Put Me In, Coach!

[DOUGHBOYS]

Just a story....

We had a good high school team. Not great, but a good high school team.
Ans as with every high school team it seems, there are a few players that truly excel, some that are average, and those that nobody wants at bat in a key situation.
Our school had a kid that was truly different from all others. His name was Coleman Higgins.
Coleman was not very accepted at our school. He came from Mississippi and spoke with a southern drawl. Something that was the source of much harassment by students.

Athletes saw Coleman in gym class and dismissed him as uncoordinated. So, it was a shock to see Coleman try out for the baseball team. Coleman was a Senior and was assured a place on the Varsity squad if going to every practice. This rule was in place so that every Senior had a chance of lettering as long as he attended every practice.
Coleman did, even bearing constant beration (yes, I made that word up, spellchecker!) and belittling by other players.
Coleman never seem to listen to other players. It seemed as though he had been picked on most of his life and had almost become immune to the taunting.

Despite Coleman's shortcomings athletically, he had a constant reminder for the Coach during games. "Put me in Coach! I'm hot! Did you see me last practice? I'm hot, Coach! Put me in!"
This became a joke among the players. Some would even greet each other with, "Put me in, Coach! I'm Huoootttt!"
The way Coleman said it.
Coleman would get into games that were lopsided. He would usually strike out or take his place in right field.
As games started getting more important and closer, Coleman would ride the bench for the whole game.

Championship Game day for the league title came. A lot was on the line. The right to move to the state playoffs.
Coleman looked at the lineup.
He didn't see his name.
"Coach, did you see me hit that last practice? I'm hot, Coach. I'm hot!"
The Coach quietly said, "Coleman, you laid down two good bunts, then swung and missed at 12 of the 20 balls thrown to you."
"That is why you are not in the lineup."
I overheard that exchange and would ask the Coach much later if he really kept track of our contact during batting practice.
He said, "Danny, if you were Coleman, would you rather be told you're not good enough or would you rather be told about made up statistics?"
I smiled.

The game was wild. High school games were seven inning games and this one was in the 11th inning. There was one player who had not played on our team.
Coleman.
With so much on the line for his teammates, Coleman had changed from reminding the Coach about his availability to cheer leading for his teammates.
We were the home team and got a rally going. The bases were loaded with one out.
If we could score just one run, our team would be going to the playoffs.
On the first pitch to our clean up hitter he took a mighty swing. The ball went straight down off his bat and ricocheted off his knee. He went down in pain. Everybody held their breath hoping he could get another swing.
But, he couldn't stand.
The Coach and another player assisted him from the field. Entering the dugout, the Coach passed our clean up hitter off to another player and sat beside Coleman.
"Coleman, I want you to listen to me. We have the bases loaded with one out and one strike on the hitter, what would you do if you were me?"
Coleman looked at him blankly. He hadn't realized that he was the only eligible player left.
The Coach looked at him and said, "That was your cue to say, 'Put me in Coach! I'm Hot!"
Coleman looked at him in disbelief. "I'm going in?"
The Coach said, "Yes Coleman and I want you to do me a favor."
"What is it, Coach?"
"I want you to look as menacing as you can coming out of this dugout. I want you to pick up three bats and swing them all at once. Then I want you to swing one of them as hard as you can while approaching the plate. When you get up to the plate, point your bat at the pitcher or center field, and look tough. Then, the first strike you see, I want you to put down a bunt like you did in practice. Remember how good you put down bunts in practice?"
"Can you do all that, Coleman?"
"YES SIR, Coach!"
While Coleman grabbed three bats, the Coach called a group meeting of the runners and alerted them to the fact that Coleman would be bunting.
He didn't see that behind him, Coleman had the crowd in stitches. In his first attempt at swinging three bats, one landed thirty feet away, almost striking the catcher.
In his second attempt, he knocked his own helmet off.
He discarded two of the bats and swung one as hard as he could. He landed on his back.
He brushed himself off.
In an attempt to look menacing, Coleman had most everybody in attendance, laughing. Including the other team.
He dug into home plate and pointed his bat....at the third baseman.
This effected two players. First, the third baseman, full of muchismo started yelling at Coleman to "Bring it!"
The pitcher waited, not knowing if Coleman was ready.
The Umpire called time and asked Coleman if he was ready.
At the top of his lungs, Coleman yelled, Yes Sir, Mr Umpire! I am ready to hit the crap outta that there ball!
His southern accent and words even drew a laugh from the pitcher.
Coleman again pointed his bat at the third baseman and waited for the pitch.
The pitch came in. Coleman squared to bunt the ball.
What happened next is still argued. The visiting team declared that upon turning his feet to lay down a bunt, he stepped on the plate. They would argue the point for as long as the umpire stayed on the field.
As for Coleman, he was hit square in the crotch.
He went down and lay motionless for a few seconds.
The home team would have two celebrations on the field that night. The first came while Coleman writhed in pain and tried to compose himself as the winning run crossed home plate.
The other came when Coleman moved slowly down the first base line on his way to touching first base and be hoisted on teammates shoulders. All the while, screaming, "Eassssy, Eassssy! It hurts when y'all jostle me!"

That team would lose the first game of the state playoffs. Coleman did not play.
In fact, Coleman did not want to play baseball ever again. But, he sure was a proud kid upon receiving his letter.
The baseball team stood and gave him a standing ovation when he did receive it.
For the rest of the school year, if Coleman was harassed by another student within a baseball players hearing distance, that jeering student was dealt with quickly.
Coleman had earned the letter proudly displayed on his jacket.

I lost track of Coleman. We both attended the local college, but I hardly saw him. We ran around in different circles. Me, keeping up with baseball and easy classes.
Coleman, away from baseball and hard classes.
But, in a store the other day, I saw him. Some 40 years later.
He had aged like I and spoke with less of a southern accent, but it was still Coleman.
I asked if he remembered that Championship game.
"The one where I got the game winning hit?" Heck ya, I remember that!"
We spoke for a little while longer about folks long forgotten or remembered and we said good bye.
I figured if he wanted to remember that game a different way, it was his right.
Either way, he comes out the hero.
And I still think of Coleman every time I hear John Fogarty's 'Center Field'.
Coleman was the original "Put me in, Coach"

[James Maples]

Fantastic Story

[Edwards Kings]

Your best story yet, Dan! You know you can always count on us Southern boys to...give...it our all!

[ikenbaseball]

Funny story Dan. It belongs in a movie somewhere.

Krys