The Boys Of Summer

[Rick C]

This is actually from last summer, but, what the heck . . . . . the season is on again.

The Okotoks Dawgs built a new stadium on the edge of this small and rapidly expanding city of 21,000 southwest of Calgary. I live 10 minutes west of Okotoks. The Dawgs are in the Western Major Baseball League, essentially collegians from around North America playing some summer ball.

Or, as Roger Kahn would have called them in the title of one of my favourite all-time books, that masterful work of art from 1973, "The Boys Of Summer."

Below, the windup:



Below, rounding second base and testing the arm of the outfielder. Miraculously, he made it to third.



Below, the catcher from St. Albert rings up a struck-out Dawg.



Below, what happens in the dugout, stays in the dugout:



Below, ringing up a double play:



Below, a summer spent in small-town Canada for this American collegian.



Below, . . . . and those who paid $8 apiece, across two generations, to see him.



Below, you can't outrun the ball . . . .



. . . . continued below:

[Rick C]

Below, a dejected bum . . . .



. . . . . and the home run hero



Below, not good enough



Below, Diggity Dawg entertains on this rain-out makeup game, $5 a ticket.



Below, the opposition from St. Albert



The sun sets on a warm night for baseball. This was a rainout game, hence the sparse crowd. Typically these seats are sold out.



Below, post-script, the next night, a home run celebration in a big playoff game. More heroes, more memories for these young players, most of whom will eventually fade away, never to be heard from again on a serious baseball stage, these being the highlight days, the salad days, of their young but still speculative careers . . . . . a timeless cycle more than a century old for the Grand Old Game and those who dream it and play it.



Rick C
www.goldentales.ca

[growler~GateKeeper]

Originally Posted by Rick C

Below, what happens in the dugout, stays in the dugout:

Originally Posted by Rick C

Below, a summer spent in small-town Canada for this American collegian.



Below, . . . . and those who paid $8 apiece, across two generations, to see him.

I can see why

Originally Posted by Rick C

Below, not good enough

Great action shot

Did you send any pics to the teams for promos and such?

[14+kitties]

What neat shots!!! I love watching baseball but haven't had a chance to for years now. :sad: Maybe something to look forward to in my retirement.
Keep the pictures coming please.

[Rick C]

Originally Posted by growler

Did you send any pics to the teams for promos and such?

I scored a free $8 ticket. Whoot!!!

Rick C
www.goldentales.ca

[growler~GateKeeper]

Hey it's something

[glasslass]

These pics could have been in the pet-related section. They're "DAWG" related!

[Schwinn]

Originally Posted by Rick C

Below, what happens in the dugout, stays in the dugout:

I LOL'd!

Originally Posted by Rick C

Below, . . . . and those who paid $8 apiece, across two generations, to see him.

I'd call this one "Before...After"

Great pics! I love action shots!