Bat Boy

Hi there folks! It is good to be back writing again. So last blog I took you on a trip of my entire life, but there are so many details that I left out. I feel like it is my civil duty to delve into a specific period and give you a little more insight into my life. Since there are several key moments in my life, I will only choose one for this blog. I will write about the end of my senior year of high school leading up to my departure to The Emory University.

Close your eyes and date back to the year 2001. Picture a 5’10" 158lb man, with no facial hair, small biceps and a huge nose. This was me in high school if you were wondering where I was going with this. The date was May 19th (Give or take a week) and my team, Cherry Creek, was playing for the 5A State Championships. The first round of the tournament was against a very strong team out of Arvada and word around the stadium was that a very influential member of the Colorado Rockies front office was in the building. This was nothing new for me. Scouts were always at the field watching my teammates, looking for the next Ken Holtzman, Art Shamsky and Ron Blomberg, but we all new it would be close to impossible. Not enough Jews in Colorado. I always thought of myself as a major league caliber player – I had 4 out of the 5 tools that were essential to make in the bigs. I could run, I could throw, I could hit and I could go weeks without showering.

I can remember that day everything was going my way and man did I look good. I am a modest guy so I went tell you the niddy griddy details, like how I went 2-4 with a squeeze bunt for a hit, but man was it a good day. So after the game, the gentleman from the Rockies approached me with an opportunity that every kid dreams of. He said to me, "Aaron, we love how you carry yourself on the field and we think you would be an asset to the Rockies organization." I was in awe; all the summers of playing ball and missing the opportunity to go to Jewish sleep away camp with Long Island kids had finally paid off for me.

That night I shared the amazing news with all my friends and family, I was going to be the Bat Boy for the sub .500 Colorado Rockies. The training was crazy hard, but on August 14th (Again – not sure of the date, but it was close) it all came to reality. The Rockies were playing the Atlanta Braves in a meaningless game. On that day I hustled and I worked like it was my last game in the Rockies Bat Boy uniform because in fact it was. My skill to retrieve the bats was unparallel. Some people think it was because I was 8 years older than every other Bat Boy in the league, but I believe it’s because I had more drive and passion. The Rockies did not retire my jersey or have a parade for me, but I know they miss my tenacity and ability to organize the helmets at the end of a long game.

I will end with this...I hope for all you little guys who want to be Bat Boys you follow your dreams. It is not an easy journey, but with some heart and a family connection to a professional team, you too could be a Bat Boy.