It is sad for me to see Ron did not live to
see his beloved Cubs win the World Series
Long time announcer Hall of Fame
A memory I hold forever is Ron and Larry
Standing in the pouring down rain
"Get your glove it's time to do some throw and catch."
"Guys it's a downpour outside?"
"We figured it out we can go to the tennis court."
The idea was batting practice with tennis balls.
Both my friends were catchers on their teams
They kniknamed me "hoose" left hand heat
But my strikeout pitch dropped off the table
They were one two statewide in high school batting
That was the day my dream of playing in the Majors ended
I felt my arm rip and I tore a rooter cup throwing curves
It was a senseless move to pitch tennis balls
Long before Tommy Johns surgery
Oh, I signed a $5oo dollar bonus with the Pirates
Five hundred a month minor league tryouts
The heat would come but first breaking ball and I could not lift my arm
Larry's career ended with concussions from being beaned
Three boys dreamed one went on to the Hall of Fame
But way back then Ron had one dream play in the World Series
I celebrated the Cubbies win and looked up
Ron suffered from diabetes even back them
We would wait for him to give himself shots
In the eighth inning it poured rain did not stop Ronnie
Losing both legs to the disease did not stop his love of baseball
The pouring down rain a sign to me Ronnie was watching