I have known of journalist/author Clifton Parker for several years. I knew he had a couple of unique baseball books out, but if I read every baseball book I ever wanted to… Well, we wouldn’t be talking now.

But Clifton piqued my interest yet again when he told me (via email) of his latest effort: “Bucketfoot Al: The Baseball Life of Al Simmons.” I always admired the Philadelphia A’s outfielder. And anytime Ichiro or Pujols do something dramatic, somehow an Al Simmons stat sneaks into the commentator’s conversation.

As much as I was intrigued by Simmons, the greater potential in Parker’s correspondence was that he and I might get to meet; to talk baseball; to be 11 years old again.

Clifton and I had lunch Thursday. We left just before the dinner crowd arrived.

Parker said this effort wasn’t a labor of love, “because it was fun.” He said his family’s brush with Connie Mack in the old Sally League days in Northern Carolina was the reason for his interest in Simmons.

What I didn’t know was that Clifton Parker would light up my baseball life.

We talked about Hack Wilson, the miniature Cubs slugger who once drove in 191 runs in 155 games. He was 5-foot-6. Say what?

We talked about the immortal Roberto Clemente. We talked about Pie Traynor, Arky Vaughn, Big and Little Poison. (I found out, as dessert arrived, that Parker is a big Pittsburgh Pirates fan. With the Bucs above .500, he’s happier this year than he has been since that cheating left fielder of his went to San Francisco.)

He’s evolved into a Giants fan — despite his love of the old A’s. He explained how that happened — he’s a National League guy and Oakland is hit and miss. Well, mostly miss these days.

“I have enough room in my baseball heart for several teams, and above all, I value the players even more than teams in baseball history,” he continued.

We talked about writing and what care and heart good research takes. It took Parker nine years to finish the Simmons book.

We talked about how baseball mirrors life. We talked, and talked…

As the sun was going down… Nah. Just kidding. But it was difficult for both of us to return to work. Each late for the next thing.

Next time I have a vacation week scheduled, I’m going to call Parker for lunch on that first Monday. That should be enough time to get through the 1930s. Whadda ya think, Clifton?

Note: See Sunday, July 3, Davis Enterprise sports for the Parker article.

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