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Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life
by Tom Kelley
Ignominy. According to the Random House Dictionary of the English Language it means, "disgrace, dishonor, public contempt." In personal life it would be the result of an act that brought about shame to a person. In athletics it can be a particular figure, event or date. It can even be tied to a particular city or franchise, such as Boston. Boston has lived in ignominy since the "Curse of the Bambino." The trading of Babe Ruth to the hated Yankees supposedly cursed the Boston Red Sox baseball club. Until they won the World Series two years ago.
How deep was the curse? This date is one of the most ignominious ones in the history of the franchise. Nobody wants to see a little guy beat you with the big hit. Especially, a light hitting little guy. 26 years ago today five-foot-four inch Fred Patek of the then California Angels hit, not one, not two, but three home runs off Bosox pitching to lead the Angels to a 20-2 pounding of the home team. He also had a double to record a team record 14 total bases and seven RBI. He had never done it before and he never did it again.
However, Patek was not the first light hitting little guy to commit the feat. 29 years ago today Bobby Avila (no, not the home improvement guy) while playing second base for the visiting Cleveland Indians had his career day against the Bosox by blasting three dingers, amassing 15 total bases for a club record while getting four RBI. The Tribe pounded the Sox 14-8. No other single date for any other team has such an ignominious history as does this date for the Boston Red Sox. Not just one, but two, diminutive players who never hit ten homers in a season each hit three in a single game at Fenway Park.
The Curse. Long may the impact of the 2004 World Series win remain with Boston. Even the curse of the 1919 Black Sox (the World Series in which eight White Sox players were accused of fixing the series) has been lifted from the Chicago White Sox with their 2005 World Series title. Long before any of these curses were begun there was another curse that plagued, not just one city, but all of mankind. "Cursed is the one who does not confirm all the words of this law." Deuteronomy 27:26 Bottom line? You are cursed if you try to be good on your own and miss the law in even one point.
Enter Jesus Christ. "But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for 'the just shall live by faith.' Yet the law is not of faith, but 'the man who does them shall live by them.' Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree'), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." Galatians 3:11-14 Jesus removed the curse of the law on the cross allowing all people to come to God in simple faith trusting Him for salvation. The curse has its end in ignominy.
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...He was the Minister of the Minorsville Christian Church located near Stamping Ground, KY.
...Becky and Tom have three children; John, single and in worship ministry in Nicholasville, Kentucky; Sean, married (Jennifer, elementary school teacher) with twins (Grace and Patrick, b.d. 10/31/04) and regional director of Papa John's Pizza in Central KY; Kara, married (Vince Taylor, prison guard) and working with Hospice East in Winchester, KY.
...Tom went to be with the Lord on November 13, 2009 after a lengthy battle with cancer. If you have been touched by Tom's writings please send an email to Tom's son at jkelley@catalystchristian.net
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