How many miles do you figure that is-- from
Macon to Middleville?  A long, long walk,
wouldn't you say?  But I remember Gil Cargill
saying it as clear as my old Stude pickup's rear-
view mirror: 

'If I ever whiff four times in a single damn game.
I will walk home to Middleville in my uniform.'

Well, it happened. 
As sure as flipping a two-sided St. Michael's medal,
I was there when it did that Saturday afternoon.
I followed him all the way in my pickup and 
he wouldn't take my offer for a ride. He would
not hear of it.

But what a walk it was along the dusty way!

Clarence Goodfellow greeted Gil as he was
mowing the lawn with his town's last manual
mower.  Clarence told him he was at the game
when Gil hit two four-baggers and a single in
the same inning.
Will Robeson saw him and recalled the game
Gil knocked in nine runs by hitting for the cycle--
on a bum knee.
And, in the home stretch, Virginia Hall told Gil
her dad took her to the night game when Cargill
took a grand slam away from Gus Sternlow with
a great leaping catch before Sternlow ever made
the Yankees.

Talk about going out in style, I marveled, and Gil
just laughed in my face.

'Who said anything 'bout this being my farewell tour?'

I didn't hear anybody say that, did you?

"Get in the pickup," I told Gil, "I'll buy you and me
a couple of cold Nehi grape sodas and I'll drive you
back to Macon in country comfort."