SSSHHH - I AM LARRY BOWA

(circa August 1978 - aged 12)
 
Dad took me to Philadelphia to watch a
Phillies-Dodgers game in August of 1978.
Driving on the  3 lane Schuylkill Expressway, 
or the “Zoo-kill” with frenzied driving
of Philly commuters,  a few explicates are
thrown by Dad before getting to the parking lot.
 
We walk into the concrete exo-skeleton of
Veterans Stadium, up to the ticket takers,
and ascend to our the 300 level doorway
entering the American summer cathedral of
sunlight, green turf and baseball players throwing
ball and jogging around the field with organ
music and the huge scoreboard flashing pictures,
stats and scores of other games.
 
We arrive early and watch batting practice,
fans donning baseball gloves shagging
homeruns by Boone, Schmidt and Luzinski.
in the left field section of the Stadium.
 
The green Phillie Phanatic mascot riding around
on his red four wheeled  A.T.V., playing  around
with fans and mocking Dodgers in warm up exercises.
 
I run down to the first base line and get an autograph
from Steve Garvey, first baseman for the Dodgers.
He looks like Clark Kent with his all-American look,
perfect haircut, and constant serious stare, which
Dad says makes him look conceited.
 
Our section seating hostess is dressed in the white jump
 suit, showing off much leg, the outfit complete
with red pin stripes, the Phillies Logo and her
hand mop to clean our seats.
She seats us she looking at Dad and says,
“I hope you don’t mind me asking, but
are you Larry Bowa?”
 
Larry Bowa plays shortshop for the Phillies from
1970-1981.   In his career, Bowa has over 2,000
hits,  averaging 25-30 stolen bases a year, winning
two Golden Gloves with a field average of .975%,
voted to the All-Star team for 5 seasons and a 
World Series ring from 1980.
 
Bowa is also a “fiery tempered” player who
destroys a toilet in Wrigley Stadium after getting
upset.  He gets a bill and pays for it.
 
Dad smiles and says to our seating hostess,
 “I am Larry Bowa,  but it is my night off and
I would appreciate if you did not tell anyone.”
She said, “You are one of my favorite players!”
Dad fesses up, “No I am not Larry Bowa,”
and we all get a laugh out of it.
 
The Phillies lose the game 5-2, but it is a memory with Dad
I will always cherish.  I had never thought about it before,
but she was right, Dad did resemble Larry Bowa.