And baseball at its absolute best

Excerpt from T.J. Simers column

Los Angeles Times; August 6, 2006

It begins with a family story, Jorge and Lisa Field writing on their web page: "On Nov. 23, 2005, after having an MRI, our pediatrician informed us that our 10-year-old son, Jacob, had an unidentified mass in his brain. …And so began his unbelievable journey in the world of brain tumor survival."

Jacob's family — Jorge, Lisa, Nick and Danielle — continued to update the site (www.caringbridge.org/visit/jacobfield), recently describing the dream trip to Oakland to visit the A's, Jacob's favorite team.

The A's, hearing about Jacob, had responded with an immediate invite, catcher Jason Kendall even paying for a chartered plane to return the family to L.A.

When Jake was taken to the field, the A's came by, one by one, to introduce themselves, Mark Kotsay, Jay Payton and Eric Chavez each giving the youngster a bat to take home.

"We were even treated to a show by Rich Harden who was playing with his Samurai sword [in the clubhouse]," Jorge, an L.A. Homeland Security supervisor, wrote before delivering the punch line. "Jason said Harden's roommates told him he is not allowed to take the sword home."

Kendall put the family in a suite for the game, "and Jake had his nachos and some cotton candy," Jorge wrote. "Jake lasted about half the game before he got really tired, but in the suite he was able to lie on the couch. … This was an experience neither Jake nor the rest of us will ever forget."

Jacob's brother, Nick, who plays football at West Covina High, told the Whittier Daily News the trip "was the best day of my life because Jacob was happy."

Nine days later, Lisa wrote, "Our baby boy is beginning to slip away. … We told him we love him, we are proud of him and he can go when he is ready. We told him God is waiting for him."

On Friday — less than two weeks after shaking hands with each of the A's — the family wrote, "At 5:00 today, our Little Warrior, Jacob Thomas Field won his battle and is resting in the arms of Jesus; completely and fully restored."

Excerpt from T.J. Simers column
Los Angeles Times; August 6, 2006