Lo these many years ago, circa 1987, a movie came out. It was called "Bull Durham." It featured a minor league baseball team based in Durham. They 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. There was a Ballpark Corner store, actually located on the corner, by the ballpark. Durham was kind of sketchy, so you had to be careful where you parked. The Bulls were affiliated with the Atlanta Braves, who 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. (Also, TBS.)
In 1991, Molly experienced a life-changing moment. She went to a big league game, 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 slight 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 to Durham, her mom casually mentioned that she had been out shopping and had seen something that she just had to get. It was an Atlanta Braves onesie. Molly was a bit taken aback; she had entertained no thoughts of future childbearing. Molly's mom put the onesie away.
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 then he started Game 2 of the NLDS against the Astros at Enron Field in October 2001.
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 laughed, short, and 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 so Molly got to watch Tom Glavine's postgame interview. When he was done, he walked past her -- within inches! -- on the way out 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 go play in New York. Molly was devastated.
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, and had a baby.
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 Bulls were no longer affiliated with the Braves) and he was all set to make his season debut on June 7. Life was beautiful.
But then! THE BRAVES RELEASED TOM GLAVINE ON JUNE 2. Patrick wore his onesie anyway, in a show of defiance and, in his own way, a show of support for Tom Glavine.
