Tag Archives: sports

Day 280: Anonymous letter left in New York’s Penn Station

Don Pepi's Pizzeria at Penn Station.

Don Pepi’s Pizzeria at Penn Station.

Today’s letter was scrawled quickly as I rushed to write it on the back of my laptop before I hopped on my train back to Washington. My quick draft didn’t come out as elegantly as I had hoped. I left it on the counter at Don Pepi’s Pizzeria at Penn Station.

I grew up watching the New York Mets on WWOR, I was a huge fan in the early 80s and was rewarded with a miraculous World Series victory in the fall of 1986. I could tell you any statistic about Dwight Gooden, Darryl Strawberry, Mookie Wilson or Gary Carter (RIP my friend!).

Times have changed and so has my location. Living in our nation’s capital, I’ve become a strong fan of the Washington Nationals. In fact, I haven’t missed an opening day game since they moved the franchise to DC in 2005. This year didn’t end up the way we had hoped, but my old team, the New York Metropolitans are still in the race. So, here’s to them, LET’S GO METS!

Day 280

I tried to stamp the glove blue in honor of the Mets, but I may have used purple ink. I can’t tell. #BeingColorblind

Dear New Yorker,

I grew up a Mets fan – then moved to Washington, DC and became a Nationals fan. We lost this year to the Mets – their World Series Dreams are still alive. I wish them lots of luck in the playoffs!

Reed Sandridge
Washington, DC

P.S. LET’S GO METS!

Day 246: Amorde

Amorde is my constituent services liaison for the city. Apparently city officials get all kinds of tickets to sporting events, etc. A buddy of mine who lives in Ward 5 gets tickets to Nationals, Redskins, Capitals and Wizards games all the time. So I thought I would see if my councilmember Jack Evans from Ward 2 would offer up their tickets. I emailed Amorde about this several months ago and never heard back, so I thought a handwritten letter might have better luck.

Day246-2

Ms. Brabham,

I am writing to see if Ward 2 has any tickets available for remaining Nationals or upcoming Redskins games. A friend of mine regularly receives tickets from his Ward 5 constituent services liaison.

Thank you for taking time to consider my request.

Warm regards,
Reed Sandridge

Day 189: Beth

Day 189-3

Fighting Pandas 2011

Once a week during the dog days of summer I head down to the National Mall to play softball with some colleagues from work. It’s a lot of fun, but we’re not exactly making the sports highlights at night. Actually, that’s not true. One time we did when Bryce Harper showed up to pinch hit for the other team. You can check out the video here.

Anyway, one of my coworkers, Beth, said that the reason she has not come to cheer the team on is that she has never received an official invitation and she doesn’t know where the games are played. Done. See you at the games Beth!

Day 189

Elizabeth,

You are cordially invited to join the Fighting Pandas softball team as they battle their way to the 2015 Green League Softball Playoffs. Your attendance is requested at the National Mall for the following events:

Monday July 13 vs. Global Swarming
Tuesday July 21 vs. CLAW
Tuesday July 28 vs. TNC Naturals

All games have a scheduled start time of 6pm and generally do not start on time. Attire is “panda casual”. Cold beverages are available for those who play or cheer. Cheerleaders feel free to use the following phrases of encouragement:

Let’s go <insert name here>!
Good eye, good eye!
That was a helluva poke!
Shake it off, you’ll get ‘em next time!

Note: Please refer to Evan Walker only as “Coach” and never look him directly in the eyes.

Day 175: Charlie Slowes and Dave Jageler

“You don’t realize how easy this game is until you get up in that broadcasting booth.” — Mickey Mantle

Dave and Charlie Photo: Washington Post

Dave and Charlie
Photo: Washington Post

Baseball is as much about tradition as it is about hitting home runs. For me, one of the great pastimes of baseball is calling the game. I find that I prefer radio broadcasters over their television counterparts. Maybe it’s the nostalgic part of me envisioning my grandfather listening to games over a crackling radio or maybe I just appreciate their artistry more.

It’s about their voice. It’s about their cadence and inflection. It’s about the nuances they share and the banter they exchange over the sounds of the ballpark. Charlie and Dave are like old friends. I invite them into my living room every night throughout the summer, letting them deftly paint the picture of the game as smoothly as Bob Ross used to add a few happy trees or bushes to his canvas. My experience following the Nationals is richer thanks to them and I wanted to let them know that.

Day 175

Dear Charlie and Dave,

I’m a loyal Nationals fan – while I’ve never been able to be a season ticket holder, I’ve found a way to be at every Opening Day since the team came back in 2005. I also don’t have cable so I don’t get MASN, so I listen to you on the radio. And truth be known, I often mute the TV when the games are on WUSA9, and overlay you guys on WJFK.

I tucked this photo of me in the envelope with the letter. I was up in the broadcasting booth last summer. What a dream job it would be to work with Charlie and Dave.

I sent Charlie and Dave this photo of me taken in the broadcasting booth last summer. What a dream job it would be to work along side them.

I’ve made a commitment to send a handwritten letter to someone every day this year – you’re day 175. It would be great to hear back from you or even better have the opportunity to visit you guys some time.

You are truly the best baseball broadcasting team in the business bar none and it is a pleasure to see the game through your words.

Your fan and faithful listener,
Reed Sandridge

P.S. I’ve also written to some of the players (Robinson, Escobar, Werth)…hell, I even wrote Teddy – but haven’t heard from a soul.

UPDATE Oct. 26, 2015

Today I received a card in the mail from Charlie!

The front of the card is an image of "Big Baseball", a painting by Washington, D.C. artist Daniel Kessler.

The front of the card is an image of “Big Baseball”, a painting by Washington, D.C. artist Daniel Kessler.

Day 175 response-2

Day 118: Yunel Escobar, Washington Nationals

escobarLast night the Nationals started a three-day series with the Atlanta Braves. The Nats have been slumping, but one of the players who has been producing both in the batter’s box as well as on the field is utility infielder Yunel Escobar who the Nats picked up in a crazy multi-team deal that sent pitcher Tyler Clippard to Oakland.

In the fifth inning Escobar had to leave the game after suffering an injury due to an aggressive slide by Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons into third base. I thought I would send the Cuban-born ballplayer a letter and wish him a speedy recovery.

Day 118

(Spanish translation)

Dear Yunel,

Welcome to Washington! We are very happy to have someone with your talent on our team. 

Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons knocked Yunel Escobar’s glove off, and the Nationals third baseman out of the game. . (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)

Braves shortstop Andrelton Simmons knocked Yunel Escobar’s glove off, and the Nationals third baseman out of the game. . (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)

I’m writing you to wish you a speedy recovery – I was watching the game last night when Simmons hurt you. I hope that it’s nothing serious and that you can get back to the field in the coming days. 

Warm regards,
Reed Sandridge

P.S. Also, thanks for being a part of the deal that sent Tyler Clippard to Oakland – he drove me nuts!