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ATBF News — Supporters
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August 2002
AL LEITER HITS A HOME RUN FOR ATBF
My name is Joshua Kagan and I have known Alan and the Brown family for over 30 years. Along with everyone else, I was shocked and depressed when I heard of Alan's devastating accident. Since that time, I have marveled at Alan's incredible zest for life and his dedication to finding a cure for paralysis. His energy is infectious and his desire to help those around him has always inspired me to wholeheartedly support The Alan T Brown Foundation.
At the Live Auction held during the 2002 Golf & Tennis Tournament, Alan's presence inspired me to bid and bid and bid (you get the picture) for the Al Leiter/Mets Fantasy Package. I was very excited to support the Foundation by purchasing what promised to be a memorable night for my family and me. I am a huge Mets fan and knew that two of my boys would love the opportunity to meet their favorite pitcher, Al Leiter.
This past May, I took my father—another big Mets fan—and my sons David, who is nine, and Andrew, who is seven, to Shea Stadium to meet Al Leiter prior to a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. We arrived about two hours before game time and were met by two members of the Mets Public Relations department. After giving each of us a Mets goodie bag, we were taken onto the field via the tunnel behind home plate. It was priceless to see the expressions on my boys' faces when they walked on the field—they looked around like they had just entered a fantasyland. We stood about 10 feet away from the batting cage to watch the Dodgers and Mets take batting practice. The boys enjoyed pointing out the players they knew, particularly Shawn Green and Mike Piazza.
Following a short tour of the dugout, we were led under the stands to the Mets bullpen behind the Right Field wall. The boys had their gloves and were allowed to pitch from the pitching mounds.
Afterwards, we returned to the dugout and were introduced to Al Leiter. Even though Al is younger than me, I honestly felt like a kid again—no matter how old you get, there is such a child-like innocence about meeting a star ballplayer. Being there with my father made the whole experience that much more exciting for me. The kids were in awe and Al was great with them. Both of my sons are aspiring pitchers and Al gave them some quick tips. He offered to take some pictures and was more than willing to pose for a number of shots. He also asked about my relationship with Alan and seemed genuinely thrilled to give his time to help such a worthy cause.
During the game, we were given fabulous seats behind home plate. If the Mets had won, it would have been a perfect night! Regardless of the outcome of the game, it was a very special evening. Having the chance to meet and introduce my boys to a great ballplayer and role model, while supporting Alan's important Foundation, is something I will always cherish and definitely ranks as one of the great moments of my life. That feeling was further confirmed a few weeks later when my son, David, was asked, "What was the greatest day of your life?" After thinking for a moment, David replied, "The day I met Al Leiter.
Joshua Kagan
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