I thought I heard Ivan Partridge yelling tonight at the baseball game. He used to stand by the gate in the chain link backstop next to the Kettleer’s dugout, fingers laced in the green wire, bellowing his exhortation to men at least 70 years his junior to “Have a Hit.” I haven’t seen him this summer. I hope he’s doing well.
There are t-shirts sold that bear that slogan.
Once, in Zebulon, North Carolina, at a Carolina Mud Cats game, I saw an ex-Kettleer come to the plate. He’d spent the summer rooming at my sister’s place, an adopted member of the family who loomed over backyard cookouts and exuded the kind of vitality that only a 19 year old in the prime of life has.
As he stepped to the plate, I put down my scorecard and yelled in my best Ivan imitation, “Have a Hit!”
The batter turned, a long way from Lowell Park, and for a moment he searched the grandstands for the tall old man who had urged him on a few summers before.
I thought for a second that I heard Ivan tonight. The Cotuit home stands were chanting “HAVE A HIT” and for a second I could swear I could hear Ivan’s tremulous voice above the mob’s. It was a good game, a great game, the Kettleers won the western division of the Cape Cod Baseball League and will advance to the finals tomorrow.
But Ivan wasn’t there.
I didn’t see Ivan at any home games this summer. He made a few some last year, standing (never sitting) behind the Cotuit bat boys at his place on the fence right by the steps up into the stands. He usually came late in the game, a tall man in a cranberry red Kettleer’s windbreaker even on the hottest of days, his eyes wrapped with big sunglasses. When he was really worked up he’d face the home stands and exhort everyone to make some noise and let the boys know how much we appreciate them.
Ivan Partridge is director emeritus of the Cotuit Athletic Association, the volunteer organization that pulls together the entire magnificent season throughout the year. He was a fixture at Lowell Park, past president of the CAA, the man who led the little kids with the plastic kettles through the stands during the fifth inning to solicit donations from the fans who had paid no admission to see the best amateur baseball in the world. My favorite CCBL blog, CodBall, called him a “superfan.” They interviewed him a few years ago here. The Barnstable Patriot wrote a wonderful profile here.
He was a former Episcopalian minister and volunteer fireman.
I miss hearing him call out his friendly offering to every Kettleer as they step into the batter’s box, and his hope the other team will “Have an Out.” I hope to see him soon.