My most influential teacher was my high school history teacher. Alas, it was not his history class that I most remember him for, but instead his caring attitude towards students. It just so happens he was also the junior varsity baseball team, of which I was a member.
The year I played on his team was less than illustrious. In our first game of the season, I was put in as a pinch-runner for the catcher. I attempted to steal second base and was thrown out by a full five steps. When I returned to the dugout, the coach asked, “Moser, why did you run?” I told him that I didn’t think the catcher had the ball. He replied, “Well, you can sit there and think about it for the rest of the game.” He might as well have said the rest of the season. I batted twice that year and was 0-2. It was my last year playing competitive baseball.
Many years later, after he had received a cancer diagnosis, I saw him at the high school basketball gym that had been named in his honor. We were both there for a basketball game and we exchanged pleasantries. During our conversation, he said, “Moser, you played for me back in ’75 didn’t you?” It astonished me that he remembered back that far, about twenty-five years, much less someone that had played such a minor role on the team.
That really impressed me that he could recall from all those years ago. It showed me that he did learn about each of his players/students and was indeed a caring person. It wasn’t too long after that event that he passed away. But he will forever be in my memory as a teacher who truly loved his students and players.
David Lee
David Lee 