Commentary : CONFESSIONS OF A BASEBALL ADDICT

Hello, my name is Susan. And I’m a baseball addict. Even though there’s no baseball season to speak of anymore.

Ken Burns is my enabler.

I knew it was happening when I started humming “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” one too many times. Lately, the signs of obsession have gotten stronger. Whenever I go to a bookstore, I head straight for the sports aisle. When I go to the supermarket, I head for the mustard. When mail-order catalogues arrive, I quickly turn to the sports section to check the baseball memorabilia for sale. I’ve developed a crush on Lou Gehrig.

And now I’ve actually gone and purchased baseball “stuff.” On a recent trip to Target, I bought a book on Joe DiMaggio and another on Jackie Robinson. I spent another night watching my newest video, “Ten Great Moments in Yankee History.”

Yep, I’ve got baseball fever and I’ve got it bad.

I have to blame it mostly on Ken Burns. This summer, his 18 1/2-hour “Baseball” series slowly began to take over my life. It happened an “inning” at a time, as I watched the epic doumentary (now airing on PBS) unfold for a cover story. By the fourth inning, I was irreversibly hooked. When I confessed my obsession to Burns, he said with a laugh, “You’ll have to go to B.A.--Baseball Anonymous.”

Facts and stats burn into my brain. No one’s safe from a pop quiz:

(a) What happened Sept. 30, 1927?

(b) When did Roger Maris break his record?

(c) What happened on July 4, 1939?

(d) What minor league team did Joe DiMaggio play with before he signed with the Yankees?

All my life, I’ve been passionate about new interests. Though I loved baseball as a little girl, somehow we drifted apart over the years. We did have our moments, especially when it came to New York Yankees great Roger Maris. One of my most prized possessions is an “official Roger Maris” bat.

But there was heartbreak too, like the time I begged my parents in 1962 to take me to a drive-in to see Maris and Mickey Mantle in the movie “Safe at Home.” Unfortunately, the night we finally drove over, we struck out. The drive-in was closed that night.

Then, of course, like many another potential great player, my career fell victim to injury. I was always a pretty good little power-hitter. But my blossoming career ended in seventh grade when I tried out for the girls’ softball team. I broke my pinky finger trying to catch a fly ball.

But I’m ashamed to say I’ve only seen two professional baseball games.

In 1966, I saw the Angels lose to the Minnesota Twins. And at Candlestick Park in 1974, I witnessed the Dodgers annihilate the Giants. But that’s it.

Though I’ve lived in Los Angeles for 18 years, the first and only time I’ve been to Dodger Stadium was to see U2.

But I’m revved up and ready to go now--now that Ken Burns has hooked me. And now that the owners and players have locked me and millions of fans out of the park.

So what to do, what to do, with this magnificent obsession?

Of course, there’s Burns’ and Geoffrey C. Ward’s companion illustrated history “Baseball” and David Halberstam’s “October 1964” hot off the press. And hundreds of other books.

But I have a feeling that pretty soon I’ll be dusting off my personal copies of “The Pride of the Yankees,” “Bull Durham,” “Rhubarb,” “Angels in the Outfield” (the original, of course), “Field of Dreams” to feed my need.

And then it’ll be time to replay “Baseball.” And wonder about Burns’ outtakes: Ah, Jackie, Babe, Lou, Ted, Satchel, Christy, Walter, Roger, Mickey, Willie ...

Hello, my name is Susan and I’m a baseball addict.

ANSWERS:

(a) Babe Ruth hit his 60th homer.

(b) Oct. 1, 1961.

(c) Lou Gehrig said his tearful goodby in Yankee Stadium.

(d) The San Francisco Seals.