If you drive east on 95th Street, go over the Calumet River, past Ewing Avenue and Indianapolis Blvd. You’ll drive right into Calumet Park, or as we called it, “Cal Park.” It’s on the east side and has 198 acres of grass, trees, scrubs, a big field house, and two beaches. It lies at the southwestern tip of Lake Michigan, and it’s been our “swimming pool” since we were kids.
Foreman Drive is the northern boundary; East 102nd Street does the same at the southern end. Our games are played on the diamonds south of Foreman Drive.
That Sunday was a beautiful summer day, with the temperature in the mid-80s and just a slight breeze coming off the lake. I parked by the curb. I got my spikes out of the trunk and to where the guys were already starting our infield warm-ups. When Mike approached me,
