In 1929 my mother Bebe and her little brother Roger Jr lived in the Broadmoor Apartments on Connecticut Avenue. Their parents were the building's first managers, and that brought unexpected perks. Bebe remembered a lot of Senators at the Broadmoor. Not so much the politicians, but real live baseball players. In the house! The whole family got free passes for games at Griffith Stadium, and the great pitcher Walter Johnson and my grandfather Roger became friends when he came back to coach the team.
In 1972, we lost our team to Texas, and my parents never converted to Baltimore. I don't love sports, but I do like the pace of baseball which allows plenty of time for eating and talking in between (and during) innings. I will always have a warm spot for the "O's," but I definitely miss Memorial Stadium where Earl Weaver tended his tomato plants. If memory serves me, I think it was a dollar for a bag of peanuts on the way in and five for a bleacher seat, and I could always find my friend Dan Elwood commandeering an entire section with a bunch of friends and Budweisers.
Things have come full circle now with a team back in town and a new ball park on the Anacostia.
Last year my son was lucky enough to score Nats tickets from a friend. He rode his bike to the ball park on a balmy Tuesday night, perhaps starting another tradition of keeping baseball in the family.
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