Same fun, generations later

We hear talk all the time about baseball being a generational experience for fans, with geezers spinning tales about Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio or Mickey Mantle while watching Cal, A-Rod or the Rocket create horsehide magic anew.

No other game has as strong a hold on America’s sporting psyche as rounders. That led to an emotional and empathetic evening last week for Gordon Thomas, a lobbyist from Arlington and a certified baseball nut.

Beaming the way you would expect any proud patriarch to do, Thomas escorted grandchildren Marianna Marquardt, 4½, and Thomas Marquardt, 3, to a ballgame at RFK Stadium — the same place where Gordon saw his first major league game 43 years ago. Also along for this fun ride were daughters Elizabeth Thomas Marquardt, 36, the children’s mom, and Mollie Thomas, 9.

Gordon was 13 when he saw the expansion Senators play the Los Angeles Angels on Aug. 15 and 16, 1964, at what was then called D.C. Stadium, so a lot of memories linger. His grandchildren probably are too young to remember details about last week’s game, but perhaps just being there will generate a love for baseball that will endure and grow.

“Marianna asked some really good questions like why [stadium workers] were drawing all those white lines on the field before the game,” Gordon said. “And when we were leaving, they ran down all the ramps — that was a little scary.”

It’s ironic that the Marquardts enjoyed their first game together here because the family lives in Highland Park, Ill., which is Cubs territory. Of course, Grandpa planned the whole expedition.

Big surprise.

“When my grandson was born on April 18, 2004, I got unused season tickets for all 15 major league games that day and had them framed,” Gordon said. “My granddaughter was born on October 20, 2002, the same day as Game 2 of the [Angels-Giants] World Series. I got her a ticket for that game and had it framed. In notes to both grandchildren, I told them if they grow up to love baseball half as much as their Grandpa does, they will be fans for life of the best game ever invented.”

Amen!

So how did the kids do, Mom?

“I think they had a great time,” said Elizabeth, who spent part of the evening reading a “Dora the Explorer” book to shirtless, towheaded Thomas at steamy RFK. “Marianna wanted to know how old she would have to be to play on a field like that, and at first she thought a foul ball was called a ‘fire ball.’ Thomas crawled around a lot, but he had ice cream, potato chips and a hot dog. Both of them really liked the Racing Presidents — they were rooting for Abraham Lincoln because he was from Illinois.”

And might they grow up to be fans like Gordon?

“I’m not sure anybody is a fan like Dad is. But it was really a nice way to spend time together. It was more fun than I expected because it can be stressful taking young children out.”

Unless it’s to become part of what used to be called the national pastime.

“It’s really neat that their first game was in the same ballpark as mine,” Gordon said. “I sure remember those two in ‘64. On Saturday, Claude Osteen of the Senators defeated the Angels 6-2 — and he had a home run and a double. The next day, Buster Narum beat the Angels 4-1.”

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