circa 2009
for the love of baseball.
"During batting practice, Julio Lugo was tossing the ball with his teammates getting ready for the game to start. On his way back to the dugout, Julio stopped to say hello to Jake, who was wide-eyed and eagerly watching the warm-ups while perched on the concrete wall. His hands, tucked into his fleece pocket, were shaking as he tried to free the baseball from them so Julio could sign it. Julio just patiently waited and smiled. When he finished greeting Jake and the other eager fans, both young and old, Jake turned to look at us with a rush of tears streaming down his face. I remember hearing a nearby fan say in pure adult-like fashion: "Oh, what a shame, he didn't get the ball signed; Julio must have blown him off.” But the reality was that just the opposite had happened. Julio was gracious and kind; he spent time talking with Jake and made certain to sign that baseball before returning to the dugout. Jake was just so overwhelmed with happiness and in awe of the kindness he found in one of his baseball heroes that the tears just flowed from there and lasted, to one degree or another, throughout the game."
- - Stefanie Toner
