Lee in the Morning

It is because of what happened to Lee Moser that the TOTs play with two home plates. The extra plate, a few feet east of the batter's box, is for runners coming from third. The catcher uses the regular plate, and outs are determined by the ump's decision as to whether the runner touched home before the ball got to the catcher at the other plate. Tagging is not necessary.

Why? Because about eighteen years ago, when Lee was catching, and focussed on the ball being thrown to him, a runner of considerable size and determination hit Lee like a locomotive. It was ten or twelve days before Lee knew what hit him. He lay in a coma at the hospital.

The brain surgeon told Lee's sons and daughter that the collision had done terrible things to his brain, knocking it around like a bean bag. Hoping for the best, the doctor and the family waited. Then, finally, the doctor said, "Either we operate tonight, or Lee won't be here in the morning." And if they did operate, Lee might not be there in the morning, anyway.

They operated. Lee was there in the morning.

Lee is still here. He doesn't play baseball, anymore, although he did play for several years after the operation. His head is fine, and so are his knees, now. He had to have them repaired, too, finally. He does go bowling, with his sons and his grandson. Lee says he is not a very good bowler. Nobody cares about that. He is still there in the morning, and in the evening when they bowl.

He drove to Udall Park for the "Birthday game" celebrating all the TOTs with birthdays in October, November, and December. He sat with Larry Tagg, who had been Manager when Lee played, and they put things back together.

The TOTs have been playing baseball for 45 years. Lee was right in the middle of it. The young guys--you know, the guys who just turned sixty, old enough finally to apply for the team, the guys whose voices are finally changing, and whose hormones are around here somewhere--owe a lot to Lee, and Larry, and a lot of other tough old buggers, some of whom are still playing.

And the Boys of November give a lot back, too. That is why Lee drove down for the game.

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