotionally involved in it if it's really a part of you. Think about it. Some people are born, follow a team for nearly 80 years, and never see their team win the championship. That's amazing. Generations can go by without your team actually ever winning it. Especially if you are a Cubs, Astros or Rangers fan.

I love baseball. There is just something about it. We all need to step back in time and remember what it was like to be a kid. Put on the old garb, forget today's worries and just enjoy what once was. God gave us sports like this to enjoy the day. Give us something to remove ourselves from the trials of life and be giddy about. I wonder what jersey He wears?

Thanks dad for giving me something in my childhood to hold on to.

I just hope we both get to see them make it before my 8 week old twins girls are the ones saying, "All we need is one more strike!"



"Young man, it's wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in..." Ecclesiastes 11:9


(c) 2005, J. Brady
"I say it how I see it and I make no bones about it."