This is something I should know, something I studied repeatedly through school; ‘ You Can Never Go Home Again. “
In a case about 6 months ago, ” home ” was Oakland, California.
You see, when I was 8, I had 2 favorite baseball teams; the Midland Indians and the Oakland A’s.
The local Indians played OBA Intermediate Baseball and the A’s, with those cool jerseys, were in the majors, the BIG Leagues.
In the late 60’s I followed the A’s as best as anyone could in the era before Cable packages and the Internet.
I watched joyfully as they came of age, bypassing Harmon Killebrew and the Minnesota Twins to become the powerhouse in the American League West.
From Grade 6 through 10, I revelled in the success of the Athletics as they won 5 straight divisional titles and captured the World Series 3 years in a row; 72-74.
Forty years later, I make it to what once was the Oakland Coliseum …………and it was a significant letdown.
Even with banners and memorabilia to mark the success of years gone by, the experience in no way matched the anticipation.
It was my fault, certainly. What did I expect to see ? Reggie in right, Rudi in left ? Catfish on the mound with Rollie Fingers warming up ?
As the A’s were winning the World Series in Oakland in the early 70’s, I was being taught in elementary, secondary and then later in post secondary school, that Thomas Wolfe had written, ” You Can Never Go Home Again. “
Forty years later, I found out it’s true; you can’t go home again — even if it’s your first time there.
I’m Fred Wallace