Bret Saberhagen, photo from BallStar Blog

I remember the important parts of that night with remarkable clarity.  It was cold, being December, and I was in that “close to winter break, but not quite there” part of the school year.

I had left the TV on in my bedroom in the basement before I’d went upstairs to the kitchen to fuss around and avoid bedtime. Walking back down the stairs, I heard the newscaster’s voice: “The Royals have traded pitcher Bret Saberhagen and infielder Bill Pecota to the Mets for Gregg Jefferies, Kevin McReynolds and Keith Miller.”

My little 11-year-old heart sank.

“Why would they do that?” I thought.
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