by Paul Semendinger
November 23, 2023
***
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL.
Please use the comments to share well wishes, kindness, and to share what you are most thankful with your baseball memories and also, if you'd like, in a larger sense as well..
I'll start...(and I'll try to keep this focused mostly on baseball):
I am thankful that I have a wonderful family and that I have been able to enjoy baseball with my parents and my sons in so many different ways. We have many (many many) great memories about things as simple as having a catch, to playing Wiffle Ball together in the backyard. Home Run Derby became a favorite game as my sons got older. I'm thankful I got to go to the Field of Dreams to have a catch with my dad (and mom). I'm thankful I had the opportunity to coach all three of my sons in their recreation baseball leagues for 15 years. I'm thankful that Ethan and I still play competitive baseball together. I'm thankful for all the memories I have attending games at so many different venues over the years.
I am thankful that the Yankees have brought me such joy for more than four and a half decades. Even when they frustrate me, I still love them.
I'm thankful for Artemesia Publishing for believing in me and publishing Scattering the Ashes, The Least Among Them, and From Compton to the Bronx. I am thankful to all the writers who have welcomed me, enthusiastically into their world. I am thankful for John "Mac Man" McGrath and Jack Hirsch for adding me to the North East Streaming Sports Network. I am, of course, thankful that Roy White believed in me and allowed me to write his autobiography with him.
I am thankful to all our writers and readers. This site is a huge success story - thanks for making it so!
I am thankful for my loving wife who accepts that I spend a lot of time with all of my writing projects (including this site). There is no one better.
And, finally, I am thankful to God for all the blessings he always gives.
I am thankful for my family, and the basic goodness and kindness of people. I am also grateful for SSTN, its writers, staff, and everyone else including all the smart folks that post here. This is wishing you all a very happy Thanksgiving and blessings on you and your families. Thank you.
my most odd baseball memory was going to a Yankee game with friends and my wife and our infant son.
Reggie came to bat and the stadium shook with fans screaming his name.
and we had to leave
the baby never stopped crying with fear until we hit the exit
and he became the most hard-core Yankee fan in the family
My best baseball memories, for which I am very thankful, center around going to games with my parents: my first game (Dad) in 1970, where I got to see Willie Mays visiting against the Mets; another game that year, where all of a sudden, my usually quiet father (he rarely raised his voice) is on his feet shouting, "BALK!" and sure enough, the pitcher had balked; NLCS Game 4 (Mom), the day after the Rose-Harrelson fight ("Rose Blows" read a banner in upper left), even though the Mets lost in extras; my 11th birthday party at Shea (both), even though David Clyde beat the Yanks that day; Chambliss's home run, 1976 ALCS Game 5 (Dad); Mr. October Night 1977 WS…
I give thanks for family, friends and good health…and the contributions of all the writers to this blog…enjoy my visits here everyday …a place to go and share thoughts with some colorful and fanatical New York Yankees fans!
I’m thankful for the great enjoyment, memories and connections to family and friends through baseball and the Yankees.
It’s hard to believe that about six years ago I reached to our esteemed leader Paul asking if he would let me write for the blog… and thankful that he said yes!