There’s no better way to pass time during a quarantine than a good ole game of catch, just may want to switch up baseballs a couple times. We’ve seen the creativity of athletes all over the world as they improvised ways to continue to workout and stay healthy. While some may be forced to play catch with a wall during this time, I can’t think of a better throwing partner than 85 year-old and former MLB pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Ron Gray. Let me tell you what folks the guy has still got and not many can say that they still have ability to have a catch at that age. Just look at that old school hand over the head wind-up, a thing of pure beauty,
I can’t think of a time when I won’t be able to throw a baseball. Every now and again you just want to remember that feeling and despite being injured, having a game of catch is one of the more satisfying things in my life. It takes me back to so many memories. All the times I begged my dad for five more minutes of diving catches or all the balls I tried to throw into a strike zone taped against a park wall. To me it’s something or some place I can go to and clear my head, my place of zen. After being a away from the game for so long, you start to forget the motions and feelings of playing the game. I’ve come to learn that I never want to lose that feeling and I hope in the future I am lucky enough to still be enjoying a game of catch as much as Ron Gray is now.
The game of catch will ever be a timeless tradition, between father and son/daughter, or between friends and teammates. As you get older the game get more precise and fine. There may come pain at times, but at times you’ll feel as if you can throw forever. During your career you take the things your able to do for granted sometimes and it doesn’t hit you until you have to end doing something you’ve been doing just about your whole life. The game of catch will always be connected to the child in all of us and whenever you pick up any type of ball and start tossing it, you can’t help but feel that feeling of pure bliss. So I applaud Ron Gray for continuing to be able to do what he’s always loved to do, many are not lucky enough to be able to do these types of things as our body shuts down over time. For me I’m going to continue throwing until they take my arm away from me.
The Washed Up Athlete 