Lo these many years ago, circa 1987, a movie came out. It was called "Bull Durham." Seven-year-old Molly was probably not allowed to see this movie and wouldn't have understood it if she had seen it at that time. Nor would she have known that she aspired to be Annie Savoy, but that's neither here nor there.
The next year, Molly's dad started taking her to Durham Bulls games. (He probably took her before then, but she doesn't remember.) The Bulls played at the Durham Athletic Park, which was a pathetic little minor league ballpark for the Class-A Carolina League that was old and TOTALLY AWESOME. The Bulls were affiliated with the Atlanta Braves who really really sucked at the time. Nonetheless, Molly became a Braves fan sort of by default since the Bulls players occasionally made it up to the big leagues and played for those very same Braves.
In 1991, Molly experienced a life-changing moment. She went to a big league game. It was at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. The Braves were playing the Pirates and a left-handed pitcher named Tom Glavine happened to be starting (and finishing) that day. One complete game later and Molly was a fan for life.
Molly went on with her life, pursuing a career in baseball and achieving moderate success. Tom Glavine went on with his life, achieving much more success and even, dare we say, baseball immortality. Molly attended college and moved away from home. On one of her visits back home to Durham, her mom casually mentioned that she had been out shopping and had seen something that she just had to get for Molly.
 | The onesie, brand new, with tags. |
It was an Atlanta Braves onesie. Molly was a bit taken aback, slightly flummoxed perhaps, since at the tender age of 19(ish) she had entertained no thoughts of future childbearing. Molly's mom put the onesie away, knowing that its time would come.
Molly, interning for the Houston Astros, had to endure numerous taunts about Tom Glavine from her boss who hated the Braves, (before and) since they and especially Sid Bream had broken his Pirate-loving heart in October of 1992. Molly remained steadfast in her love of Tom Glavine, however, and one of the coolest moments of her life occurred on Oct. 10, 2001, when Glavine started Game 2 of the NLDS against the Astros at Enron Field. In the elevator going down to the field, Molly's boss said, "I'm not even going to ask you who you're rooting for." Molly replied, "I hope Tommy goes eight shutout innings and the Astros win in the ninth." Molly's boss said, "If he goes eight, we're done." He went eight. The Braves won, 1-0. Molly's boss let her go to the interview room post-game because he was really a pretty nice guy underneath all the taunting and belittling. And so Molly got to watch Tom Glavine's postgame interview. When he was done, he walked past her on the way out (within inches!) as B.J. Surhoff (Tar Heel!) was walking in, and he said, "Go get 'em Beej."
But then Tom Glavine, author of None but the Braves, LEFT ATLANTA to become a New York Metropolitan. Molly was devastated, but managed to root for the Mutts one day out of every five. Not that it helped much.
Though Molly was working in Memphis at the time, she went to the 2004 All-Star Game in Houston and watched Tom Glavine and his little left-handed son play long toss in the outfield. He pitched a scoreless inning in the game.
Tom Glavine went about his business and eventually, finally, won that 300th game.
Meanwhile, Molly moved back to North Carolina, got married to a nice guy, bought a house, and had a baby. In that order.
And Tom Glavine re-signed with Atlanta, to finish his career with the Braves, as it should be. Molly's baby was a boy, and he would be big enough for his Braves onesie in June. Molly was thrilled. There was a small snag, when Glavine's surgically repaired left arm needed more time to get up to speed (sort of), but he rehabbed in the minors (sadly, the Braves were no longer affiliated with the Bulls) and he was all set to make his season debut on June 7. Molly's son, Patrick, born on Dec. 20, 2008, would be five months and two weeks old on this day, old enough to wear his size 6-9 months onesie. Life was beautiful.
But then! The evil bastard Braves RELEASED TOM GLAVINE ON JUNE 2. And now they are dead to Molly. (Why her teams always do this is beyond her.) Patrick wore his onesie anyway, in a show of defiance and, in his own way, a show of support for Tom Glavine.
 | Patrick, extending his left arm in a show of solidarity. |
 | "Why hast thou forsaken me, Braves?" |
