Baseball's Unsung Hero
was created especially for
Dave Robert Cross
With Love From
Your Sister
February 14, 2003
Dave Cross had a list of chores a mile long. Yet, it didn't matter because the Yankees were playing in the final game of the World Series. The series was tied three games each and he decided that his chores could wait a few hours. Dave grabbed the remote control, a bowl of chips, and a Coke and made himself comfortable in his favorite chair.
Dave noticed that the players had been out on the field for an awfully long warm up, and the pitching coach sure was going crazy about something down in the dugout. Then, the announcer broadcasted the news that the pitcher of the Yankees just threw out his arm. The cameras followed the coach as he paced frantically inside the dugout. At one end of the dugout was a red wall phone. The coach reached for it and started dialing. The cameras zoomed in. The announcer correctly guessed that the coach was calling in his back-up pitcher. That's when Dave's phone started to ring!
Dave answered the phone. "This is the coach! Come over here right away. You're going to pitch the game today," said the coach of the Yankees. The coach hung up before Dave could ask any questions. "Wow!" Dave thought, "This must be a dream!" Dave packed his gear and spikes and headed for the door thinking, "Wait until I tell Nicole about this!" Dave stopped on his way to the car to pitch a few balls at the bulls-eye painted on the broad side of the barn.
After a few balls got away from him, Dave decided to pack it in and head for the park just a couple of blocks away. It'll come back to me once I'm in the game, so there's no need to warm up now, he thought.
Once Dave arrived at the stadium, he entered through the back entrance, got into the locker-room, and dressed for the game. When he stepped into the stadium, he could hear the umpire call, "Play Ball!" and the crowd cheered. Walking over to Dave, the coach had the look of death about him as he asked "WHO ARE YOU?"
"I'm Dave Cross," said Dave. "You called 782-0123 and I answered your call to the mound." "I can't believe this," said the coach, "This must be the lowest day in baseball. I thought I called our best pitcher on the disabled list who was to be discharged from the hospital this morning. I dialed 782-0125 and who do I get... you! If we don't start the game immediately we have to forfeit. Walk quickly now to the mound and start throwing," the coach ordered, "We will just have to win this one on batting."
The announcer checked his notes and reported, "Pitching the final game of the 2003 World Series for the Yankees will be Dave Cross." The announcer's words echoed throughout the stadium and into millions of homes on millions of TV's. Everyone in Springfield was stunned.
Dave walked to the mound. The crowd was silent. The first inning was beginning. Back in Springfield, Nicole picked up the TV Guide and read the notice for today's game. A room full with baseball fans, too, were grabbing their drinks and chips and thinking about the sure bets they made on the Yankees.
While turning on the set and settling into the furniture, Nicole thought the name Cross was spoken while the volume was coming on. Then, the picture became clear. Shock filled the room. Dave was on the mound! Popcorn flew everywhere and one observer in the group pounded his Coke can against his forehead. All knew their investments were lost - their bets wiped out. They had been done in by their very own Dave Cross.
The announcer called the plays... "Dave is winding up for another pitch... crack... fly ball to center, number 18 is coming up for the catch... that's one out." The next batter came to bat. "Dave Cross pitches again... crack... this batter grounds to first and the first baseman makes an easy out." Now Dave was getting confident. The crowd was warming up. Nicole hadn't moved a muscle or spoken a word since the first pitch. "And now Dave Cross is winding up... the pitch... crack!... high fly to left aaaannnnndddd, yes, the outfielder catches the easy pop fly to retire the side." The crowd actually began to cheer.
When the Yankees came to bat, they put up a gallant fight. The first batter pulled the ball hard to the third baseman. The play was made and the throw to first was unbelievable. Even the replay showed it was a dead heat, but the umpire called the runner out. The second batter pounded the ball to the wall, but the outfielder caught it as he crashed into the wall for the second out. The third batter struck out. This series was being played in the field and defense was going to be the deciding factor. Innings two, three, and four went three up and three down for each side. The crowd was getting restless.
Top of the fifth, Dave allowed a double, and a single. Then a wild pitch sent the runner on third, home. One to nothing. Dave was demoralized. Another single put men on first and third with no outs. Then, another wild pitch sent the runners to third and home. Two to nothing. Dave walked the next two batters. The bases were loaded. Dave was getting tired. A slow pitch over the plate allowed the batter to hit a hot smash to second with one bounce. The man on third went home while the second baseman forced the double play between second and first. Now it was three to nothing with a runner at third with two outs. A wild pitch sent the runner at third to home, but the catcher recovered the ball and threw it to Dave at the plate, retiring the inning when the tag was made. Dave was a mess.
The coach told Dave to settle down. "Just throw the ball over the plate and let the fielders do the rest," he said. The next three innings were played quickly with neither side making any runs. At the top of the ninth, Dave could barely send the ball the distance. Two balls were grounded out to the shortstop. The third batter pounded the ball into deep right field and foul where the right fielder made the catch to retire the side. The score was still three to nothing with the Yankees to now have their final time at bat. This was it.
The sun was setting, the air was cool, and the fans were getting hot. The lights were now coming on as the final game of the World Series was down to its last inning with the Yankees down by three runs in the bottom of the ninth. The first batter struck out. The pitcher was throwing hard fast balls. The second batter struck out. The third batter was up... WALK! Their last pitcher was burned out. He was all over the place with his pitches. The crowd went wild. The next batter was up... WALK! Then the next batter... WALK! The bases were loaded! With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, here comes Dave Cross to bat!
The crowd let out a groan! Dave was beginning to feel a little rejected. He took a deep breath and stepped up to the plate.
"STRIKE ONE!!" yelled the umpire. Dave didn't even see that one leave the pitcher's hand. He stepped out of the box looking for a signal from the third base coach. It was to hit away. As the next pitch was released, Dave started his swing. "STRIKE TWO!!" yelled the umpire. Dave was beginning to get a little concerned. O and two was the count, two outs, down by three, and three men on. "This is it," thought Dave as the next pitch came in low and outside. A deadly silence filled the stadium. Dave swung the bat... CRACK!
Dave walked to the mound. The crowd was silent. The first inning was beginning. Back in Springfield, Nicole picked up the TV Guide and read the notice for today's game. A room full with baseball fans, too, were grabbing their drinks and chips and thinking about the sure bets they made on the Yankees.
While turning on the set and settling into the furniture, Nicole thought the name Cross was spoken while the volume was coming on. Then, the picture became clear. Shock filled the room. Dave was on the mound! Popcorn flew everywhere and one observer in the group pounded his Coke can against his forehead. All knew their investments were lost - their bets wiped out. They had been done in by their very own Dave Cross.
The announcer called the plays... "Dave is winding up for another pitch... crack... fly ball to center, number 18 is coming up for the catch... that's one out." The next batter came to bat. "Dave Cross pitches again... crack... this batter grounds to first and the first baseman makes an easy out." Now Dave was getting confident. The crowd was warming up. Nicole hadn't moved a muscle or spoken a word since the first pitch. "And now Dave Cross is winding up... the pitch... crack!... high fly to left aaaannnnndddd, yes, the outfielder catches the easy pop fly to retire the side." The crowd actually began to cheer.
