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Eulogy for Clem Labine -My letter to the Providence Journal

Joshua C. Karlin | Mom's Life and Death, Eulogies | Saturday, April 28th, 2007

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Clem Labine passed away in early March. I wrote this letter a couple of days later when I saw the news, The Projo published it a month later, too late to show my Mom.

Just a guy who likes baseball

01:00 AM EDT on Monday, April 9, 2007

He was my son Daniel’s first coach.

It was just five years ago and we were at an outdoor concert on the lawn of the John Brown House. Daniel was almost 3 years old and already a baseball fanatic, thanks to our season tickets to the PawSox. He has a keen eye and tried to imitate the way the pros caught the ball. Of course at that age it was rare that he was able to get his glove on it, let alone catch the ball.

An older gentleman called me over. “Start by teaching him how to catch like this, with his glove facing up.”

“Trust me,” he said.

I could tell from his words and his tone that he knew what he was talking about. I went back to my son and showed him how to catch the ball as the man had told me. After another 45 minutes of almost catching the ball, he finally got tired and went back to sit down and get a drink and a snack. I went back to the man.

“Who are you?” I said.

“Just a guy who likes baseball,” he responded.

I knew better, even though the face did not look familiar.

“Who are you and who did you play for?” I persisted.

“The Dodgers. My name is Clem Labine.”

I didn’t recognize his name, but with a mother and mother-in-law who still had not forgiven the Dodgers for leaving Brooklyn, I knew from his age that he must have been one of the Boys of Summer.

We chatted for a bit and I thanked him.

We went home that evening and searched Google and called both of Daniel’s grandmothers, the people we knew would be most excited by our encounter.

We later wrote to Clem to thank him for the baseball tip and for being one of the greats on Grandma’s favorite team.

Ever the gentleman, he sent back a note with a signed baseball card to Daniel.

Thanks, coach.

You were always more than just a guy who likes baseball.

JOSHUA C. KARLIN

Providence

Editor’s note: Clem Labine died on March 2.

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