Defining Moment
Summary: In this story, it's a very big day in Seattle, Washington as it's Game 5 of the 1995 American League Division Series, between the Seattle Mariners and the New York Yankees as Martin Crane had asked his sons Frasier, Niles, and his physical therapist Daphne Moon to watch the game with him… what will transpire in this fanfic? Read to find out.
P.S. Normally I do Total Drama fanfics and I'm good at that, I'm also good at writing wrestling fanfics as well, and I also do lemons but that isn't the route I'm going with this fanfic because I want to expand my horizons and try something new because Frasier is one of my favorite sitcoms, I also love baseball, it's my favorite sport ever and I wanted to combine those two into this beautiful story.
P.S.S. This is a story that has been in my head for a year.
P.S.S.S. This takes place in between "Shrink Rap", and "Martin Does it His Way" as there'll be a special dedication at the end of the story so read to find out.
Rated M for language, alcohol references and alcohol consumption… other than that, enjoy!
It was Sunday, October 8th, 1995… there was a certain buzz in The Emerald City known as Seattle, Washington.
The past 5 days have been an emotional rollercoaster ride of uncertainty, and optimism as the series started in one of the most famous cathedrals in all of sports, in the original Yankee Stadium which stood for 85 years, while the Mariners came short in the first two games, but after hopping a plane back home to The City of Goodwill, the next two games in Seattle had the Mariners win evening up the series at two games apiece setting up the stage for game 5, and that's all I'm gonna leave you with before we go to the Elliott Bay Towers, the apartment was Apartment 1901 better known as Frasier's apartment as see Martin Crane who was sporting a Navy Blue plaid shirt with jeans, his trademark cane, he also had his radio on, as he also had the TV on but muted because he hated The Baseball Network, he preferred the voices of Dave Niehaus and Rick Rizzs of the Mariners Radio Network, as Martin was on his recliner, while his Jack Russell Terrier named Eddie was on his lap as Andy Benes was sent out to the mound for the M's while the Bronx Bombers sent out 1994 Cy Young award winner, David Cone to the mound… is there something missing? Oh yeah! Martin also had a cold can of his favorite beer, Ballantine's.
"This is the big one Eddie; I hope the Mariners win this game… if they do boy… I'll give you a special treat…!" Martin said to Eddie referring to a huge dog food meal, before his oldest son Frasier then popped in wearing a suit complete with a Mariners tie, as he was getting a glass of sherry for not just himself but for his younger brother Niles who sported a similar suit to Frasier except he had on a Navy Blue tie, as they were huge with wine, and the two rarely hung out with their father Martin, as it was a 1:05 PM pacific time… but Daphne is also sporting a Northwest Green blouse, complete with navy blue jeans, and metallic silver heels.
"Hello Dad." Frasier said to Martin.
"Hey Frasier, I'm really glad that you, Niles, and Daphne have decided to watch the ballgame with me, you rarely do that." Martin said to Frasier.
"I know, but when I woke up this morning, despite the rainy conditions, Seattle is really filled with excitement… I've decided that I'm willing to watch this baseball game which will start in a couple of minutes." Frasier said to Martin, explaining why he wanted to watch the ballgame with Martin.
"But why is Niles coming?" Martin asked Frasier.
"I called him after breakfast, and I asked him if he could take a day off from Maris… which he was very willing to do, especially since he heard that Daphne will be cooking hot dogs." Frasier answered Martin.
"Ah, well that's good… but just between you and me, I'm glad that Niles is taking a day off… Maris has been driving him nutso." Martin said to Frasier sharing his opinion before the door bell rang, meaning that Niles has arrived, meanwhile Daphne finished cooking the food for the game, and heard the doorbell.
"Coming!" Daphne shouted before she walked up to the door and opened it revealing Niles.
"Hello Daphne, it's good to see you." Niles greeted his future wife, Daphne.
"Good afternoon, Dr. Crane." Daphne greeted Niles who then entered Frasier's apartment.
