For very good reasons, a marathon, golf tournament or triathlon start before the sun is up. You can add baseball to the list.
The Cebu Dolphins and the Dumaguete Unibikers hit the field at 7 a.m. at the old Rizal Memorial ballpark last Saturday. They are part of the six-team Series IV tournament of Baseball Philippines, a spirited effort to rekindle interest in what was once the country?s favorite sport.
The early game is not uncommon because the league has three on its weekend schedule. The sun hasn?t even peeked yet but that doesn?t bother the seven early birds in the stands. More arrive as the game progresses; there were 50 or so by the seventh inning.
Almost 74 years old and except for repairs after World War II and three Philippine editions of the Southeast Asian Games, the ballpark remains frozen in familiarity and is a living museum of baseball in the country.
The black-and-green scoreboard still lists the players and runs with white letters and numbers inserted into slots. The park?s first home run, by Yankee Lou Gehrig, and the second one, by teammate Babe Ruth, in 1934 are immortalized on the outfield walls.
The two Hall of Famers were part of an all-star American Major League team that was on an Asian Tour then. The home runs of the Filipino greats like Rodolfo Lugay, Filomeno Codiñera Jr. and Raul Saberon are also inscribed there.
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Terence Mann (played by James Earl Jones) in the classic movie Field of Dreams said there are familiar seats for baseball regulars, the ones their parents brought them to when they were young. In the ?60s, my late grandfathers, Julio Sarmenta and Roman Ruiz brought my brother Steve and I to watch Canlubang, Ysmael and Meralco play here.
Our seats just behind home plate are still there waiting for me.
Old timers recall the stands being filled in the past for baseball. Taking in a Game, by Joseph A. Reaves, points to the war?s devastation on the Rizal ballpark and other fields, our separation from the Americans who introduced the game at the turn of the century and basketball?s surge in popularity as causes of the decline. Add to that our unpredictable weather marked by unforgiving typhoons.
Nevertheless, the game has been kept alive in Little League, school, club, and international competitions. Those who love baseball have played it or have been brought to games by those close to them. Baseball Philippines is tapping that connection to bring back the old fans and a new generation of followers.
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Baseball has its own rhythm. Don?t be misled that nothing happens during all those lulls. There is always a mind game at play even when the pitcher just rolls the ball in his hand or when the batter goes through a fidgety pre-stance routine. One superb play could be decisive, one error unnerving and fatal.
Enjoy the game at Rizal. The games are for free. The environment, alive with music and an announcer calling the action, has families and friends injecting encouragement in mixed tones and accents. The Rizal Memorial senior citizens provide animated commentary, serving as the play-by-play and the instant replays television usually provides.
The baseball is also great as college players mix it up with the veterans. Even actor-athlete Richard Gomez couldn?t resist the call of the diamond and plays for the Dolphins.
Take yourself and others out to the ball game. The seats you used to have are waiting for you and for anybody else you bring along.
