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Long ago as a young aspiring baseball guy, I was coaching a tournament with my first ever team in Austin, Tx.

The club I was coaching was made up of 14 year old players, so any foreseen future was almost impossible for me and them.

Funny thing was, I was about to embark on a future with a player that never even came into my internal baseball picture.

While I was waiting for our next game to be played during the tournament, I noticed a kid playing in the game prior that immediately caught my eye.

He played the game with so much energy and passion, I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to actually have this kid under my guidance.

Hence the reason I promptly asked the coach of his team if their season was over.  As I wanted this rising star to play for us the rest of the summer, without intruding on his committed teams schedule.

His coach politely mentioned I would have to defer to him for any coach/player partnership possible.

So here I am, asking a 14 year old boy who spoke broken English if he wanted to travel to Steamboat, Colorado for an end of season tournament with us.

The short story is, it cost me a plane ticket and an extra bed in my condo for the week with this young hispanic boy with a dream.  Who, by the way, had hair that was borderline unacceptable to my liking.  Let’s just say kind of a Bruno Mars look with a blonde streak.

That week turned into a lifetime.

Roberto Gallegos, the 14 year old boy, grew into a man with me.  He came to live with me each summer and played for me until he was ready for college.  Being the first one in his family to graduate high school, I knew I had to place him with someone who cared as much about the game and his players as me.  Skip Johnson, then at Navarro Community College, was a perfect fit.

I helped him fill out his financial aid papers, and off he went.  Skip continued flaming his fire, and later he finished his playing career at a D1 program, which eventually turned into a bachelors degree.  Imagine that, the first to get a diploma from a high school and college in his family.

Then, Roberto became my assistant coach.  He was now giving back to kids like I hoped I gave to him.  These were my proudest moments for him.  It was easy to see, he was born to coach.

About that time, my coaching career had to end.  With a young son growing of my own and a scouting career with travels, I knew it was time to pass the torch onto Roberto.  He had it.  I knew it. 

And the first team he coached knew it too.  His 17U Dbat bunch was an instant hit.  As he guided them to the AABC Connie Mack World Series Championship.

It wasn’t long until he parlayed that display of coaching talent into a college job.  Low and behold, he was now coaching where he learned from Skip.  Back at Navarro. 

Now fast forward to today.  That once 14 year old shaggy haired kid, will be coaching his first D1 game with the Oklahoma Sooners today.  And…he will be lining up the defense next to the pitching coach…yep, you guessed it.  Skip Johnson.

So you see, baseball isn’t just a game.  It’s life.  Those who tend to grab onto the insignificant things within the game miss such an opportunity.

It’s not about scholarships, money, fame, or fortune.

It’s about relationships.  And preserving them so, that they will never be broken.

Roberto is like my son.  We still talk everyday.  Late night talks used to be about strategy on the field.  But for years now, it’s turned into strategy off the field and what life brings him.

So yeah, that flat billed kid running across the field to the first base box today against the Dirtbags from Long Beach St. has a story.

Some may ask…Who’s on first?

That’s him.  Roberto!  The kid I saw in Austin, Texas many games and ballparks ago.  

I thank Lord each day for putting us at the same ballpark that day.

Now, who’s on Second?  Could I get so lucky twice?

Gut