The cameras at Dodger Stadium feeding the massive Dodger Vision screen were focused on a cart carrying Coach Jackson, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, their son, Darrell Smith and Teisha Hayes of the Make A Wish Foundation. The crowd became quiet and then still as the vehicle approached the front of the mound where both teams were lined up in rows opposite each other. Five chairs had been placed in front of a table covered in the colors of the Dodgers and the Angels. When the vehicle stopped Mr. and Mrs. Smith helped their son from the cart and onto a chair designated for him.
The boy was thin and obviously frail. But he was dressed in a tailored Dodgers uniform, and wearing a specially designed ball cap, with his name on the back shoulders.
“Who is that boy, Momma?”
The Stadium was so quiet that the voice of the little girl asking the question carried clearly, earning brief smiles from many spectators, the professionals on the field and the young man.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith took seats on either side of their son, Coach Jackson and Coach Jeffery Dillon of the Angels took seats next to them. Ms. Hayes picked up the microphone before looking up at the announcer’s booth.
“Good afternoon! I am Teisha Hayes, director of the local chapter of the Make A Wish Foundation.”
The crowd erupted. Everyone knew something special was going to happen. The television, blogs, magazines, and cable channels had been hyping this game for three weeks. All the proceeds from the game were going to the Smith family and Make A Wish. Donation hotlines had been set up. Buckets had been placed next to the stadium gates and had quickly filled with cash as the fans streamed in for the event. Ten thousand dollars had been donated by each player on both teams and matched by the team owners.
Darrell’s face was everywhere and his story widespread.
“Welcome! I want to thank the Dodgers and the Angels organizations and all our combined fans for your tremendous generosity.”
The crowd responded.
“On behalf of Make A Wish Foundation I want to offer my sincerest and most humble thanks. Due to ALL of your generosity we have raised over five million dollars to date and the money is still coming in.”
The crowd howled and stamped their feet, and the smiles were wide for another minute until Coach Jackson stood.
“I’ll now turn the microphone over to Coach Jackson for a special announcement.”
Coach Jackson waited, holding up his hand, until he felt he could be heard.
“All of you know Darrell’s story by now and about his struggle with cancer. He wanted me to make it clear that one of his most sincere wishes is to be able to use his misfortune to help other children.”
The crowd was silent, with several thousand wet eyes, as they understood the sacrifice this boy was making.
“The Dodgers organization wants to reward his selfless choice.”
The cameras moved in for a close up, and every audience, live or electronic saw Jackson smile and nod.
“Darrell, on behalf of the Dodgers’ owners, management and family I am authorized to offer you a lifetime position on the coaching staff of our team, and that comes with full and immediate medical benefits.”
Darrell looked at his mom and dad with a wide-open mouth, then jumped up from the table screaming with joy, crying, and rushed to the Coach.
The fans roared and bellowed out their approval as the boy hugged the coach and then started jumping up and down. The players from both teams gathered around them and lifted the emotional boy onto their shoulders.
“Coach Smith…Coach Smith…Coach Smith!” The fans continued the chant as the players, in a group jogged the bases and set Darrell down on home plate, then picked him up and carried him, waving the whole way, back to the table.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith were up and hugging Ms. Hayes and then the coaches for both teams. Mr. Smith was holding his wife close. She had almost collapsed upon hearing the announcement.
Coach Jackson, wearing a rare smile, waited for the celebration to calm. He leaned down to whisper in Darrell’s ear. When he could continue, he said. “I hope, with the approval of your parents, that you will join the Dodgers family as an assistant pitching coach.
“And since we are holding up the game, I really need an answer right now,” he added gently.
He handed the microphone to Darrell who asked. “What’s my signing bonus?”
Many people cracked up, even suspecting the line was rehearsed. Darrell was grinning from ear to ear.
“What do you say, Coach Smith?” asked Jackson.
When their son glanced at them his parents nodded, ecstatic, both of them crying.
“Yes!” yelled Darrell, pumping his fist into the air.
It took another minute for the crowd to quiet.
Jackson handed the microphone to Coach Dillon of the Angels.
“Congratulations, Coach Smith. On behalf of the Angels Organization, we welcome you to Major League Baseball,” he said and held out his hand to shake the young man’s hand. “But now, we are going to do everything in our power to whip your team’s butt!”
“Oh, yeah. We’ll see about that!” retorted the newest member of the Dodger’s coaching staff.
The members of the Angels squad formed up in front of Darrel and shook his hand, welcoming him warmly before making their way to the visitor’s dugout.
Coach Jackson waved for his team to gather round. “Any words for your team, Coach Smith?”
Darrel was weakening. “Yeah. Win this one guys, for all of us!”
He then dropped his voice and looked around. “Kick their butts!”
The Dodgers picked him up and gave him a gentle shoulder ride to their dugout. His parents followed them, worried that their son was getting too worn out.
When everything had settled down in the dugout Bill tapped Darrell on the shoulder.
“Darrell, I have something for you,” he said, then opened a small gift box and handed Darrell his own boyhood glove, the one treasured and safeguarded by Kai for twenty years. “This was mine when I was a young man. I would like you to have it.”
There was not a dry eye in the dugout.
When the game was over the Dodger’s had given Coach Smith his first win.