"I just finished up cooking up some frankfurters for the game as it's between our Seattle Mariners and the New York Yankees, or as I like to call them the New York wankers." Daphne said to Niles explaining what's going on before calling the Yankees an unflattering name.
"Hahaha!" Niles chuckled a little bit.
"Good one Daphne, hello dad." Niles said to Daphne before he greeted his father.
"Hey son." Martin greeted his son as he was now ready for the game which was about to begin.
"Once again, a do or die situation for the Mariners, the winner moves on to the American League Championship Series, for the play-by-play here's Dave." Rick Rizzs said on the radio, introducing his partner the famous Dave Niehaus.
"Thank you, Rick, a very pleasant good afternoon, everybody, so this is it, someone goes home, someone plays Cleveland." Dave said on the radio as the game started with no run scored in the first two innings until Joey Cora was up to bat once again with two outs in the bottom of the third inning.
"Come on Joey!" Martin shouted, cheering on for Joey while Frasier, Niles, and Daphne sat on the couch.
"Let's go Mariners!" Frasier shouted also, cheering the M's onto victory while Niles and Daphne sat close as the count was one ball, no strikes, then David Cone threw a fastball that he would soon regret.
"Fastball! Swinging a flyball deep to right field, O'Neill's going back! Goodbye baseball!" Rick Rizzs on the radio as the Mariners struck first.
"UNBELIEVABLE! LITTLE JOEY CORA WITH A MASSIVE HOME RUN!" Martin shouted with delight, while Eddie then ran to the couch.
"Alright! That's fantastic Mr. Crane, but Eddie appears to be frightened after that." Daphne said to Martin, telling him about Eddie.
"Eddie will be alright; we've listened to plenty of Mariners games throughout the years." Martin reassured Daphne explaining that he'll be okay… but things wouldn't be okay for long as we go to the top of the fourth as Andy Benes gave a walk to Bernie Williams.
"Aw damn it, Andy!" Martin shouted in frustration.
"What's the matter dad?" Frasier asked Martin.
"Andy gave up a walk to Bernie and Paul O'Neill is up to bat, he's got some good power." Martin said before Andy gave a pitch to Paul O'Neill that he would regret.
"Swung on and belted, and it's 2-1 New York." Dave said on the radio.
"Awww!" Martin, Frasier, Niles, and Daphne groaned in disappointment as this was the start of a back-and-forth ballgame throughout the afternoon, until we go to the bottom of the eighth inning, as there's only one out and David Cone was still pitching… only now the score was 4-2 in New York's favor, but that wouldn't last long.
"Come on Junior!" Martin shouted.
"Here we go Mariners, here we go!" Daphne chanted, then Niles joined in wanting to be with her.
"Here we go Mariners, here we go!" Niles and Daphne chanted while Frasier was watching the game also, then David threw a breaking ball, as the call was one ball, one strike on Ken Griffey Jr.
"That breaking ball is down low, ball one and no strikes, that's how domineering David Cone has been, he's struck out nine, and he has not walked a man." Dave Niehaus said via the radio before David Cone then threw a pitch to Junior which he hit with one of the most beautiful swings in the history of this great game.
"FLY AWAY!" Martin shouted while the ball went right towards the upper deck on the TV.
"Junior swung on and belted, that's going to be in the upper deck… fly away!" Dave shouted through the radio as the score was now 4-3 still in New York's favor as Edgar Martinez grounded out, now meaning that there are two outs, then David Cone walked Tino Martinez, then a brief station break from the network that was carrying the game on the radio, before Jay Buhner then was at bat before he nailed what Dave is about to call.
"A line drive into right centerfield!" Dave shouted as there were men at first and second base, then David Cone walked Alex Diaz, loading up the bases for Doug Strange, and then it was at a full count as everyone was waiting with anticipation.
"Good grief the psychology of this at-bat is intense, I can see why Bulldog gets the way he does when he talks the about the Mariners.
"Me too." Niles said to Frasier, while the crowd got wild at the Kingdome.
