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Big Six · 03-23-2009, 02:55 PM

The Callahan Farm
Tuscarawas County, Ohio
August 31, 1897

John Callahan and his hired hand, Joe Ruettiger, spent the morning in the Callahan wheat fields, trying to accomplish as much as they could before the heat of the day got any worse. At three o'clock, John would be taking the field with the Canton Millers for the last game of their forgettable, last-place 1897 season.

About noon, John invited Joe to come up to the house and join him for lunch. The two men chatted amiably as they walked up to the Callahans' neat frame farmhouse.

"Have a seat on the porch, Joe," John said. "I bet Mary's got some nice, cool lemonade for us." John entered his home with a smile on his face.

That smile disappeared when he read the note he found on the kitchen table...

Dear John,

Because it appears you intend to spend an increasing amount of your time playing a boy's game, despite my wishes to the contrary, I have decided to move to Cleveland, where I will be living with my sister for the foreseeable future. By the time you read this letter, I will already be en route to the Canal Dover station, where I will purchase my ticket and leave for Cleveland on the first possible train.

I have already lost my son to the pursuit of this folly, and if you are also foolish enough to chase a white ball instead of tending to our farm, as you should, I simply cannot live under the same roof with you, at least not now. I will be sending for my things, a few at a time, over the course of the next few days. Hopefully you will give up this nonsense, and when you do, I will return home, but not before.

Love,
Mary

His face ashen, John Callahan stepped back onto the porch. "There's no lemonade," he quietly said to Joe.

"I think that's all we'll be doing today. I want to get to the ballpark early and take some extra practice swings. After all, I'll be finishing the season with the Canton club, and that Buckeye League is a pretty fast circuit."

03-23-2009, 02:55 PM	#25 (permalink)
Big Six Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Williamsburg, VA Posts: 2,410 Thanks: 117 Thanked 91x in 73 posts	The Callahan Farm Tuscarawas County, Ohio August 31, 1897 John Callahan and his hired hand, Joe Ruettiger, spent the morning in the Callahan wheat fields, trying to accomplish as much as they could before the heat of the day got any worse. At three o'clock, John would be taking the field with the Canton Millers for the last game of their forgettable, last-place 1897 season. About noon, John invited Joe to come up to the house and join him for lunch. The two men chatted amiably as they walked up to the Callahans' neat frame farmhouse. "Have a seat on the porch, Joe," John said. "I bet Mary's got some nice, cool lemonade for us." John entered his home with a smile on his face. That smile disappeared when he read the note he found on the kitchen table... Dear John, Because it appears you intend to spend an increasing amount of your time playing a boy's game, despite my wishes to the contrary, I have decided to move to Cleveland, where I will be living with my sister for the foreseeable future. By the time you read this letter, I will already be en route to the Canal Dover station, where I will purchase my ticket and leave for Cleveland on the first possible train. I have already lost my son to the pursuit of this folly, and if you are also foolish enough to chase a white ball instead of tending to our farm, as you should, I simply cannot live under the same roof with you, at least not now. I will be sending for my things, a few at a time, over the course of the next few days. Hopefully you will give up this nonsense, and when you do, I will return home, but not before. Love, Mary His face ashen, John Callahan stepped back onto the porch. "There's no lemonade," he quietly said to Joe. "I think that's all we'll be doing today. I want to get to the ballpark early and take some extra practice swings. After all, I'll be finishing the season with the Canton club, and that Buckeye League is a pretty fast circuit." __________________ My OOTP dynasties: The Base Ball Life of Patrick O'Farrell: where it all began The Baseball Life of Tom Haley: a story of a modern player The New England Baseball League: a fictional league story Last edited by Big Six; 03-23-2009 at 02:56 PM.