Hal Loughary Baseball Story (Covering the Bases)

HAL LOUGHARY: Back in those days, every town had a baseball team. And I'll tell you, every mine had a baseball team. I remember one time going with Dad, and I think they were playing—Dad worked—I believe he worked in #5 and they were playing #9, who was Elvins. We got down there and Dad's mine team only had eight players, so they let me play left field. Boy, that was thrill. I thought I was a big little crapper. Elmer Cook was the pitcher on the town team at Elvins, and Shy Ashby was the first baseman. Well, I knew them guys real well. They was always picking on me. I'd come to bat, somebody said something about me batting. Elmer backed off the mound and said, “Don't worry, I'm going to stick this ball right under that second rib.” He had me scared to death the time I batted. He told his infield to sit down on the ground, so that's what they did. The whole infield, sitting down on the ground, and he let me bat, because he was going to stick that ball under my rib. He says, “Don't worry about him, I'll take care of him.” And, man, I hit the ball, just got a nub in and it fell right behind third base. I was about an eighth grader. The ball fell behind third base, and I tell you, oh, Elmer Cook threw a fit out on me. Stomping the mound, kicking the rubber, you know. And then, Shy Ashby played first base. I was trying to stand on first base, and he'd push me off the bag and Elmer would throw him the ball and he'd tag me out. And umpire, “He's safe!” I'll tell you, it was a three-ring circus. Them guys, them old people, ribbed me all my life. But that was a good time to grow up.