Alex King, a Freshman at Frank W. Springstead High School, was Junior Varsity baseball starting catcher for the fall and spring seasons. Called “AK 47” by his friends, who chant “Don’t run on these guns!” during a game, he also batted a .500, and was voted Captain of the 16U travel ball team with the Hernando Hitmen after excelling as catcher and outfielder.
But more impressively, Alex was tagged as backup catcher in the Varsity games. And on June 2nd he attended a banquet at his school hosted by the sports director and principal and was awarded a Letter. For a Freshman to Letter in any Varsity sport is a rare Letter indeed.
As his grandfather, I’m not allowed to explore the halls of his school (I think that’s wrong!) but he informed me that there is indeed some sort of display of awards and trophies there. Well, I think there should be MLB-like Hall of Fames everywhere, starting with little league. (Probably not T-ball.) The only difference between a fifteen-year-old and a twenty-five-year-old is public notoriety and pay. The accomplishments are the same.
Of course, there’s a downside to Alex getting a letter. A proper jacket costs over four hundred dollars. But he wants it. So we, his grandparents, will pay half. But by gum, he better wear it at least once a month all during his Sophomore year! I went to school in the 60s and 70s, and I only remember seeing such jackets on TV, on late night movies from the 50s. Maybe Alex can restart the fad. I think it’s important.
