“Now batting for the
Indians, pinch hitting for Matt Carson, number 25, Jason Giambi”
It was like a scene out of a classic baseball movie. The
scenario was remarkable. A forty two year old veteran who had taken on the role
of unofficial team leader and mentor was about to pinch hit in the bottom of
the ninth inning of a game his team needed to win trailing by one run with a
teammate on base and two outs.
Past his prime? You bet. No longer an everyday player?
Certainly. But that night, he was the Indians best chance. As his name was announced fans of over 25,000
rose to their feet in unison. They had been through a roller coaster game that
night and had just watched their closer give up two solo homers in the top of
the ninth, putting a much needed win in major jeopardy! It was the playoff push
in the final week of the season after all!
Giambi dug in at home plate. A closer who was among the
American league leaders in saves, looked into his catcher for the sign. A
fastball whizzed in, and Giambi fouled tipped it.
Strike one!
Giambi stepped out took a breath and stepped back in. As the pitcher began his windup for his next
pitch, Giambi’s teammate Michael Brantley took off to steal second base and get
into scoring position. Giambi took the pitch, a change up a bit low, and
Brantley slid into second without a throw.
Ball one!
The crowd roared for Brantley! Not everyone can steal a base
when everyone in the ballpark knows you are trying to do so!
Meanwhile, Giambi dug back in, and quickly the crowds
attention turned back to him and his at bat.
The next pitch shot out of the pitchers hand, and the crowd
held there breathe as Giambi swung!
Crack!
The balled sailed up into the early Autumn, cool aired, Cleveland
night sky at the pace of a shell shot out of a cannon.
The right fielder of the opposing team took two steps back
to the wall, and looked up watching as the baseball floated and lofted long
over his head and over the wall, landing in the seats about 20 rows deep!
Euphoria began to run rampant at the corner of Carnegie and
Ontario that night. A whole row of friends from church who had decided to come
to what was for many their first and only game of the season, stood with their
arms raised in jubilant joy!
Exclamation of total amazement and sheer stunned screaming
ensued!
“He did it! He did it! Oh my gosh he did it!” emitted out of
my mouth over and over again as Giambi rounded the bases and his teammates
poured out of the dugout, most of the jumping with arms raised headed to meet
him at home plate!
Fireworks went off, but it was impossible to hear them, or the
celebratory playing of “Cleveland Rocks” blasting over the sound-system as is
tradition after each Indians victory!
To put it simply, Jacob’s Field hadn’t been that loud since
the 2007 playoffs.
Nearly five minutes after Giambi had delivered what Tribe
announcer Tom Hamilton would moments later call ‘the greatest pinch hit homer
in Cleveland Indians history” fans were still on their feet cheering loudly.
When they finally did begin to head home the streets were filled with cars
honking their horns, that drew more celebratory cheers from those still walking
back to their cars.
Cleveland was alive with excitement over their baseball team
again!
Once in the car, my parents, best friend and I put on WTAM
1100 to hear Nick Camino who was hosting the post game show. He simply re-ran
the Tom Hamilton’s call of the Giambi blast over and over again! Laughing
hysterically and remarking in utter joyful bewilderment, “what did we just
see?!!!!”
…………..
Now almost six weeks after witnessing that amazing moment in
person, I still get joy goose bumps thinking about that night. I know it is
unlikely I will ever witness anything like that again, and certainly not under
all those same circumstances.
I think what made it all the more memorable to me was having
so many friends in attendance with me that night. The fact that it was such
last minute decision to attend the game made it even more special, as I had
invited people on Sunday, bought the tickets on Monday and went to the game on
Tuesday.
Though the Indians ultimately saw their October baseball
dreams end after just one game (they lost the one game wild card playoff to
Tampa Bay just over a week later), Giambi’s homer kept what became a ten game
winning streak to end the regular season alive, and brought hope in successful
Indians baseball back to Cleveland!
Therefore, I couldn’t have been happier when the Indians
front office decided two weeks ago to resign him and invite him back to spring
training next year. His leadership and mentoring of the young players will
continue on, and who knows he may even hit a more dramatic homer next year!
