April 6 - In Time

During last night's season opener, 39-year-old Phillies lead off hitter Ted Shaw hit a home run on the first pitch of the game. Not only was it the first pitch of the game, it was also the first pitch he'd ever taken in the Major Leagues, and if he'd retired at that moment, he could do so saying that he'd hit a home run on every pitch he'd ever faced in the Majors.
Ted Shaw was the oldest Major League rookie since 41-year-old Diomedes Olivo made his debut for the Pirates in 1960. By the time Ted got his start in the Majors, he'd already graduated from college, gotten married, raised two children, and started his own business. Meanwhile, most players his age had already gone through their entire professional career.
What took him so long?
It was the same reason he was the last kid on his block to learn to ride his bike, the last one on his swim team to dive off the high dive, and the last one in his group of friends to get married: He wasn't going to do it until he was ready.
And last night he proved that he was.