[Stardust]

Teddy knuckle-rapped with manager Baker, who pulled the lineup card from the dugout wall – the card by which Baker manages the comings and goings of both teams’ players – and signed it, “To our good luck charm, Teddy Kremer. – Dusty Baker,” and handed it to Teddy.

Teddy was exhausted. All those steps up and out of the dugout to retrieve bats and balls had taken their toll.

And three weeks later, the experience was clear.

“The players,” he answered, when asked what was his favorite memory.

Anything surprise you?

“The fans cheering me on.”

Favorite thing in the dugout besides the players?

“The Powerade and the bubblegum.”

When Ted’s parents got home from the ballpark that night, they noticed their necks were quite sore. All from trying to keep up with Teddy’s moves.

“Nerve-wracking,” recalls Cheryl. “We didn’t know he was going to be doing any of that. It was amazing what the Reds let him do.”

And, yet, Teddy had been relaxed as could be – well, at least after the national anthem. After the anthem, it was like being back on the Colerain sidelines with Coach Kerry Coombs.

From the end of that night, Teddy remembers one final exchange.

“Mr. Stowe, I want to thank you very much for having me down here. I had a great time.”

“I guess you did, Teddy, I guess you did,” responded Rick Stowe.

“But not as great a time as we