We arrived the next night. I think I was with Roger (who else) and Paul Brunner, God bless his soul ran that league and he loved our team, only because we were a bunch of wackos. Well, he had the Police put blockades across the beginning of the street. he came up and said are you pitching? I said yes, and he gave some signal and everything sprung into action. No cars allowed down that road until the game was over. I said to Paul, that wasn't nice and he grabbed me, you had to know him, he was built like Jackie Gleason and rattled me from head to toe. It don't matter who pitches. We lost again and lost the series. Our team hit a couple of Homers; Roger, Pagel and me (I had all my limbs and spine intact back then). Pat, I believe hit 3, maybe 4 to bring his total to about 7 in two games. Unbelievable power and he swung at anything. Our homers cleared the fence by a chain link. Pat's went across the road, bounced on the road, cops were chasing them. it was actually funny. I believe Paul Smith, who used to write a weekly softball Article for the Phoenix Newspaper was there and he interviewed me and said you guys beat them twice during the season. All I said was that Pat Nattle decided to umpire that night in the YMCA league to make some extra money, he sa dhe would see us in the end. And he did. he came up and gave me a big bear hug after they beat us and actually congratulated us on a great season. I then needed back surgery. Pat Nattle Jr. Still has so much to give to this world.
Some take him the wrong way as he is a gruff talking big piece of meat of a man (lol). And like his father, don't take no crap from anyone. But, and also just like his dad, underneath that tough exterior lies a man with a heart of gold and once he is your fiend, you have one for life. I hope and pray he gets better. Don't think Pat reads this, but if he does, he knows who thinks the world of him from Norristown. - sincerely, Steve
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