Table of Contents
Foreword 7
Spring Training: A Fan Is Born 9
Opening Day: All Roads Lead to Roam 17
Pregame Warmups: Run So as to Win 26
First Inning: "Rags" To Riches 30
Top of the Second Inning: Out on the Tiles 47
Bottom of the Second Inning: This Is Crazy, This Is Crazy, This Is Crazy 56
Top of the Third Inning: "… Through the Lincoln Tunnel!" 78
Bottom of the Third Inning: Love Walks In… and the Bill Comes Due 89
Fourth Inning: Get on the Bus! 98
Fifth Inning: Fields of Dreams…and Nightmares 117
Sixth Inning: Bittersweet Symphony 152
Seventh Inning: I Hate You! (Please Don't Ever Leave Me!) 172
Seventh-Inning Stretch: Stadium Chasers' Dirty Little Secret 185
Eighth Inning: My Team Is on the Floor 195
Ninth Inning: Enter Sandman 207
Extra Innings: The Happy Recap 239
Monday Morning Quarterback: Epilogue and Acknowledgments 242
Box Score: A complete list of Rich's "first" games for each franchise 248
About the Author 251