Baseball's Unsung Hero

 

 

 

Words in Red are the personalized words.

 

---

 

"Baseball's Unsung Hero"

was created especially for

Mark Jackson

At the age of 35

 

Your friend,

Paul

1995

 

Page 4

 

     Mark Jackson had a list of chores a mile long.  Yet, it didn't matter because the Rangers were playing in the final game of the World Series.  The series was tied three games each and he decided that his chores could wait a few hours.  Mark grabbed the remote control, a bowl of chips, and a coke and made himself comfortable in his favorite chair.

 

Page 7

 

     Mark noticed that the players had been out on the field for an awfully long warm up, and the pitching coach sure was going crazy about something down in the dugout.  Then, the announcer broadcasted the news that the pitcher of the Rangers just threw out his arm.  The cameras followed the coach as he paced frantically inside the dugout.  At one end of the dugout was a red wall phone.  The coach reached for it and started dialing.  The cameras zoomed in.  The announcer correctly guessed that the coach was calling in his back-up pitcher.  That's when Mark's phone started to ring!

 

Page 8

     Mark answered the phone.  "This is the coach!  Come over here right away.  You're going to pitch the game today," said the coach of the Rangers.  The coach hung up before Mark could ask any questions.  "Wow!" Mark thought, "This must be a dream!"  Mark packed his gear and spikes and headed for the door thinking, "Wait until I tell David about this!"  Mark stopped on his way to the car to pitch a few balls at the bulls-eye painted on the broad side of the barn.

 

Page 11

 

     After a few balls got away from him, Mark decided to pack it in and head for the park just a couple of blocks away.  It'll come back to me once I'm in the game, so there's no need to warm up now, he thought.

     Once Mark arrived at the stadium, he entered through the back entrance, got into the locker-room, and dressed for the game.  When he stepped into the stadium, he could hear the umpire call, "Play Ball!" and the crowd cheered.  Walking over to Mark, the coach had the look of death about him as he asked "WHO ARE YOU?"

 

Page 12     

 

     "I'm Mark Jackson," said Mark.  You called 555-8826 and I answered your call to the mound."  "I can't believe this," said the coach, "This must be the lowest day in baseball.  I thought I called our best pitcher on the disabled list who was to be discharged from the hospital this morning.  I dialed 555-8825 and who do I get…you!  If we don't start the game immediately we have to forfeit.  Walk quickly now to the mound and start throwing," the coach ordered, "We will just have to win this one on batting."

 

Page 15

 

     Mark walked to the mound.  The crowd was silent.  The first inning was beginning.  Back in Arlington, David picked up the TV Guide and read the notice for today's game.  A room full with baseball fans, too, were grabbing their drinks and chips and thinking about the sure bets they made on the Rangers.

 

Page 16

 

     While turning on the set and settling into the furniture, David thought the name Jackson was spoken while the volume was coming on.  Then, the picture became clear.  Shock filled the room.  Mark was on the mound Popcorn flew everywhere and one observer in the group pounded his coke can against his forehead.  All knew their investments were lost-their bets wiped out.  They had been done in by their very own Mark Jackson. 

 

Page 19

 

     The announcer called the plays…"Mark is winding up for another pitch…crack…fly ball to center, number 18 is coming up for the catch…that's one out."  The next batter came to bat.  "Mark Jackson pitches again…crack…this batter grounds to first and the first baseman makes an easy out."  Now Mark was getting confident.  The crowd was warming up.  David hadn't moved a muscle or spoken a word since the first pitch.  "And now Mark Jackson is winding up…the pitch…crack!… high fly to left aaaannnnndddd, yes, the outfielder catches the easy pop fly to retire the side."  The crowd actually began to cheer.

 

Page 20

 

     When the Rangers came to bat, they put up a gallant fight.  The first batter pulled the ball hard to the third baseman.  The play was made and the throw to first was unbelievable.  Even the replay showed it was a dead heat, but the umpire called the runner out.  The second batter pounded the ball to the wall, but the outfielder caught it as he crashed into the wall for the second out.  The third batter struck out.  This series was being played in the field and defense was going to be the deciding factor.  Innings two, three, and four went three up and three down for each side.  The crowd was getting restless.

 

Page 23

 

      Top of the fifth, Mark allowed a double, and a single.  Then a wild pitch sent the runner on third, home.  One to nothing.  Mark was demoralized.  Another single put men on first and third with no outs.  Then, another wild pitch sent the runners to third and home.  Two to nothing.  Mark walked the next two batters.  The bases were loaded.  Mark was getting tired.  A slow pitch over the plate allowed the batter to hit a hot smash to second with one bounce.  The man on third went home while the second baseman forced the double play between second and first.  Now it was three to nothing with a runner at third with two outs.  A wild pitch sent the runner at third to home, but the catcher recovered the ball and threw it to Mark at the plate, retiring the inning when the tag was made.  Mark was a mess.

 

Page 24

 

     The coach told Mark to settle down.  "Just throw the ball over the plate and let the fielders do the rest," he said.  The next three innings were played quickly with neither side making any runs.  At the top of the ninth, Mark could barely send the ball the distance.  Two balls were grounded out to the shortstop.  The third batter pounded the ball into deep right field and foul where the right fielder made the catch to retire the side.  The score was still three to nothing with the Rangers to now have their final time at bat.  This was it.

 

Page 27

 

     The sun was setting , the air was cool, and the fans were getting hot.  The lights were now coming on as the final game of the World Series was down to its last inning with the Rangers down by three runs in the bottom of the ninth.  The first batter struck out.  The pitcher was throwing hard fast balls.  The second batter struck out.  The third batter was up…  WALK!  Then the next batter… WALK!  The bases were loaded!  With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, here comes Mark Jackson to bat!

 

Page 28

 

     The crowd let out a groan!  Mark was beginning to feel a little rejected.  He took a deep breath and stepped up to the plate.

 

Page 31

 

     "STRIKE ONE!!" yelled the umpire.  Mark didn't even see that one leave the pitcher's hand.  He stepped out of the box looking for a signal from the third base coach.  It was to hit away.  As the next pitch was released, Mark started his swing. "STRIKE TWO!!" yelled the umpire.  Mark was beginning to get a little concerned.  0 and two was the count, two outs, down by three, and three men on.  "This is it," thought Mark as the next pitch came in low and outside.  A deadly silence filled the stadium.  Mark swung the bat…CRACK!

 

Page 32

 

     It was gone!  That ball left the park with the skin torn half off.  Mark Jackson had pounded out a Grand Slam to win the series for the Rangers in the final inning.

 

Page 35

 

     As the team accepted victory, coke was being poured.  Mark got out of his uniform, went out the back way and hurried home in time to watch the post game show on TV.  Mark never returned to baseball and years later most everyone forgot his name.  He didn't even have a contract-pity.

 

Page 36

 

     This book is the last remaining evidence that Mark was truly a hero that day back in 1995.  If you ask anyone who Mark Jackson is, they will tell you they have never heard of him, which is more sad proof that he has become "Baseball's Unsung Hero!"