Home, by Jeremy H

The stretch and the 0-1 pitch on the way to Edgar Martinez...swung on and lined down the left field line for a base-hit...here comes Joey, here is Junior to third base, they're going to wave him in, the throw to the plate will be late! The Mariners are going to play for the American League Championship, I don't believe it! It just continues...

I was born in the month of August, on the eleventh day, of the year 1983. At that point in time, Dave Niehaus, the broadcaster for the Seattle Mariners, had been calling games for the aforementioned team for well over seven years at that point.

I am wholly unaware of when I became cognizant of Mr. Niehaus. My father was, and is, a Mariner fan so it's safe to assume I knew of Dave at a very early age of my life.

The year of 1995 was not a good year for me personally. Already the child of a divorce, my father was soon to be divorced once again. My father and I had moved into a small house. I spent my weekends with my mother, in a location I didn't really enjoy. A rift had been developing between my mother and I, and so, at the risk of being over dramatic, I was a young kid without a home.

I would, however, find a home. On a very specific day.

On October 8th, 1995, the Seattle Mariners played game 5 of the American League Division Series against the New York Yankees.

When the game started, I was still with my mother, as it was her weekend. My memory is hazy on the early part of that day. But I recall, with amazing accuracy, that we spent that evening at Farrelli's Pizza in Lacey, WA.

In the bottom of the 8th inning, the Mariners were trailing the Yankees by two runs, with Joey Cora set to lead off, Ken Griffey JR to bat 2nd, and Edgar Martinez to bat 3rd.

Despite only being twelve years of age, I knew that the Mariners odds of winning this game were not great. Surely, Joey Cora had to get on base to give Junior a chance to tie the game.

But Joey Cora didn't. He flied out to Paul O'Neill on a 2-2 pitch.

And then the most predictable thing happened.

Ken Griffey JR hit a second deck homerun to pull the Mariners within one run.

Maybe, just maybe, Edgar Martinez could follow suit and hit another homerun and tie up the game. I mean, it wasn't inconceivable. Edgar had hit two homeruns the previous game. If anyone could do it, it would be Edgar.

But for reasons passing understanding, that's not what happened. Edgar grounded out to the shortstop.

I can still hear the groans in the restaurant. Everybody knew the Mariners weren't going to be able to beat the Evil Empire. We just didn't have enough outs left. Everyone knew it.

Except Dave Niehaus.

Cause shortly after Edgar Martinez grounded out, Tino Martinez drew a walk. Dave Niehaus let us know we were still in it, a slight giddy-up in his voice.

Dave's voice continued to press us on when Jay Buhner hit a base hit to center field that allowed Tino to reach second base. The Mariners were only 180 feet away from tying the game. Tino was lifted for a pinch runner, and Felix Fermin was pinch hit for...Alex Diaz? Well, okay then. Lou must know what he was doing. Cause Alex Diaz walked to load the bases.

Dave let us know that the Yankees starting pitcher, David Cone, was absolutely exhausted at this point, having thrown 142 pitches. And yet, he stayed in the game, against another pitch hitter for the Mariners, this time in the form of Doug Strange.

Let's go back to Farrelli's pizza.

My visitation with my mother was winding down to a close. Due to a court order, I was set to be returned to my father at a very specific time. But for obvious reasons, I wanted to stay exactly where I was, so that I could watch this drama unfold. I was, and am, unaware of the conversation that took place between my mother and father. I recall this, though.

This is the action pitch, it all happens here. The stretch, the Mariners runners go, the 3-2 pitch to Strange...in the dirt and we are tied! He walks Doug Strange!

And then I was in the car, my mother driving me "Home."

I didn't hear the play by play in the car. For whatever reason. Perhaps it simply didn't occur to my mother that the game was being broadcast on the radio.

By the time I got into my father's house, the Mariners were down 4-5 in the 11th inning. My father had muted the TV broadcast, and we were listening to the game on 710AM. Dave Niehaus broadcasting.

Joey Cora lead off the bottom of that inning.

And the wind and the 2-1 pitch to Joey Cora now... he bunts the ball up the first base line... it's a dandy...and he is going to be SAFE AGAIN! Joey Cora has done it one more time!

I'm feeling good. Like I'm almost home. I don't really know what that means, though. But Junior is up, and the game could very well be ours. For that matter, the series. Dave Niehaus broadcasting.

The 1-1 pitch on the way to Junior now...and it's swung on and a ground ball base hit into right center field! Cora's gonna end up at 3rd, and the Mariners have runners at 1st and 3rd and nobody out here in the bottom half of the 11th!

Huh. Okay. Dave Niehaus broadcasting.

The stretch and the 0-1 pitch on the way to Edgar Martinez...swung on and lined down the left field line for a base-hit...here comes Joey, here is Junior to third base, they're going to wave him in, the throw to the plate will be late! The Mariners are going to play for the American League Championship, I don't believe it! It just continues...

MY OH MY!

I'm home.

Homage to the legend