Geppi, Bray, Egan, and Ty

I can’t remember our Coach Zehring’s first name.  He had a son on our team who did not start, nor play much.  And I remember Coach taking some heat from his wife for not playing the boy.  Jack, I think, was his name.  It has been so long, some 50-plus years ago.  He was younger that most on the team.

And I don’t know if I spelled “Tye” right.  We never wrote down one another’s names.  We just played ball.   

Egan was the catcher, the stouter of us all – by no means a fat fellow.  All were trim, quick, and smart. And we beat everybody.

But it is that constant batting order that has intrigued me even today.  Every game, when we started up to bat, the coach would call it out, “Geppi, Bray, Egan, and Tye” and it’s still ringing in my ears.  And they were – all three – Johns:  John Geppi, John Egan, and John Tye (I was the distinguished Mike).

I didn’t keep up with baseball.  Moving as we did every year or two, other opportunities came up and circumstances warred against further participation “next year” in anything and moved me into other interests. Swimming, diving, football, tennis and wresting all combined to squeeze baseball out. 

No regrets.  Each sport or hobby or association has its own attractions and benefits and opportunities. But that line-up and the coach’s summons still rings a happy note in my mind.  It was a great line up and I hope all three Johns have fared well in life, and especially that they have known the Lord of Life – the very Savior and King – Jesus.

6 Oct., 2020