REVELATIONS
SEVEN
He brought her to the final game of the 1991 World Series.
As they took their seats in the stands The Doctor explained that for the first time in history both league champions had finished the previous season in last place. It was arguably the most exciting Series ever played: five of its games were won by a single run, four games were decided in the final at-bat, and three went into extra innings.
"It was grueling and relentless," he told her. "There was a total of 69 innings, more than were played in any other seven-game World Series. In the third game, which went to twelve innings, one of the teams actually ran out of hitters! This game, the seventh, is a classic pitchers' duel. Tonight we'll see some of the finest defensive baseball ever played! But what makes this Series so incredible is that not a single player on either team ever gave up. The determination, dedication and endurance were phenomenal. There were no quitters…"
The Doctor opened his program to the scoring chart and pulled out a pencil from his pocket. Rose was balancing their popcorn, pretzels, hot dogs and drinks precariously on her lap and watched with hidden amusement as the Time Lord carefully smoothed out the paper and meticulously filled in the roster names.
The game started and the noise from the crowd was unbelievable. Rose had always thought baseball was played outside, but not here, not this game. It was in a large covered stadium and the sound reverberated and echoed on itself. They had their heads close together as The Doctor explained in a loud whisper the theory and workings of baseball.
"It is, on the surface, not very complicated. The goal of a game is to score more points, which are called 'runs' in the language of baseball, than the other team. Each team, usually composed of 9 or 10 players, attempts to score runs while on offense, by completing a tour of the 'bases', which form a square-shaped figure called a 'diamond.' Baseball is played in a series of usually 9 'innings', each of which is divided into two halves called 'top' and 'bottom' in that order. In each half-inning, the offensive team attempts to score runs until three of its players are put 'out', or removed from play by actions of the defensive team. After the third out, the teams switch roles for the other half of the inning."
He noticed Rose was getting glassy eyed. He smiled and put his arm around her, pointing with the pencil in his free hand at the scoreboard. "Perhaps the reason I love this game so much and what makes it different from all the rest is that it has no clock; it is not constrained by time. A team cannot win without getting the last batter out."
He looked into her eyes and shook his head. "I don't know; there's something of a comfort in that to me, not having to worry about time. The timelessness is liberating."
The Doctor pulled his arm away and settled back into his chair, but first he leaned in close to her once again and whispered, "Just wait until the eighth inning! You won't believe it!"
They didn't make it that far.
Rose noticed that he'd stopped keeping score in his program. Concerned, she asked, "Is there something wrong, Doctor?"
He was sitting absolutely still but to her shock she realized that his eyes were nervously darting back and forth.
"We're in danger here, Rose," he finally said. "We need to leave. After this 'out' the entire crowd will stand for what they call 'the seventh inning stretch' – that will be our best chance to inconspicuously slip away. You go first; I'll follow shortly thereafter and meet up with you at the TARDIS."
Rose made as if to argue. He cut her off.
"Don't squabble with me," he growled softly. "Do you understand?"
She nodded mutely.
"Good, your life may depend on it. Now, discreetly begin putting down the stuff on your lap and then get your things together. Continue watching the game. When the crowd stands, walk away and don't look back."