The Littlest Player

At nine. Barry Babcock was the littlest boy in the Temple City, Calif.. Little League. But he had already put in one year patiently serving as his team's bat boy, and last week Barry got his chance to play. His father, Jack Babcock. watched proudly from the stands as Barry stepped into the batter's box.

On the mound. Pitcher Mike Hanes. 10, wound up and threw a soft, slow curve. As Barry turned to swing, the ball hit him on the chest. The youngster dropped his bat, staggered backward, collapsed in the arms of Umpire Al Millham. and died. Improbably, the mild impact had stopped Barry's heart. Pitcher Hanes collapsed in hysterics. But like so many Little League parents, grief-stricken Jack Babcock showed a stubborn concern for the game. "I hope this doesn't curtail Little League ball," said Babcock. "Barry wouldn't want that. He loved baseball more than anything in life."

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