"This is the action, it all happens here, the stretch… the Mariners runners going 3-2 pitch to Stange." Dave said on the radio before David Cone threw what would be his 147th and final pitch into the dirt.
"In the dirt, and we are tied! He walks Doug Strange, My Oh My!" Dave said via the radio as the score was now tied up at four.
"UNBELIEVABLE WE'RE TIED! WE MIGHT WIN THIS GAME! WE MIGHT BE PLAYING FOR THE AMERICAN LEAGUE PENNANT!" Martin shouted with nothing but pure joy.
"Oh my God! The American League Pennant, I think I have a lot to learn about baseball, do I Mr. Crane?" Daphne asked Martin.
"After today, I think we do." Niles said to Daphne without even listening.
"NILES!" Frasier said to Niles trying to keep him cool, because even though he's clearly showing signs he's in love with her, that he's still married to Maris… as both teams blew chances in the ninth inning and the tenth to win the game as Yankee starter Jack McDowell made a rare relief appearance, with no one scoring again, until the top of the 11th inning with Randy Johnson who was making a rare relief appearance as well.
"Dad, I tell you this Randy Johnson guy is really tall, especially to be a pitcher." Niles said to Martin.
"He maybe tall, but he's very effective with his fastball." Martin said back to Niles, before Randy then walked Mike Stanley, then Tony Fernández bunted to move pinch runner Pat Kelly to second base, now with a 1–0 count, a nemesis of Randy Johnson, who also shares the same first name as him, Randy Velarde singles through the hole to left to score Kelly and put the Yankees up by one as the score was now 5-4 in their favor.
"NO! Come on Mariners! That throw should've been in time!" Martin shouted in frustration, causing Eddie to bark for the first time all afternoon as he was mad.
"Uh-oh, Mr. Crane… do you want me to get Eddie out of here?" Daphne asked Martin.
"No Daph, he'll be okay." Martin answered Daphne.
"Well okay." Daphne said to Martin before Randy Johnson struck out Jim Leyritz, walked Bernie Williams, and struck out Paul O'Neill to go to the bottom of the 11th inning as the New York Yankees were three outs away, from winning the series possibly but they didn't know about the following events that'll transpire as Joey Cora was batting first to start off the bottom of the inning for the Mariners.
"Come on Joey! You got this!" Martin shouted, while Joey was at-bat while Jack McDowell was still on the mound for the Yankees, as he took Joey to a two ball, one strike count before Joey then
"The windup and the 2-1 pitch to Joey Cora, he bunts the ball down the first baseline! He is going to be safe!" Davie shouted through the radio as Joey Cora was safe at first, then Buck Showalter came out to argue the call.
"Ah, shut the hell up will ya, you big mouthed fudgehead!" Martin shouted, referring to Buck's arguing that he should be out, but the umpires ruling stood as a hit, and he was safe, bringing up Ken Griffey Jr. to bat once more.
"Let's go Junior!" Martin shouted, cheering him on.
"Come on Ken! You can do it!" Daphne shouted, cheering him on also.
"The 1-0 pitch on the way to Junior now, he swung on a groundball into right center field, Joey Cora's going to end up at third, and the Mariners have runners at first and third with nobody out! In the bottom half of the 11th! My oh My!" Dave said on the radio giving a brief description of the action before saying one his famous catchphrases while the crowd went nuts,
"No quit! No quit! No quit in this ballclub all season long, they come back down by a run, they come back right away on back-to-back singles by Cora, and by Ken Griffey Jr. the fans are alive one more time!" Rick Rizzs said on the radio as well being Dave Niehaus's broadcasting partner.
"Here comes Edgar!" Martin said before Edgar Martinez came up to bat.
"Here is Edgar the second time around against Jack McDowell fanned him in the ninth inning." Dave said on the radio as several minutes went by until this happened, watch and read.
"Come on Mariners!" Martin shouted, cheering them on.
"Oh bloody hell! This game has been a wild one!" Daphne said to everyone.
"I agree Daphne." Niles said in agreement.
