By Eric Valent: "The First Game"

Talk about a dream come true and realizing the hard work paid off. That's what it felt like to run out to LF in Fenway Park as a member of the Phillies in my first major league game on June 6,2001. My family was able to be there, and to have my debut in a place like Fenway was even better.

I always believed I'd at least make the Major Leagues, as does everybody that's playing in the Bigs right now or whoever has played in the Bigs. The first ball ever hit to me in LF was a ball off the Green Monster. As I played a 2B off the wall by Dante Bichette, I twirled around and gave a one-hop throw to Scott Rolen to get Carl Everett trying to go from 2nd to 3rd. That was a nice welcome to the big leagues moment. Later in the game, I made a diving play in a flare to LF by Scott Hatteberg. My 1st hit had to wait until my last at bat. David Cone was the starting pitcher and he had had his way with me with his big curveball and a big strike zone from the umpire (ha ha). Anyway, it was late in the game and Derek Lowe came in from the bullpen. He had the power sinker working and I hit a 10 hopper through the 3-4 hole for my lousy single on the day. Boy, did that feel good. I ended up 3-10 on my first series and felt I did ok. 

I do remember a moment from that Boston series where I really found out how good some of the players are. Manny Ramirez was facing Randy Wolf and as he swung through a pitch and fouled it back he was saying a slang latin word. It was unbelievable how confident and balanced Manny was in the box. It's like he knew he was going to do something good every time up. The next pitch he hit it over the Monster. Pretty amazing. 

I knew the saying at a young age even if I didn't really know what it meant: "It's easier to get to the big leagues than it is to stay there." That is the absolute truth. The more games you play, the more the cream rises to the top and the more adjustments one has to make. To play in the Major Leagues was Fantasyland. Great ballparks, food, hotels, plane flights, competition, and life experiences I'll never forget. To be a Major League Player is definitely a great job, but the ultimate job is being a bona fide star player. When I was in the Majors, I was always fighting to belong. My talent was fringy and I had to stay focused all the time. I wish it came easier to me because I would've had a lot more fun. Now, I'm not saying that the great players don't work hard and sacrifice everything, but a lot of their talent is off the charts both mentally and physically. In my next life, I want to be reincarnated as a lifetime.330 hitter with tons of power. Now that, my friend, would be an awesome experience. 

Eric Valent played parts of 5 seasons with the Phillies, Reds & Mets before giving it a a try in Japan.  Promising himself he'd quit if he wasn't a full-time big leaguer by the age of 30, Eric did just that.  He's now a Northeast Area Supervisor for the Phillies.  He has one wife and two children and writes a little something every other week for Jimmy Scott's High & Tight.