I woke Sunday morning to a very cool breeze coming thru the tent...what a relief...not only was it not raining...but it was nice and cool too...it was 6:00 am..we had to all get up take the tent down and get everything packed into the car in hopes of getting a good spot at the golf course..the breeze had pretty much dried out the outside of the tent which was a very good thing...I woke the kids up and they quickly got dressed...we all worked together to get the tent down and packed..we got all the clothes packed into our bags...it took only like 20 minutes to get everything packed up...we drove up to the bathhouse and quickly got cleaned up and ready to go...it was only a little after 7...we drove into town and I got a call from Matt to tell me to get to the course there was really no one there...the kids got some stuff to eat at Stewart's...(hey worked a little yesterday not like I am superstitious or anything) and headed to the course...by the time we drove around and stuff we got to the course a little before 8...it had filled up a little more but was nowhere near as busy as it was Saturday...the list came for who was playing together and there was some very very good teams put together many signers were playing together...and they were pretty spread out...when they started we had Al Kaline and Fergie Jenkins playing together well they did not sign at our hole but did at the next we all ran up there and tried to fit in the crowd Theo got close but we struck out on the first two and I was already think crap here we go again....next was George Brett and Ozzie...again they skipped our hole and went to the next hole and again we struck out...but me being a Brett nut got the kids to go to the ninth hole which was a mess where you get autographs from the rain the past few days...if your foot got into the small pond that you now had to cross to get on the tiny two foot wide landing that was already packed with people you would be lost into "The Land that Time Forgot".....yes we struck out again...I was determined to get one of them so I left the kids and went hiking up to the 11th hole which was way up a big hill...I usually never do this but I had to get us going...by the time I got up there...I was sweaty...hot...and not in the best mood because it was packed up there I could not get close....so I hiked back down....we walked back to our original spot and no one had got anyone...well Paul Molitor came through with Robin Yount next and he did not disappoint....I managed to get my hand through and got Molitor on one of the balls....I would have liked to get Yount but he only signed a couple...I did forget earlier that when I went to park the car Theo had got Hall of Fame writer Peter Gammons on a ball...I had never got an autograph of him before...way to go Theo.....It was now past 10 and we still had not had a great day thus far...we decided to head to the smaller parking lot in front of the 9th hole in hopes of getting Yount when he crossed the road...well they played the hole with only 6 of us there and they drove right by...Molitor did say "Good Morning" to Jenna remembering her from the day before...now even later and there were not many more chances left so Jenna waited for Robin to come back and Paul...and Theo and I went to try to get Al Kaline and Fergie as they had to play one last hole.....maybe we should have done this all weekend.....Jenna scored Robin....Theo Al Kaline and Fergie......Jenna also got a Fergie and I got Fergie as well...we were all so happy we finished HUGE!!!!!!.....Theo got the last Fergie auto and Fergie had a funny conversation with him...I am sure Theo will always remember that...we took some last pictures and packed up everything to head into town...Jenna asked if her and Theo had to walk up to the induction ceremony to get programs...Theo's feet were swollen and really hurting...I said they did not...they took the trolley into town...and I drove in....very hard to find a parking spot but after hunting for a bit...I found a spot on a little side street...surprisingly the car was not making any noise which I assumed was a good thing....I met up with the kids real quick and told them I should be back into town by 1:30 we could get the programs and Hall of Fame plaques stamped and canceled then we could go into the Hall for some looking around before heading home...so for the first time in all my years here I was going to hike up to the Induction Ceremony by myself...walking along the street and seeing all the kids selling lemonade and cookies put a smile on my face but it was a sad one...because the past six years Jenna walked up there with me...I remembered all the times we did it and how when she was younger would hold my hand...and rattle off names of all the Hall of Famers...I remembered how excited she was when we got there and the 1000's of people that were there...she would be wearing a HOF hat...a Reggie jersey...an induction T-shirt...covered in induction buttons and wearing a HOF ticket holder around her neck....I remember her seeing the deer herd that was always down by the river as we walked by...I thought about it...I had a smile on my face but I had tears in my eyes...my little girl was growing up...I only hope she remembers how much fun we always had and how much that really meant to me to be able to share the past 7 years with her in Cooperstown....well I got to the induction ceremony and quickly got a few programs...walked around for a bit and decided to head back to town to get the HOF postcards and go to the Hall with the kids....
We met up back in town and went into the Hall together...I will never be bored there we checked out everything....the art room was beautiful....the Babe Ruth exhibit was very nice and Theo and Jenna wanted some pics there...we checked out the Negro League exhibit and the Jackie Robinson display...snapping pictures like crazy....we also wanted to go to the show at the Grandstand Theatre...this is a tradition for me and Jenna....again Jenna sat with Theo and I sat by myself....as the movie was playing I realized how much I missed my little girl....tear again....what is an old guy like me to do.....smile...deal with it....when it was done the guide took a picture of the three of us....I had to see the Phillie Phanatic display I love him!!!...We went into another room where they were playing non stop Abbott and Costello's "Who's on First"....Jenna and Theo watched and laughed through the whole thing...The trip through the Hall ended where it always does..."The Plaque" room.....just to know how many baseball legends have stood in this room is amazing....I know I had a great time in the Hall and I am pretty sure that the kids did as well...the trip was winding down....I only had to get my HOF postcards stamped it was almost 3:30 and I really wanted to get going soon so we did not get back to late...we got them stamped and John was there as well...it was good to see him again I gave him a hug and we promised to stay in touch if anything was going on...Jenna took a picture of us...when we were walking Jenna ran into Molly from MAB the company that brings in the players to sign at the Tunnecliff...Jenna asked Molly if it was OK to maybe work for her next year during Induction Weekend and Molly said "absolutely"...."WOW"....My daughter is growing up....she is getting my dream job!!!!...what a way to end the trip...we got back to the car and got everything set...I bought a bunch of stuff for the store...got it all loaded and we drove through town one last time.....
More memories added to my many years there.....we had a great day graphing....we went to the Hall together...Jenna got a job for next year for a few days.....Theo was really introduced to baseball and we all survived......
The kids slept most of the way home we stopped at McDonald's in Fair Haven for a quick bite and not long after we left....Theo was snoring again.......I looked out at the road head and I know a smiled.....
I am already thinking about next year....LYNN WILL BE COMING NO MATTER WHAT and..there truly is only one thing I want to add........THE CAR MADE IT!!!!!!!!!!!
