Short Story: Lost in the Hall of Fame

This is a story I wrote for Treble Clef's writing contest. This is all fictional, but I based it on what could've happened to my cousin, Matthew Gerlach. He did have to choose between Baseball and Basketball and chose basketball. I thought that could've happened to him if he kept playing. So, please, no hurtful comments, but honestly, I didn't think it was that good, either.


Lost in the Hall of Fame

There was a huge CRACK! as the baseball bat slammed into the ball and it flew into the air, soaring higher and higher, up into the sky. Home run. The crowd let out in a roar cheering like crazy New York Yankee® fans. Because that’s what they were. They continued cheering throughout the whole stadium until it was the only thing that could be heard.

∙∙∙∙

Jim Kaat and Red Barber were already chatting it up, talking about that play. “So, Red, what do you think about that hit?” Jim asked, holding the microphone in one hand. “Well,” Red replies, “I think that was downright amazing. A rooky like that, scoring a home run just when we need it? The Yankees® were right to pick that kid out of the draft.” Jim nods. “I think we have the World Series locked up. It’s the bottom of the ninth and there’s no way the Rangers are going to have a comeback.” Leaning into the microphone, Red says, “I agree. Matthew Gerlach is one amazing baseball player. Three minutes, fifty-four seconds to go and the Yankees® have zero outs. We’d have to have the next three people strike out and it would be a miracle for the Rangers to get another point. Back to you, Jim.” Jim takes his Yankees® baseball hat and puts it on. “This is going to be an exciting game for you New York Yankees® fans. Back to the game, the score four to three, Yankees® in the lead.”

∙∙∙∙

Matt Gerlach jogged around the bases, so excited he felt like doing a cartwheel. The Yankees® would win, he thought, because of his home run. Because of him.
When he neared home plate, he stomped on it with his right foot as he ran past it, leaving a dusty footprint.
When he reached the dugout, his teammates were instantly on him, clapping him on the back, and nearly jumping over him. Matt was almost speechless, but not totally. “Thanks, guys. I couldn’t have done that without your help. You took me in like your own little brother.”
The most experienced player made his way through to Matt and put his hands on his shoulders. “We didn’t score that home run, you did.” That put a smile on Matt’s face and then they continued cheering for him.

∙∙∙∙

Years later, Matthew Gerlach was put into the Hall of Fame, and as you figured, the New York Yankees® won the World Series that year. But that wasn’t what really happened.
You see, Matt was a baseball player from the day he was born. He had a choice to make. He had a choice whether or not to play select baseball from the age of nine. Matt chose not baseball, but basketball. He was good at it, even tall, but not as good as he was baseball. That is what would’ve happened. What could’ve happened. What will never be. I wish things could have been different. Lost in the hall of fame. . . .