I am Gretchen Duffy

If I’m being candid, my mom wasn’t much of a baseball fan. But I was. And a month before she passed, we had some new neighbors move in next door. Turns out, that neighbor was Erik Kratz, who was about to play his final epic MLB season before retirement as a New York Yankee. Coping with my mother’s death after being her caregiver was extraordinarily challenging, but Erik and his family helped me more than they know. Their daughter became a best friend to mine, they helped us with chores in the yard all summer, Erik brought baseballs and hats over to my sons, and his wife has even helped me take care of my kids (even with 3 of her own at home!). All the while, Erik’s final baseball season was this bright-light, feel-good MLB story of 2020, where we watched a 40-year-old catcher get called up to the majors and absolutely nail his final year. What a bright light for so many during a very dark year, and an especially dark one for me. We continue to feel extraordinarily blessed that “baseball” brought this wonderful family into our lives to help us navigate our place as a family formerly – but forever – affected by ALS.