The following story is true.
It can be verified by other people, including an employee of the Cardinals. And it probably would have been one of the all-time classics, if not, for you know, what happened.
Game 6.
I wasn’t going to go. I had 2 standing room tickets to the game, but I also had a ticket to Game 7. If the Cardinals lost, well, I didn’t want to see that. And if they won? I was in the door for Game 7. If not for my friend Bo literally flying in that morning from Denver to go to the game, I wasn’t interested. In fact, I asked him If we should sell the tickets and make a little cash. He made it clear we were going to the game.
For all the games I’ve been to, including a previous World Series game, I’d never had standing room tickets. I figured we’d get in like 30 minutes before the game and be set. Turns out there are people that go in 2 hours before the game and lay down like they’re in a coffin to protect spots for themselves and friends. Long story short, Bo and I were in the upper deck, RF, with an obstructed view when I started texting my other friend, who works for the Cardinals.
She tells us there are some spots to stand by the Bow Tie Bar in LF. We go and are thankful.
Cut to the top of the 5th. Bo and Cardinals friend decided to go to the bathroom. David Freese has just dropped the easiest fly ball of all time. And I’m apoplectic. I’m also kind of tipsy and convinced that my ‘Freese is the new Buckner’ line is pure comedy gold. I say it to a few people milling around and not much reaction. I say it again, louder, to no one in particular. I come with a third time to a lady walking by who seems to be as upset about the drop as I am.
“He’ll make up for it.”
Lady, no. You DON’T come back from errors like that. It’s a sign. Everything that Freese has done to this point is moot. He’ll be the guy that dropped that fly ball FOREVER.
“He’s an awesome guy and he’ll make up for it. I know it.”
I don’t give a sheeeeeeeet about how nice he is, who cares about how nice he is? Did you just see that drop? That’s the most awful play in the history of this franchise.
“That’s my brother.”
Bo and Cardinals employee are walking back at this point. Want to know who I’m talking to. You know, just David Freese’s sister. Yes, we asked for a driver’s licence (name changed since marriage). Yes, now that you mention it, she does look like David. Yes, she did have seats, but was too nervous and needed to walk around. Yes, we’re absolutely sure it was Pam, David Freese’s sister.
Today, I say, Pam was more right than I ever could have imagined. David did more than make up for that drop and erase any thought of being called Buckner Jr.
I’ve told this story a handful of times, and trust me, it sounds pretty unbelievable to me that the one person wanting to argue about David Freese being the new Bill Buckner at Game 6 of the World Series was actually David Freese’s sister.
But it’s true. And it’ll be one of the things I remember most about Game 6. I’ve never been so wrong.
And this is coming from a guy who tried to not go to the game in the first place.
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