America’s pastime, after all, features the RBI, the DH, LF, E5, ERA and a little BP. What better person to have following it than a GW?
Hey, I have a name for him: Game Winner.
In the game of life, GW hit the walk-off home run. To use the parlance of the baseball announcer, he touched ‘em all. Tomorrow afternoon all those who were touched, loved and influenced by him will pay their final respects. GW, who had been ill for a while, passed away peacefully Monday afternoon. He was 77.
For someone who was supposedly so disadvantaged as a child, he ultimately became a very rich man – wealthy beyond description because of the love and admiration he had from so many people.
Saying GW was a great guy is kind of like saying Pete Rose knew how to hit. Mere words aren’t sufficient.
I’m telling you, the world has never known a nicer man.
He stepped up to the plate 58 years ago when he made Betty McCaffrey his wife. Though they had been born and raised in Kentucky, they settled in West Middletown, Ohio. Like so many others, GW found work at Armco Steel and decided to stay here.
He reached first base when he became a loving father to four children – Michael, Pennie, Tony and Ginger. He was working with Barclay Financial Services by then, a place he worked for 44 years. The kids were Madison Mohawks and GW, when he wasn’t watching baseball, remained true to his beloved Kentucky basketball Wildcats.
Then he got to second base when the grandchildren came along – Chris, Graham, Molli, Chloe, Claire, Collin, Connor, Chase and Sophie (pictured with GW a few years ago). He was a doting grandfather, always involved in what the kids were doing.
Connor and Chase are my nephews, and I know GW instilled in them the passion for baseball they carry to this day.
One time, when Chase was only three, GW took the boys to a baseball card show. Chase made his way to the counter, and then asked the guy who ran the place, “Do you have ‘The Big Hurt?’”
The guy behind the counter gave him a look that said, “Did this little guy just ask that?”
Most people knew the famous member of the White Sox as Frank Thomas. But Chase knew better, all because of GW.
Atta’ boy, Chase. Thanks, GW.
GW rounded third and started heading for home a few years ago, when his health just wasn’t what he wanted. He’d spent the better part of the last three weeks at Atrium Medical Center. He was surrounded by his family the whole time.
When I saw him Saturday afternoon, he was a man very much at peace. There were cards and photographs all throughout his room, including one I like of Connor and Chase in their baseball uniforms.
Fittingly, the TV was turned to a sports channel. Ginger, my brother's wife, looked worn out, but she had a million great stories about her dad. And those stories will provide comfort to all of them in the years to come.
I know the hope and prayer was for GW’s game to go into extra innings. After all, we don’t like to see Hall of Fame ball players retire and we don’t want to see our loved ones ever pass away.
But GW had lived a long, full life and had accomplished everything he was sent on this Earth to do.
I think he embodied every value God wants for all of us -- to love unconditionally, and make the world a better place. So when GW entered the locker room of heaven early Monday afternoon, I think the first thing he heard was, “Well done, my son.”
Next thing he heard was, “Now get dressed. You’re starting and batting second tonight.”
No doubt, some unsuspecting pitcher is in for a Big Hurt, GW style.