Ben Graham’s angel isn’t in the outfield; he sits behind the stands in a wheelchair.
His name is Howard Brattin, and he’s Graham’s grandpa.
Grandpa died during Graham’s senior year of high school. Graham pitched a game that day, and Grandpa, who was usually there, stayed at home. When his grandma got home from the game, Grandpa was laying on the kitchen floor having a heart attack.
Grandpa used to watch most games from his wheelchair off in the distance. He was in a chair because of arthritis throughout his body, and that’s how Graham remembers him when he was on the mound.
These days when Graham pitches for Emporia State, he still sees Grandpa off in the distance, sitting in his chair.
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