Flashback to 1982. I was 8 years old and playing organized ball for the first time. My dad had taught me how to play baseball on a ball diamond at an all girls private school just down the street so its not like I didn't know what I was doing. Because I was 8, I had to join a pitch to your own team league. I did quite well considering it was my first year and halfway through the season I got called up to the league above me...where the 9 and 10 year old played (it seems that one of the teams was short players and needed to call on some reserves). I had made the big leagues. Well, the first game was quite an experience. In my first at bat against a real pitcher, I took a pitch off my hand and it hurt like hell...but I reached base so at least I didn't embarrass myself. I still look back on that game as probably my fondest memory from childhood. Not because of anything that happened in the game, but because I met my best friend Todd that day. It was one of those immediate connections that seem to happen very rarely in a person's life...but when its there, you just know it. We became best friends almost immediately. As he was a year older, it was only every two years we got to play on the same ball team...those always seemed to be the best summers. Hell, one year when he was playing on a different team, he broke his arm just throwing a fastball..so that summer we wasted the days playing Monopoly or the Mad Magazine board game. And even though we went to different schools (he went to catholic school, I was a pagan agnostic even back then), we more or less spent all our free time together. Each summer, we'd play tennis or Arena Baseball (Baseball in a lacrosse box with a hockey net) every morning, then follow it up with video games and other goofy stuff with our other friends. In winter, we'd play ball hockey, bubble hockey, toboggan and play more video games. Essentially we shared the same likes and dislikes and with video games it was no different. RBI was king. I remember when it came out in '88 and I saved up to buy it (after playing it in the arcade several times). It became an instant classic with our friends and we would have daily tournaments and Todd was the only guy who ever beat me...not often, but he could beat me. Our routine of sports and video games was somewhat interfered with when we both got interested in girls, but we still remained as close as ever through high school.
However, when I was 18, it was off to University. Years past and like most kids, we drifted apart a little when the prospects of real life enter the picture. We still kept in touch, but he got pussy whipped and I was dedicated to my education and general whoring during those years. A year or so after university I joined a softball team with some friends and there was an opening so I asked Todd if he wanted to join. He was excited to play some ball again after 6-7 of not playing and became our third baseman...right along side of me playing shortstop. It was just like old times. We got back to talking to each other every day over the phone mainly because we both had boring jobs...but I had my best friend back. We hung out all the time again, playing ball, golfing, hanging out together with our girlfriends, etc. Five or so years ago he proposed to his girlfriend and I ended up being his best man and I was there when his daughter Eden was born.
We still talked everyday and often reminisced about our great RBI matchups and I suppose this is one of the big reasons why I love RBI so much. It's an integral part of my childhood memories...intertwined with the memories of me and my best friend wasting the good part of a day playing a game where "everyone looks like white Kirby Pucketts" in Todd's words.
Four years ago, during yet another softball season together, Todd started making more errors than normal and started hitting worse. No one really noticed at first as our team had many shitty hitters so he fit right in. But I knew Todd and he was better than that. We both struck it up to a minor slump. After about a month of mediocrity, he went to a doctor who diagnosed him with night vision problems (we have a lot of games under the lights) and general dizziness. Todd had to stop playing baseball until things got better. It was strange playing ball and not having him standing next to me at third base. Oh well, I figured his night vision problems would get better and he would be back the following year. It didn't.
Tomorrow is Todd's 33rd birthday. At least it would have been. He died two and a half years ago due to brain cancer. I'll be playing a game of RBI tomorrow in remembrance.
Shooty, I don't even have the words. Sorry doesn't exactly cut it but I really, truly am.
Nice post, nice tribute.
Shooty, that's pretty sad. Losing someone is so tough. You're a good friend
that might be the most meaningful thing i have ever read. shoot, you're a good guy, that was great.
Just figured I would give this a bumpst as today is the three year annivesary of Todd's death.
Solid bump, I missed this thread the first time around. Today we raise a beer and play some RBI for Todd and all great friends.
Few threads have ever been more deserving of a bumpst. Great tribute, Shooty.
in true rbi celebration i did get my tecmo bowl and RBI tattoos on my arm today. i'll go over to my bro's house ansd hopefully get a quick digital shot of it posted before i leave tonight for the cotut.
good story shooty, im sad to hear you lost that guy. i always remember you mentioning that its been years since you had decent rbi competition and now i know why.
Wow, I never read this before today.
It makes me want to call up Daniel (my old RBI buddy) and get some games in the next time he's in town.
As a matter of fact, he's getting an e-mail tonight.
Thanks, Shooty.
Happy 35th, buddy.
Long overdue bump on what would have been Todd's 41st birthday.
First time reader, thanks for sharing Shooty. Another reason why RBI is awesome. Sorry for your loss.
Yeah, this was the first time I've read this. Probably doesn't mean much, but the next time I play, I will dedicate the game to your homie. Here's to Todd...
My god... I haven't posted on this site in I don't even know how long. So my apologies for not having caught this story before now. Everything that was laid out earlier in this thread is why we all continue to seek the shared interests such as those here, like we all share with RBI.
I am so sorry for your loss - Todd seems like a guy who would love everything about the things continue to share on this site. A guy who would enjoy sharing a beer over random baseball tidbits and all the things the "normal" folk find boring/uninteresting. So sorry for your loss and that had to lose your best friend for the second time. Sounds like he was a great guy to know. Thanks for sharing your story.
Anybody who says RBI - or any game - is just some "stupid game" (or whatever their terminology) needs to look no further.
Happy 47th buddy.
beautiful
Bump in honour of Todd's would have been 49th birthday. He would have loved this site.