April 15, 1947: Boston, MA:
Harry Barrell, who had a rough spring with a .239 average, was determined to make a statement in the first game of the year for the Boston Minutemen. The team was hosting the defending Federal Association champion Washington Eagles, who had won their opening day matchup against Bobby and the Keystones. With his wife Sarah and their six-year-old son Reid in the stands, Harry wanted to put on a show. However, the brisk 44-degree temperature at Minuteman Stadium was something he hadn't quite gotten used to. Growing up in Georgia, cold weather wasn't a common part of his baseball experience. Despite his desire to complain to manager Bill Boshart about his placement in the lineup, Harry decided to take his poor spring performance in stride and earn his way back into the manager's good graces. The Minutemen had finished second the previous year, and there were high hopes for the team in the new season.
Harry, known for his friendly demeanor, often engaged in banter with pitchers from his position at shortstop during breaks in the action. He had played with numerous pitchers, and their reactions to his conversations varied. His own brother Tom, in particular, could be quite prickly on the mound and never hesitated to tell Harry to keep quiet, often using colorful language. For the opening day, the Minutemen had veteran Ed Wood on the mound. Wood was a blue-collar pitcher, known for his hard work and earnest approach. While he wasn't a big talker, he had never dismissed Harry either. So, when Harry offered him a good luck wish before the first batter, he was pleased to receive a nod and a smile from Wood. However, Harry's excitement was tempered when Wood added with a playful wink, "Don't make any errors." Harry sensed that the seasoned southpaw was feeling particularly confident despite the cold weather.
In the home second inning, Harry faced Eagles starter Billy Riley with Art Spencer and Bill Burkett already on base due to back-to-back singles. Harry stepped into the batter's box, hoping to make the most of this scoring opportunity. Riley was a talented pitcher with excellent command of his three plus-pitches, but he was prone to giving up flyballs. Harry, lacking his brother Bobby's power, aimed to hit the ball hard and find a gap or hole. He fouled the first two pitches straight back into the screen. Then, Riley threw three consecutive balls, with the last one causing the pitcher to argue with himself as he believed it was a strike. Harry glanced at the umpire and noticed the narrowed eyes, indicating that the umpire was not fond of Riley's dramatics. On the next pitch, Harry made solid contact, driving the ball hard along the line and past Eagles' first baseman Sig Stofer. Both runners scored as Harry reached second base with a stand-up double. Relieved and invigorated, Harry hoped this at-bat would set the tone for a successful season.
By the time Harry's second at-bat came around, the Eagles were leading 4-2, and Ed Wood was sitting at the end of the bench, glaring at anyone who approached him. Harry took a ball from Riley but tapped out to third baseman Mel Carrol for the first out. Wood drew a walk, and Pete Day followed with a single, raising hopes for a potential rally. However, Buddy Schneider flew out to right field, and Chick Donnelly struck out, leaving the runners stranded. The seventh inning brought better fortunes. Harry led off the inning and drilled a single into right field. Ben McCarty, pinch-hitting for Wood, flew out, but Pete Day crushed a ball off the center-field wall. Harry, running full speed, scored easily, and when Day also crossed the plate on a double by Buddy Schneider, the Minutemen tied the game at four, forcing Riley out of the game.
The decision to pinch-hit for Harry in the eighth inning left him disgruntled. With two outs and Bill Van Ness on second base, Harry was due up, but Boshart called him back to the dugout. Frustrated, Harry confronted Boshart, questioning the move. "I'm 2-for-3, why are you hitting for me?" he demanded, his voice filled with heat. He couldn't understand why Boshart seemed to have a grudge against him, and he felt that enough was enough. Boshart scowled, disliking the challenge to his authority, and explained that since Eagles pitcher Ike Keller was a lefty, he wanted Joe Watson, a right-handed hitter, in the lineup. While the explanation made sense, Harry's competitive spirit rebelled against this latest slight.
Watson drew an intentional walk, but the Minutemen failed to capitalize on the opportunity as Bob Donoghue grounded out to end the inning. The Eagles scored a run in the top of the ninth, taking a 5-4 lead, but the Minutemen rallied in the bottom half of the inning, tying the game and sending it to extra innings. Ultimately, Boston pulled off a 6-5 victory.
That night, Harry discussed his frustrations with Sarah after Reid had gone to bed. He contemplated the idea of jumping to the Great Western League, as he was unsure if he could continue playing under Boshart's management. Sarah advised him to give it a couple of weeks, reminding him that the season had just begun. Harry agreed to take some time to evaluate the situation, but deep down, he felt that playing for Boshart might not be sustainable in the long run.
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Bill Boshart
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