Sunday, June 25, 2023
Jackie was a year older than me- one of the 'big' kids. When I think of Jackie, I think of a moment in time... on a baseball diamond in Chetwynd. It was the final game of the season, the playoff for first place. I was catcher for the Braves and Jackie was playing for the Dodgers (I believe that was the team name). It was the bottom of the ninth, the Dodgers were at bat, we were 4 points ahead with 2 outs and the bases were loaded... then Jackie stepped to the plate. There was silence in the stands and on the field, because the mighty Jackie was up. The pitch came, and Jackie hit it to the fence. One, two, three runners crossed the plate and Jackie was rounding third, looking for home. The throw came in, it was high, I leapt into the air as the shadow of Jackie bore upon me. As I came down onto home base, ball in glove, Jackie and I collided. I ended up against the backstop, Jackie not far away... with the ball still in my glove- we won the game. I didn't know Jackie well, but whenever we would see each other, even years later we would talk about this one shining moment (or dusty one!) and it would all come back- I always appreciated those moments and his graciousness. Thinking of the Parker family. Take care. Jim Shirley.
