(A man at a baseball game wondered why the ball kept getting bigger and bigger. And then, it hit him!)

Play Ball! Tomorrow, March 28, 2024 is what is known as “Opening Day” in Major League Baseball. All 30 teams will be in action. The Dodgers and the Padres played a couple of games in Korea on the 20th and the 21st, which officially started the baseball season, but we’re not going to count that against Opening Day here.

(If a basketball team were chasing a baseball team, what time would it be? Five after Nine — 9:05)

Prior to the opening of the season, baseball has what is called “Spring Training” or “Pre-season Baseball.” There are two places where this happens: Florida (The Grapefruit League) and Arizona (The Cactus League). Fifteen teams have their spring training in each place.

It isn’t totally clear exactly when or where baseball originated. In the 1800s, it evolved to basically what it is today. By the 1860s, baseball became known as “America’s national pastime.”

(What did the baseball glove say to the ball? — “I’ll catch you later!”)

In Sanpete, believe it or not, there was an amateur baseball league that was in existence as early as 1899, according to my research. Chester, Ephraim, Mt. Pleasant, Manti, Spring City and Wales had teams at that time. Later, and at varying times, those towns, and others including Fairview, Gunnison, Moroni, Nephi, Salina, Richfield, Mayfield, Wasatch, and Levan were all involved in that league.

It seems the league lasted through 1957. The following information relative to that league comes from Carl H. Carpenter from the 1991 publication “Saga of the Sanpitch.”

Games were usually held on Sunday afternoon because none of the towns had lighted fields. Teams were made up of returned servicemen, “old timers” and a few rookies. Many people parked their cars along each foul line. Broken windshields and dented car hoods were common.

“One of the faithful Manti fans was octogenarian, Andrew Merriam. He always parked his car right behind third base. One day, he parked his car in the usual spot and had both front car windows open as he watched batting practice prior to the game. Lester Larsen of Manti hit a line-drive foul ball down toward third base, which went through both open car windows and missed Andrew Merriam’s nose by a ½ inch. He didn’t flinch a muscle. He simply yelled, “Play Ball!”

(You are locked inside a car with nothing but a baseball bat. How do you get out? — Unlock the door, of course!)

In 1951, for the one and only time, the New York Yankees journeyed to Phoenix, Arizona, rather than Florida, for their spring training season. A “baseball couple” from Manti, Perry and Ada Eliason, along with a few other family-connected people made the trip.

Eliason’s daughter Joanne, and her soon to be husband Karl Tucker (legendary golf coach at BYU for 31 years), were in the company. Karl’s older brother Wayne, who had played and then managed in the Yankee organization, and later coached baseball at BYU, was part of the group too.

(What’s the difference between a Yankee Stadium hot dog and a Fenway Park hot dog? – You can buy a Yankee Stadium hot dog in October.)

The “stars aligned” for that trip to Arizona in 1951. It was Joe DiMaggio’s last season. He had played 13 big league seasons, 9 of which turned out to be World Series championships for the Yankees.

To this day, Joe’s 56-game hitting streak is a record that has stood since 1941.

Also, in 1951, a guy named Mickey Mantle had his rookie season with the Yankees. He was in Arizona with Joe DiMaggio. The two legends overlapped that year. The “torch was passed.”

(What’s the difference between a Royals fan and a baby? — The baby stops whining after a while.)

Perry Eliason came home from that trip to Arizona with an autographed baseball. Joe DiMaggio signed it for him. I’ve seen it – many times. It’s not in what you’d call pristine condition. It’s somewhat scuffed. It’s a little bit in what you might call a “used condition.”

The reason for that is simple. It did get used — after it made the trip from Phoenix back to Sanpete. Perry’s son John, a “Manti Guy” was about 4 years old when Dad came home with the baseball. (You can see where this could possibly be going, right?)

Well, according to John, whatever you, or I, might think, the wear and tear on that ball was not the result of a situation as is depicted in the movie “The Sandlot.” That’s where a Babe Ruth autographed baseball gets used in a game by a bunch of kids. The ball ends up being mauled and mangled by a huge dog called “The Beast.”

Apparently, there were times when “Dad Perry” and “Son John” wanted to play catch or practice fielding grounders (?) (I don’t know) and needed a ball. Guess what ball seemed to be readily available? Yep, the “Joltin’ Joe” ball. Yes, the ball with the autograph that I see such balls for sale on the internet with prices ranging from $600 to $14,995. Yup, that one.

The way I choose to look at this circumstance is with the perspective of seeing a dad who valued baseball bonding time with his little boy more than the object of the ball itself. Joe DiMaggio autograph notwithstanding.

Sanpete guys in 1951 weren’t thinking too much of the future collectibles market, I reckon. To me, the story is priceless – even if the ball itself is “not so much” priceless.

I should say before I finish my “last bats” with this piece, that the Eliason family is not a Yankee fan family. John and Barbara celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at the oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball – Fenway Park, home to the Boston Red Sox.

Their family was with them. They were featured on the Jumbotron at the game. Grandkids were chosen for special duties and recognition at the game. It was a monumental day.

Oh, and one last thing, John’s baseball knowledge is encyclopedic. Among other things, there’s something you can do if you happen to be in John’s company.

If you were born in the last 100 years, give or take (I think give) you can mention your birth year, or any year, to John and he’ll give you a run-down on how the World Series went that year. Games played, pivotal moments, etc.

(Don’t ask him to remember what day of the week it is though.) — Merrill

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