- livingthedash.tv

I said ‘Goodbye’ to an old friend this weekend.

And Austin, TX will soon be losing a landmark that most sports fans in Austin never fully appreciated.

Keller-Faszholz Field saw its final pitch on Saturday afternoon and it will soon be demolished as a result of Concordia University’s campus relocation.

Over the years, Keller-Faszholz Field never received any multi-million dollar donations and there weren’t any corporate sponsors banging down the door for naming rights to the field, but this “sparkling gem” in the middle of Austin possessed some features that money can’t buy…….charm……character……quirkiness.

I learned a lot about baseball and life on the immaculately manicured, yet imperfect ballyard as a college baseball player in the late 90s.

I learned the hard way about strength, courage, and determination from my legendary coach, James Keller, as I watched him battle Lou Gerhig’s Disease.

I learned the hard way that hard work, team work, high expectations, and a strong leader almost always produce positive results.

I learned the hard way that laziness, selfishness, low expectations, and a lack of leadership almost always produce poor results.

And the foundation for my Christian faith was strengthened when a more mature and much wiser player took a young freshman under his wing and showed him the ropes.

So in a few months when the bulldozers have finished their job, most Austinites probably won’t even notice what is missing…….but when I travel back home to Austin to visit, it just won’t be the same.

* Be sure to check out the nice tribute by Kirk Bohls that appeared in the Austin American-Statesman here

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