"One day when I was pitching for Brooklyn, I pitched the first game of a
double-header against Boston and beat them, one to zip! I was in the
clubhouse during the second game, taking off my uniform, when the
clubhouse boy came in. 'Rube,' he said to me, 'there's an elderly
gentleman outside who wants to see you. He says he's your father from
Cleveland.
"'He is not my father,' I said. 'My father wouldn't go across the street
to see me. But you go out and get his autograph book and bring it in,
and I'll autograph it for him.'
"But instead of bringing in the book, he brought in my Dad. And we were
both delighted to see one another.
"'Boy,' said my father to me, 'you sure are a hardhead. You know I
didn't mean what I said ten years ago.'
"'What about you, Dad?' I said. 'You're as stubborn as I am. I thought
you never wanted to see me again. I thought you meant it.'
"'Of course I didn't,' he said.
"After we talked a while, I said, 'Did you see the game today?'
"'Yes,' he said, 'I did.'
"'Where were you sitting?' I asked him.
"'Well, you know the man who wears that funny thing on his face?'
"'You mean the mask? The catcher?' I said.
"'I guess so,' my father said with a smile.
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