Our Stories
E-3
By Aaron Soderlund | posted 05/07/2009
"I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7)
A few years ago, I read a book called "Sermon on the Mound" and it was about a man who gave his life to Jesus while watching Game 6 of the 1986 World Series. The Boston Red Sox, who hadn't won a World Series since 1918, were one out away from winning the World Series when a routine ground ball to the Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner went through his legs and the Mets would win the game on that play in the bottom of the 10th inning. Game 7 was the next day and the Mets won that game too and thus winning the World Series. The routine ground ball to Bill Buckner has gone on to be one of the most historic and tragic individual plays in baseball history and known simply as "E-3" (which is the scorekeeper's code for Error: First-Baseman).
The game is often remembered as the Mets winning the World Series on that play. In fact, there was still a Game 7 to that series. This play just forced another game. The author, Michael O'Connor, says that as he watched that specific play, the he felt God speak to him. (Go figure, another person that believes God speaks to us through baseball.) He had not been living a life that was very pleasing to God prior to that game. However, as Bill Buckner let Mookie Wilson's ground ball go through his legs and Ray Knight crossed home plate to win the game, God spoke to Michael O'Connor in a language that he understood. The New York Mets had just been given a Game 7 and another chance to win the World Series when they seemed down and out. O'Connor realized that God was giving him a Game 7 in his life. It's a testimony that I will never forget.
Now just last Sunday, I was watching the Mariner game and going through my typical emotions during the 3-hour game. They immediately went down 3 runs in the first inning. And ever-optimistic Aaron's first reaction was, "There goes this game." But the Mariners chipped away and in the bottom of the ninth inning tied it at 4-4 and forced extra innings. I was thrilled. In inning 13, the Mariners allowed another 3 runs and went down 7-4. Again, Captain Optimism over here said, "There goes this game. We just wasted all these pitchers for a loss." Low and behold... the men in blue came back and tied it again at 7 and they played on. In inning 15, the Mariners managed to get a run and win the game 8-7. What an amazing game!
For me, my first reaction to the win was elation. My second reaction was God telling me something: Don't give up. Just because you're down, don't give up. You can come back and you can win. Two times in this game the Mariners were down by 3 runs. The first time it took them all nine innings to tie it back up. And the second time, they did it in one inning.
I can't even count how many times I've been 3 runs down in just the first inning. And there are times that I've felt that I'm in extra innings and 3 runs down. The easy reaction is what I did several times that game, "It's over. We'll win the next one." But God doesn't tell us to use His grace that way. Fight the fight. Finish the race. I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure the Bible doesn't say that when you're down, give up and hopefully you'll win another day. Paul tells us to finish the race... and play your Game 7.
The Mariners stuck it out and kept their eyes on the finish line and showed us a textbook version of grinding out a win. The 1986 Mets had a little help from Bill Buckner (who was a great baseball player other than this one play), but they never took their eyes off the World Series trophy and went on the next day to win again. Both are, to me, great examples of not giving in when you're down. Finish the race. Keep the faith.
To respond to this message, email Aaron at aaron@windermere.com.
