thedrifter
09-12-05, 02:32 PM
Indians' Belliard Tears Up Honoring Fallen Marine
Player Presents Autographed Uniform To Family
POSTED: 9:53 am EDT September 11, 2005
CLEVELAND -- Ronnie Belliard held his head high as his eyes swelled with tears.
"I felt very sad and at the same time very proud," the Cleveland Indians' second baseman said Friday after presenting his autographed uniform to the family of Jeff Boskovitch, an area Marine killed in Iraq last month.
The 25-year-old never knew that on July 4, Belliard had signed his uniform as part of a team promotion in which all Indians players would send autographed items to troops selected at random.
Boskovitch would have been thrilled, his father said.
"Jeff was such a baseball fan," Jim Boskovitch said. "When he was little, he won a contest to be an honorary batboy for a day at old Cleveland Stadium. He met players like Cory Snyder that day and it was special to him forever."
Belliard greeted the entire Boskovitch family, Jeff's fiancee, Shelly Tevis, and an honor guard of Marines next to the Indians' dugout after batting practice.
"We play the game of baseball for people like you," he told them in a hushed tone. "I'm so sorry for your loss."
Belliard then excused himself and raced into the clubhouse, coming back with more autographed items to distribute.
"You see these people, you share their loss and it puts things into perspective," he said. "You strike out, you feel bad. Striking out 10 times in a row is nothing compared to losing somebody you love."
Ellie
Player Presents Autographed Uniform To Family
POSTED: 9:53 am EDT September 11, 2005
CLEVELAND -- Ronnie Belliard held his head high as his eyes swelled with tears.
"I felt very sad and at the same time very proud," the Cleveland Indians' second baseman said Friday after presenting his autographed uniform to the family of Jeff Boskovitch, an area Marine killed in Iraq last month.
The 25-year-old never knew that on July 4, Belliard had signed his uniform as part of a team promotion in which all Indians players would send autographed items to troops selected at random.
Boskovitch would have been thrilled, his father said.
"Jeff was such a baseball fan," Jim Boskovitch said. "When he was little, he won a contest to be an honorary batboy for a day at old Cleveland Stadium. He met players like Cory Snyder that day and it was special to him forever."
Belliard greeted the entire Boskovitch family, Jeff's fiancee, Shelly Tevis, and an honor guard of Marines next to the Indians' dugout after batting practice.
"We play the game of baseball for people like you," he told them in a hushed tone. "I'm so sorry for your loss."
Belliard then excused himself and raced into the clubhouse, coming back with more autographed items to distribute.
"You see these people, you share their loss and it puts things into perspective," he said. "You strike out, you feel bad. Striking out 10 times in a row is nothing compared to losing somebody you love."
Ellie