The First Taste...

    The first taste is always free, at least that's what I've heard. For me, an unmarked Ziploc bag on my back porch was my first taste. "For me? No way!?!"  I was only seven years old at the time and looking for something new. Well, I found it and was more than a bit curious. I opened the baggie and was consumed by the contents. It's been running through my blood ever since. A special delivery from a phantom pusherman.

     I knew of sports, something that entertained my dad from time to time, especially on Sunday. I sometimes joined him, but was more concerned with playing, not watching others play. Then i found that baggie, oh yeah, the game just changed.  A handsome handful of 1987 Topps Baseball Cards had found it's way onto my porch and left no explanation. I felt like I had found that "...something that will really make you fly," from the old PSA (sadly, not on YouTube). I asked my mom if she had picked them up for me, nope. I wondered if one of my friends had left them there on accident, but I had never seen them before and this didn't seem like something you keep secret. After exploring those two possibilities, i gave up the investigation. Time to move on and examine the goods.

     The layout was timeless, woodgrain framed pictures of baseball's brightest (and everyone else). The team logo set in the top left corner. The team colored box in the bottom right revealed the names of these new luminaries. The back of each card held additional value for my inquiring mind. In navy blue, set against brown cardboard was the player position next to their name and in yellow their stats and track record. For the veterans this was loaded with history, sometimes dating back to the sixties. For the young guys, though, I was treated to extra space supplying trivial tidbits about the featured player. I had enough info on these cards to envisage seasons of baseball past, present and future.

     Sorry GI Joe, Bo Jackson's my new hero. Goodbye Luke Skywalker, hello Darryl Strawberry. No need for Voltron, I got Barry Bonds. Transformers better make way for Jose Canseco. Nolan Ryan is throwing a 98 mph fastball right at the cameraman. George Brett just knocked in two insurance runs for KC and he's cool as the breeze. Steve Garvey's stretching out his aging body. Dwight Gooden wows a sellout crowd at Shea with another well prescribed K. Tony Gwynn is up to bat and we've got the best seat in the house. Already, i felt like I'd been a fan my whole life. I'm addicted and the first taste was free.