The Chance of a Lifetime

Ballplayers are synonymous for standing out in the crowd. Whether it be a player from the early days or someone like Mets sensation and fellow MLBlogger David Wright. I bring this up because for myself, meeting and interviewing many ballplayers was like a magic carpet ride. However, the one thing I will always remember is the chance to hold Allie Reynolds 1953 World Series ring.

At MLBlogs, most of my fellow writers have a photo album showcasing a pictorial history of the game. This baseball scribe doesn't have one, but I enjoy most that are on MLBlogs. Anyway, my friend Arielle, or A as I call her, from Dispatches from Red Sox Teen Nation, has a photo of her holding Sean McDonough's 2004 Boston Red Sox World Series ring. Once I saw that photo, it brought back memories of my meeting with Allie Reynolds.

Allie Reynolds was nice, cordial and loved to talk about the game. I had the chance to meet him at a baseball convention on Long Island about 20 years ago. The meeting was special, because as soon as I walked to the table we began to talk and talk and talk. He then let me see his 1953 World Series ring, eventually taking it off his finger and letting me hold it and stare at it. I was a kid in the candy store -- I was amazed that someone of this caliber would let a 12 year old kid hold something so valuable to him. But, he did and I enjoyed every moment of it.

It was sad news to me on December 26, 1994 when Allie Reynolds passed away. I had so many memories and tributes of him playing in my head, that I was in denial. I didn't want to believe he passed to a better place, but this is life and I, as a human, had to come to terms with it. So, I did. I treasure the autograph ball and photograph I have of him. I will always remember him not as a baseball player, but a great person.