Home > Houston Astros > Archives > 2008 > June > 30 > Entry
A final gift from a friend
AP photo
Our late city editor, Gary Willmon, sat in the cubicle next to me. If anyone was an Astros fan, he was. We used to talk about the Astros’ previous night’s game every morning before most of the rest of the office rolled in. One year for his birthday I gave him an Astros cap, which he loved.
He had signed up for raffles for Yankees and Red Sox tickets and actually won for both of them. He decided he wanted to go to a Yankees game, so he offered to let me buy his Red Sox tickets. Because it was his account that won the raffle, he had to buy the tickets, I just told him which seats to buy and so on. The tickets were mailed to him and I just paid him back with a check.
Anyone that knows Gary knows he gets excited about the little things. He told me after the exchange was made, “Dude! That worked out pretty great! You get to see them play the Red Sox now!”
I just smiled politely and kept doing whatever I was doing. I’ve been to around 25 Astros games, including playoffs and some great Roger Clemens games. I’ve even been in the press box and attended Clemens’ final press conference in Houston as an Astro. I wasn’t too jazzed about a Red Sox-Astros home game.
Of course, Gary died just a few weeks ago. He couldn’t even use the Yankees tickets he had.
I looked for the tickets the other day and saw Gary Willmon’s address label on them. It made me a little sad, just like anytime I see his name on something or a picture of him.
My wife and I went to the game Saturday and witnessed what may be my favorite regular-season game ever. The ballpark was split about 60/40 on Astros/Red Sox fans and the atmosphere was like something you’d see at a college bowl game, except the fans were mixed together.
All night there were dualing “Let’s go Red Sox” and “Let’s go Astros” chants. When Boston was up 4-0, they started a “It’s all over” chant, only to be outdone by their own “It’s all over” chant when Houston took a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the same inning.
Of course it wasn’t over as Boston regained the lead in the sixth inning. But Houston came storming right back and eventually won, 11-10. When Lance Berkman hit a double down the line in the eighth inning, I just raised my arms in the air and soaked it all in. It was a moment I’ll never forget.
Little did I know Gary really had something to get excited about when he bought those tickets for me. And I’m so happy I took him up on the offer and I’ll always remember I have him to thank for that experience.
Thanks, Gary.
Comments
By Michael Bergman
July 9, 2008 3:31 PM | Link to this
Gary was THE MAN! Nicest guy I ever met. Lufkin and the world needs more people like him. I guess I’m glad that he’s not suffering anymore though.
By Used to Be One
July 22, 2008 6:25 PM | Link to this
Well, if the Astros aren’t embarking upon being the ‘Lastros’ again! What a p**-poor performance by J. Valverde. His pitches are not anything like a “green valley” that his name may suggest. I think it is time THEY get a long-time proven closer that can shake off the Minute-Maid curse. Maybe if the team could score more than 3 runs with a “stellar” line up like that… maybe then there wouldn’t be so much pressure to get it closed. 1 or 2 runs I can understand… but 6 runs in a third of an inning is effing ridiculous!! I can tell Jose pitches more of his name than his technique. What a sad year for the ASStros.