Rambling On About My Glory Days – X-Rated Rookie Mistake

There is a big difference from major league baseball and minor league ball, besides the obvious of the caliber of players. To state the obvious, everything is better at the big league level including the hotels, ballparks, meal money, clubhouses, travel arrangements and equipment. It is this latter ingredient that caused my most embarrassing moment in the major leagues. Here is what happened.

Dodger manager Tommy Lasorda sent me in to pinch run in one of my first games in the major leagues. Unfortunately, even though I was in the major leagues, I was still using some of my minor league equipment. As mentioned, there is a big difference in the quality. I was still using the athletic supporter that I brought with me from the minor leagues which had seen its day, to say the least. Back in the day, I used the old fashioned type of supporter which I won’t go into detail on so I don’t get banned on future posts for indecency.

Anyway, after leading off of second base, I break for third on an obvious base hit. I must have been really flying because somewhere before reaching third, the strap on my supporter snaps and it feels like my cup is falling down my leg. As most baseball players are pretty experienced at, at least back before television became so prominent, I grabbed my crotch area to secure my cup; all at break-neck speed after rounding third and before scoring. No big deal. Except, as you old-timers may recall, Dodger Stadium was the first ballpark to have the big screen Diamondvision. Yep, “now showing” – the replay that I was not counting on – rounding third and grabbing my private area for all to see.  Oh well, just chalk it up as a rookie mistake and besides, how many ball players can run full speed while holding their ______. Go try it sometime – takes talent.

Former major leaguer Jack Perconte is the author of The Making of a Hitter ( http://jackperconte.com ) and has a baseball instruction site that can be found at www.baseballcoachingtips.net . He has recently published his second book Raising an Athlete – How to Instill Confidence, Build Skills and Inspire a Love of Sport