Like you, I too played ball while growing up. There was always a game of softball going on in the play area at school, before classes started for the day, and you just joined in the game when you arrived at school. Then, when recess came, there would be another game. And another at noon time, after lunch. The after school games, however, were played in the street. I don't remember a window ever being broken, but there was one house owner who always tried to get us to go to the park to play. (it was usually to wet and muddy and we would have gotten in to big trouble at home if we got our shoes wed and dirty.)

Unlike you, I didn't know anyone associated with the pros. That must have been very special to have a "real" player stop and join in your game for awhile.