TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL PARK--THE 2010 BASEBALL SEASON IS ABOUT TO BEGIN. MARCH 4 IS THE FIRST GRAPEFRUIT LEAGUE GAME FOR THE TIGERS.

I RECALL THE FIRST MAJOR LEAGUE GAME I ATTENDED.  OF COURSE IT WAS THE DETROIT TIGERS.  IT WAS A SUMMER NIGHT IN 1946 AND IT TOOK PLACE AT COMISKEY PARK IN CHICAGO.  I TOOK MY YOUNGER BROTHER TO SEE THE GAME FOR HIS BIRTHDAY.  IT WAS QUITE A THRILL FOR BOTH OF US, BUT THE REAL TOPPER OF THE EVENING WAS WHEN BABE RUTH MADE AN APPEARANCE.  THE NEXT DAY WAS "BABE RUTH DAY" IN CHICAGO.  THE BABE TOOK A STANCE AT HOME PLATE WITH A BAT AND ALL THE NEWSPAPER PHOTOGRAPHERS WITH THEIR PRESS CAMERAS GATHERED AROUND FOR SOME SHOTS OF THE "SULTAN OF SWAT." NEXT THE BABE GOT IN A CONVERTIBLE AND WAVED AS THEY DROVE HIM AROUND THE PARK.  THAT NIGHT HE WAS ALREADY SUFFERING FROM THE THROAT CANCER THAT WOULD END HIS LIFE, BUT MANY FANS WILL REMEMBER IT WELL.  IT WAS VERY SPECIAL FOR ME AND MY BROTHER.  THE TIGERS LOST THE GAME, BUT WE TOOK AWAY SOME LIFETIME MEMORIES.