Earl S. Titlebaum

Ace Stockton at Fenway Park Earl S. Titlebaum

THIS IS A BASEBALL STORY ABOUT THE SPORT FOR THOSE WHO PLAY IT. IT IS A FICTICIOUS ACCOUNT OF A BOY WHO WAS INTRODUCED TO THE GAME BY HIS FATHER WHO TAUGHT HIM THE BASICS OF THE SPORT, THEN CONTINUED TO REFINE HIS SKILLS AS HE GREW OLDER. FROM THE TIME HE WAS THREE YEARS OLD THE BOYS FATHER PLACED A PLASTIC BAT IN HIS HANDS AND TAUGHT HIM TO TIME HIS SWING AGAINST A BALLOON. AS HE GOT OLDER, HE PITCHED WITH INCREASED SPEED TO HIS SON'S WOODEN BAT AND TENNIS BALL. FROM LITTLE LEAGUE TO HIGH SCHOOL, AND THEN COLLEGE HE CONTINUED TO HONE HIS SKILLS ALLOWING HIM TO BECOME A PROFESSIONAL OUTFIELDER IN BOSTON. AN UNEXPECTED INJURY INTERUPPTED HIS CAREER CAUSING HIM TO FALL FROM AN ALL-STAR TO A HAS-BEEN. HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR A FOR A FAN WHO LITERALLY TOOK HIM OUT OF THE GUTTER, BEFRIENDING HIM AND GAVE HIM THE CONFIDENCE TO RESUME HIS SELF HONOR AND ESTIME HE WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RETURN TO THE SPORT.