(Gulp) My First Babe Ruth At-Bat

Any expectations that my participation on the American Little League All-Stars being a predictor of immediate success at the Babe Ruth level were immediately dashed shortly after I suited up for my rookie year playing for Donnie Bigelow and United Transportation (U-Trans). Traditionally, 13-year-olds didn’t see much game time participation in Babe Ruth as there was a wide gap of abilities and especially size between 13-year-olds and 15-year-olds. Coaches, with player safety in mind, rightly eased the younger players into the mix.

My fragile ego and I were introduced to Babe Ruth via my first at-bat as a 13-year-old member of U-Trans. This at-bat took place during a so-called “mercy” inning when we were on the losing end of a one-sided affair against rival Tanzio Park. On the mound was perhaps one of the most feared pitchers at the time in all of Massachusetts, Rich Kelly. To say Kelly threw heat was a vast understatement.

With the bases empty and one out in the top of the seventh inning, Coach Donnie Bigelow snarled into the dugout, “Lefebvre, grab a bat. You’re on deck.” As I trudged up to the on-deck circle, trying to act like I actually belonged there, I pondered my dilemma. The game was out of reach, so there would be no pressure to advance a runner, I thought to myself. But before I had any time to mentally prepare myself, I heard the unmistakable pop of ball on leather and umpire Deico Pignata’s shout, “Strike three! You’re out!” It was now my turn at bat. Dead man walking.

With two outs I made my way to home plate like a prisoner on death row. My grandparents offered their encouragement from the stands. I soon realized that all of my accomplishments in Little League and what was left of my ego were non-factors as I meekly tapped my bat on home plate. With my mouth as dry as the summer air, I looked out to the mound and tried to gulp. My knees were shaking. I made eye contact with Kelly as he looked in to his catcher for the signal. He was a giant. At that moment, he and I both knew the outcome of this brief encounter as if it was pre-ordained by the creator. Needless to say, the bat never left my shoulder and I watched, or I should say, I felt three fastballs hit the mitt for a sudden and merciful end to the at-bat and the game. A lesson in humility for me and respect for Kelly would be my only takeaways from the experience. That lesson would serve me well as I doubled down on my commitment to grow as an athlete and as a person.

I shared this experience with Rich Kelly in an exchange about his experiences and this book. He commented that it was the same for him when he played as a 13-year-old and that he sympathized with that experience. He also acknowledged that his experiences from the 1971 all-star season were some of his most cherished memories from childhood.

Don Bigelow recalled my rookie year with a chuckle when I met with him and his wife Jackie recently in Leominster. “As coaches we tried to make it all about the kids, and to ease the transition given the age and physical disparities of kids 13-15 years old. I wouldn’t have sent you up to bat against Kelly if I did not think you could handle it” (D. Bigelow, June 3, 2022). I only wish I shared his confidence in me when I trudged back to the dugout after that three-pitch whiff.