Letter: Memories of pro baseball in isles

To our benefit, Duane Kurisu is the epitome of the following: “You can take the boy out of the country but not the country out of the boy” (“Bringing over MLB stars just a dream for Kurisu,” Star-Advertiser, Ferd’s Words, Sept. 26).

Many of us in the Hawaii island plantation communities remember rebroadcasted major league baseball games, with Carlos Rivas and Frank Valente, that whetted our appetites for the real thing. We remember, too, when the New York Yankees came to play some exhibition games with some locals. We recall with delight when the Yankees disembarked and we could hear the shouts of the locals — “Hey, there’s Casey,” “Look, there’s Yogi,” “That’s the Mick” — as the Yankees stepped off the plane. And at game time, we sat on the outfield grass at cozy Ho‘olulu Park to watch the players in full uniform shag fly balls.

We recently witnessed the Hawaii Little Leaguers bring more dreams and pride. We should not forget to thank the adults in youth leagues and people like Kurisu who are helping to make the kids’ dreams a reality.

Earl Nakasato

Kurtistown

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