George Bakewell has lived to see one of those beautiful father-and-son moments.
His eldest boy is finally old enough to join his softball team, the one that George has played on for 25 years. The Kids & Kubs. The team that requires players to be at least 75.George is 101. His son, Elton, is just old enough.
At 12:10 last Thursday afternoon, against the Willow Street Ole Stars from Lancaster County, Pa., George, the grand old man of the Three-Quarter Century Softball Club, stood at attention for the national anthem.
The younger Bakewell's grandchildren were in the stands. They had come down from Michigan for the game.
For the record, the teams would each win one game of the doubleheader. But the scores don't much matter. It's the playing that counts.
The elder Bakewell strode to the plate and squared into the stance he has used for a quarter century. He swung at the first pitch, squeezing it down the third-base line for a hit. The small crowd sparked to life. He got a pinch runner.
Then 75-year-old Elton Bakewell stepped into the batter's box. In facing the first pitch, Elton Bakewell probably made history. He and his dad may well have become the first father-and-son combination to play in the Three-Quarter Century Softball Club. Some television stations were there to record the event.
"I'm just welling up inside," George Bakewell said. "When you raise six kids without any problems, then you live to 101 with 20 grandchildren and 47 great-grands, and you still feel good, then I'd say I'm happy."
Elton Bakewell is even happier.
"Can you imagine? I'm 75 and about to take the field with my father," Elton said. "This is magical. He's special. He has always been so special."
Before making history, Elton had one big concern: "I haven't played ball for 55 years. The last time I played ball I was still in school, but at 75, I have to find something to do and I have to be here for Dad."
Like his father, Elton showed little patience at the plate. From his open batting stance, he swung and lined the first pitch into centerfield. The ball dropped in between two outfielders.
First base was easy, second took effort, and third bordered on the impossible. But Elton kept on running. The ball was bobbled in the outfield.
He headed home, narrowly beat an incoming lob. He crossed home plate standing up.
At 75, he had just hit an inside-the-park homer. His dad met him at the plate. They hugged.