HappyYoungster.com

It was Saturday, May 29th, 1999.  The San Diego Padres were playing the Milwaukee Brewers at Milwaukee County Stadium.  My brother Jon and I skipped a wedding invite in Manitowoc, WI to drive down to Milwaukee for the game. 

The Brewers were already down 8-0 in the 5th inning when Padres 1B Jim Leyritz stepped to the plate.  Crack!  Here comes the ball!  Run to the right!  Jump!  I caught it on the fly!  Celebrate!  Wait a minute...opposing team home run.  A fist pump will do.

Fast forward to the Brewers half of the 7th inning.  Brewers RF Rich Becker came to the plate.  Crack!  Here it comes again! Run to the right again!  Jump again!  I caught it on the fly again!  Celebrate again! Wait a minute...home team home run.  Celebrate more!  Two in the same game!

As the celebration in the left field bleachers ensued, Brewers TV announcer and former big league catcher Bill "Rock" Schroeder stated to all of Wisconsin and beyond, "There's a ball for a happy youngster."  

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 An identity was born.

After the 1999 season, I spoke with Bill Schroeder's broadcasting partner Matt Vasgersian (the best in the business...boy, do I miss him).  I revisited that Saturday evening game of '99 and he remembered the call.  He even remembered who hit the home runs (bizarre!?)  He suggested I start wearing a bright yellow shirt with "Happy Youngster" emblazoned on the front.  He gave me his e-mail address and told me to let him know when I'd be at the park the following season so they could give me a quick plug on TV. 

 

The identity had laid dormant until Tuesday, May 16th, 2000.  That's the game the yellow shirt made its debut.  I e-mailed Vasgersian as he instructed.  I told him I'd be in the front row of the left field bleachers with my new uniform...well, a bright yellow shirt.

 

In the top half of the 2nd inning, light-hitting Astros SS Tim Bogar came to the plate.  Crack!  Here it comes!  Caught on the fly!  That was easy...a fist pump will do.

 

Following that catch came some TV face time.  Something else soon followed...controversy.  It appeared as if I had leaned over the fence to snag that Bogar homer.  Now, I'll admit it was close but it was over the fence (Tim Bogar later personally thanked me for the help, saying, "I need all the help I can get!").  I assured Mr. Bogar it was all his doing.

 

They allowed me to stay.

 

Fast forward to the Brewers half of the 4th inning.  Another light-hitter, Brewers C Henry Blanco stepped to the dish.  Crack!  Another one?  Run to the right!  Keep running!  Simultaneously undercut by a wooden fence and the ball nestling safely into my glove, I had caught it on the fly!  Two in the same game!  

 

A ton of TV face time followed that catch.  Brewers 5 Astros 4.

 

In the top of the 8th inning, Brewers P David Weathers  surrendered a game tying run making it 5-5.  Brewers brass visited my seat in left field and informed me I was being ejected.  What?  Six innings after the alleged interference?  They claimed I made a negative impact on the outcome of the game for the home team.  Whatever.

 

The game went into extra innings and in the 16th inning...the Brewers finally won.

 

An identity was here to stay.