All Things Bubba

Well, it's September 19 - Talk Like a Pirate Day.

Which means it's also the anniversary of the only walkoff homer Bubba Crosby ever hit. (Was it really four years ago?)

What a game that was. Possibly my favorite ever. Not least because the division race was so tight that year. It turned out to be the pinnacle of Bubba's career, though I thought at the time that it was only the beginning.

Earlier this month, "Romo" left this message at the Bubba-Crosby.com Guestbook:

We saw you in 2004 Yankee Spring training - Bradenton, FL vs. Pirates (the best field for fans!). ARod just signed on as a Yankee, but all we heard in the stands were cheers for Bubba! We of course followed your career closely that year - what a great year you had. Hope you are well and come back to baseball! Miss you!

I don't know if I agree about McKechnie Field in Bradenton. It's an older ballpark. The seats are pretty tightly spaced, and they don't flip up. So every time someone wants to go to the bathroom or get a beer, the entire row has to empty to let them out. Spiffy new Bright House Field is a lot more comfortable. Plus, there's no parking at McKechnie.

But I envy Romo's getting to see Bubba during spring training 2004. He was blistering hot that spring. If I knew then what I know now, I'd have found a way to get down there to see him.

Heck, I wish I'd gone to see him during spring training 2007. I thought at the time that there would be plenty of other opportunities - in the regular season, in AAA-ball if not the major leagues. Didn't work out that way. Sigh. You really can't take anything for granted - especially in baseball.