I grew up in a small town.

How small was it?

We had to employ ghosts to have enough runners on the base paths.

If we had four kids, that was enough for a ballgame. A pitcher and fielder and a batter and catcher. (Teams supplied their own catcher.) Six was the most common and we’d get to a consistent eight once the Tuckers moved to town. (The younger boys of the nine Pelletiers and eight Tuckers formed the backbone of both our football and baseball teams.)

Even at three on three you could run out of base runners. Let’s say the bases were loaded and it was my turn to bat. I’d yell, “Ghostie on third and jog home for my “ups.” My ghost runner would score only if I made it safely to first.

If we played two on two we might have several ghost runners, one for each of us, on the base paths.

If Andy got a base hit and I followed that with a hit, he would leave his ghost on second to bat. If he got another single, I would go in to bat with his ghost on third, mine on second and Andy on first. If I got a double, both ghosts would score and Andy would go in to hit, with his ghost on third, me on second and no one on first.

So, the next time you see a ghost, offer it a seat and perhaps a hot dog and coke. It’s probably pooped from running the base paths all day!

FB 6/27/22