I’d hate to know how much mileage I have gotten out of this picture.  I was on the Royals.  We were the Brownstown Little League Champs in 1979.  A couple weeks ago my old friend, Jerry Brown, he was not on my team, admired the trophy.

He lamented that he did not have one.  It was a less complicated time.  You win, you get the trophy.  You don’t win it all, you don’t get the trophy.

It was during the 1979 All Star game in Seattle, I was watching it with my grandparents in Shreveport, that my Dad called and told me we were moving from Brownstown to Ramsey.  Town to country.  It worked out great.  Have you met my wife?  I am the winner!

Carrie and were in Durham, NC a few days ago.  If the Bulls are in town, it is a natural stop for us.  When the Durham Bulls are playing in Louisville, we try to make one of those too.

Durham Bulls Athletic Park is a nice ballpark.

Hit the Bull in left field and win a steak.

Carl Yaz’ grandson was playing for the Norfolk Tides.  Looks mighty familiar to you old baseball fans, doesn’t he?

After the game and dinner, Carrie and I walked down to see another old Bulls ballpark.  Remember this one?

I do.  As we walked along I thought, man, I can’t believe it has been 20 years since the movie Bull Durham came out.  Then I stopped, did the math in my head…uh…make that 30 years.  Wow.

North Carolina Central uses this field now.  The last time we were here we walked down to the field and I sat in dugout.  It was a bit run down then. It looks much better now.  Looks like it ready for Nuke LaLoosh to take the mound again.

And a rain-out?  Well, Crash Davis would be proud.

Speaking the rights…

Danny Johnson