It has been an exciting summer for me as a Golden Glover for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Who or what is a Golden Glover you may ask? Well the next time you’re at the ballpark, look for the man or woman sitting in foul territory of the outfield, who is definitely past their prime playing years, having the time of their lives.
That’s a Golden Glover.
Now you may wonder how one becomes a Golden Glover. Remember Little League tryouts as a kid? Instead of a multitude of kids, imagine 70 or more “oldies” out on the field stretching, jogging and sharpening their fielding skills.
The fielding tryouts consisted of sitting on a folding chair situated in foul territory down either the right or left sideline, having the baseball hit in your direction, fielding the baseball and then jogging over to the stands and pretending to hand the baseball to an excited Diamondback fan before returning to your seat. Diamondback personnel tracked and graded your skills and your enthusiasm.
I had a career day at the tryouts, fielding all the baseballs cleanly and getting good fan support as the other participants yelled out my new nickname “Old School,” since I was one of the few prospects wearing the old purple and teal colors of the Diamondbacks.
A few weeks later I was notified that I made the cut, and I was one of the lucky ones to make the team. Orientation was scheduled on the night of the first seder, but I was able to reschedule and get a private meeting, during which I was given a tour of the field and underground offices and informed of my duties on game days.
Most important on the list of duties is for each Golden Glover to make the fans happy by fielding the foul balls and handing the ball to an enthusiastic young Diamondback fan.
As a Golden Glover you are also responsible for jogging the relief pitcher’s warm-up jackets from the bullpen to the dugout when there is a pitching substitution.
But most important is not to go after or catch a fair ball. That is the ultimate error.
I prepared for my first game by catching some grounders thrown by my son Asher and eating my pregame meal of a Hebrew National hot dog with relish and mustard. During my first game, the Diamondbacks versus the Pittsburgh Pirates, my position was on the right field sideline. I had to be ready for every pitch since any ball hit could be foul.
The second batter of the game ripped a one-hopper to me, which I cleanly fielded. My career with the Diamondbacks was off to a great start.
I start every game by looking into the stands for the kids to whom I can give the foul balls that I will field during the game. I have averaged fielding three balls a game and have been shut out only once. The young fan who gets the ball gives me the biggest smile, and the parent gives me an even bigger smile and a thank you. What a great memory for that young fan! I have even been offered bribes in exchange for a ball. I wish I could say I have a perfect fielding average, but who is perfect, especially in the game of baseball?
I get excited about each game and being part of the Diamondback team. I am doing my best to get them into the playoffs.
My son Matthew and his wife Dana are my biggest fans. They have recorded my finer plays at the ballpark and on TV and have even put me on Facebook. A few
favorite sayings of one of the announcers on TV is how “Wayne Laskin pounced on the ball” or “no one wears cargo pants like Wayne Laskin.”
It is all in good fun, and I have had an amazing experience and fond memories of my time as a Golden Glover.
Wayne Laskin has lived in Phoenix since 1963. He spends his days as a Realtor with HomeSmart and travelling the world with his wife Wendy. A long-time member of Beth El Congregation, Wayne has been an active member of the Jewish community. He still has fond memories of his days playing second base for the Codgers in the old JCC softball league.
