I Stand.

On a warm summer night, I sat at the corner of Carnegie and Ontario eating a hot dog with  ballpark mustard and cheering on the pride of Cleveland. The sounds of whipping balls and cracked bats were met with the cheers of “Let's go Tribe”!  

The humid lake shore summer air was a balance of downward sorrow and uplifting hope. Baseball is a game of overcoming the grind and keeping hope alive when your back is against the wall. A Tribe pitcher, Carlos “Cookie” Carrasco, had his back put against the wall earlier in the summer with a diagnosis of cancer.  

Cookie would endure chemotherapy in the morning, rest, and be at home games in the evening to support his teammates. He continued to train to prepare for the day when he would return to toe the rubber and throw his fireball past an opposing batter. Cookie, the father of five, was in the fight of his life.

Northeast Ohioians from around the nation rallied to have his back. “I Stand with Cookie” shirts sold out as fast they were printed. “I Stand with Cookie” became the rallying cry of Cleveland. In northeast Ohio,  Cookie learned that you never stand alone. Your friends and family have your back. Cookie was now family.

It was the seventh inning when the bullpen door opened. Months of toil and overcoming was lifting hope and driving out downward push of sorrow. The fans erupted in shouts and clapping of hands as “Cookie” Carrasco jogged in through the outfield grass ready to take the mound and toe the rubber.  A standing ovation echoed throughout the stands.

I stood fighting back tears, because I was not standing for Cookie. I was standing and cheering for my friend who I call the Poppins. I had stood before in solidarity for my friend Pat and my cousin Tom who kept swinging until the final out. On this day, I was standing for my friend the Poppins.  

Poppins is an inspiration in her game against cancer.  She has the optimism of late inning rally and a walk off homer. She picks herself up and dust herself off after some “chin music” knocks her down. The “Poppins” trusts in her teammates knowing they will always have her back. She challenges herself with the hardball lesson, that there is no crying in baseball. She keeps hope alive like every day is opening day.  

Cookie stepped towards home plate and threw a first pitch strike. The stands erupted.  With each strike and out, the cheering grew louder until Cookie lifted hope high in the air with a well pitched scoreless inning. Cheers of “I stand with Cookie” resounded through the seats as Cookie took a slow walk back to the dugout. Hope was uplifting.

Cookie and the Poppins share a common story of being an inspiration to others in their game against cancer. I will stand with the Poppins because she is my inspiration to endure, overcome, to always hold onto hope. I will be waiting for her at home plate when she hits her walk off homer and beats cancer.  

I stand for the Poppins.