I spoke to Alex briefly upon reading his piece, conveying my condolences. Typical Belth, he sounds remarkably upbeat and coherent under the circumstances; I was the one getting choked up during our conversation. Over the years that we've known each other, my chats with Alex about baseball have often centered around family and the way we became fans. One thing we hold in common is that both of us had special links to our fathers via Reggie Jackson and the game itself.
My relationship with my dad has always been a smooth one, and for that I'm incredibly, eternally grateful. Alex's relationship with his father was a bit rockier, but they'd long since found their peace, discovering the rewards in their hard-won understanding. At a time like this, that's as comforting a thought as there is. My deepest condolences to Alex, Emily and their family and friends.
