Eyewitness To History... Sort Of

I (not pictured) have always DREAMED of seeing a no-hitter or perfect game in person.

I have been going to baseball games my WHOLE life.

From my early days of going to Canes games at Mark Light Stadium, to Yankees Spring Training in Fort Lauderdale, to the countless Marlins games I've been to in South Florida, I've ALWAYS, ALWAYS wanted to be there when a special game happened.
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The crazy thing about a no-hitter or a perfecto is, you REALLY never know when they're going to happen.

A few years ago, when Anibal Sanchez threw his no-hitter, I was on the road to Tampa. I would've gone to that game, but I had other plans.

So I missed it.

Then, last season, I went to see the Marlins play the Dodgers.

Lefty Clayton Kershaw had a no-hitter into the 8th.

I sat there on the 3rd base side and thought, today's the day.

It wasn't.
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Saturday night, I FINALLY had the chance to witness history.

But, just like me, I didn't get to stay the WHOLE game.

During my dinner hour, I drove from work, to watch the Marlins game.

I wanted to see SOME of Josh Johnson against Roy Halladay.

With two studs like that on the mound, it was a show worth enjoying.

Bottom 6, I was WELL AWARE that Halladay was perfect, but I also knew, I had to get back to work.

So as I walked back to my car, I was CERTAIN that Halladay was going to complete the job!

Of course he did.
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When I was a kid, I used to play video games against my brother.

When he was CERTAIN that I was going to win, he'd throw the Ninetendo remote at the power-source shutting off the game.

Then just as Tecmo Bowl shut down, he'd say "No proof."

That's how I feel about this magical moment.

Sure, I was there, but not really.

The last 6 outs are ALWAYS the most special, and I technically wasn't there.
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The one saving grace in this whole situation is the following.

On father's day in 1964, Jim Bunning threw the OTHER perfect game in Philadelphia Phillies history.

My dad was at that game against the Mets.

Saturday night, I attended (in part), the OTHER perfecto, 46 years later.

That's a cool connection (even though we're both Yankee fans).

I just wish I had seen the last 6 outs.

Oh well, nobody's perfect (except Roy Halladay and 19 other pitchers).