"Me too Daphne." Frasier said also in agreement, as the count was zero balls, and one strike, before Dave said one of the most iconic calls in baseball history.
"Right now, the Mariners looking for the tie. They would take a fly ball; they would love a base hit into the gap and they could win it with Junior's speed." Dave said on the radio as everyone was quiet, except for Eddie who kept barking.
"SHHH!" Martin, Niles, Frasier, and Daphne shushed the dog quickly as Dave wasn't done yet making the call.
"The stretch and the 0–1 pitch on the way to Edgar Martínez; swung on and lined down the left field line for a base hit!" Dave shouted through the radio as Edgar Martinez hit a liner into leftfield.
"AHH! OH MY GOD!" Martin screamed and shouted, before he stood up.
"GO! GO!" Daphne shouted before Joey Cora scored the tying run with Ken Griffey Jr. running from first base, through second base while he kept making the call.
"Here comes Joey! Here is Junior to third base, they're going to wave him in!" Dave shouted through the radio as it was about to be game over for the Yankees.
"The throw to the plate will be...LATE! The Mariners are going to play for the American League Championship! I don't believe it! It just continues! My oh My! Edgar Martínez with a double ripped down the left field line and they are going crazy at the Kingdome!" Dave finished making the call as it was a happy celebration at Frasier's apartment, complete with cheering from the foursome, including Eddie, Martin's dog who was barking in pure glee.
"Wow! Dad, that was one of the wildest but longest baseball games I've ever witnessed! I can see why many Americans love this game." Frasier said to Martin.
"That's because sometimes the playoffs can really be exciting, now we're going to be facing Cleveland on Tuesday." Martin said to Frasier.
"I know that I'm not the biggest sports guy in the world, but I am truly happy for you." Frasier said back to his father expressing his happiness in the outcome of not only the game but also the ALDS.
"Me too, Dad… I'm really happy for you." Niles said to Martin.
"Mr. Crane, I'm so happy this series went the way it did, but now they have to face Cleveland." Daphne said to Martin, also expressing her happiness.
"I don't get sentimental all the time but I'm really happy that I got to share this moment with you three, I know that normally I would be at McGinty's celebrating this victory, and I should it's just… I want to spent this moment with my family… even if it includes my physical therapist, I truly appreciated spending quality time with you three." Martin expressed to Frasier, Niles, and Daphne his appreciation for being with him during the game as the rest of the day went smoothly, with Martin having dinner with his sons and Daphne at The Timber Mill which they had a better experience, before Niles then went back home as Daphne then went to bed around 9:15 PM pacific time, as Martin and Frasier were the only two now awake… as now the two prepare for bed as now the time was 9:20 PM pacific time.
"Frasier, I know you don't like sports but I do appreciate you, your brother and Daphne taking time from their schedules to watch this important ballgame with me… thank you son." Martin said to Frasier expressing his appreciation for them watching the game with him.
"You're welcome, Dad, it was actually quite fun watching the game… I wish we can do it more often." Frasier said to Martin.
"How about a quick toast before bed." Frasier said to Martin suggesting they cap off the day with a toast.
"Sounds good son." Martin said before he and Frasier went into the kitchen as Martin got out a fresh cold can of his favorite beer, Ballantine while Frasier got out a glass of sherry as the two stepped out to the balcony, as the time was 9:30 PM pacific time.
"To the Mariners for beating the New York Yankees and sending those bastards back home to the Bronx Zoo, hehehe!" Martin said before he let out a chuckle.
"To the Mariners for winning their first ever playoff series, I hope they do well against Cleveland." Frasier said in his toast before Martin's can and Frasier's glass clinked as the two then drank.
"Ahhh…!" The two then sighed, and they took a few more sips before they both yawned as it was time for bed.
"I think it's best if we both head to bed, I have work tomorrow." Frasier said to Martin who then yawned again.
"Yeah, I'm getting sleepy myself son." Martin said to Frasier in agreement before both men entered back into the apartment.
"Goodnight son." Martin said to Frasier, telling him goodnight.
"Goodnight Dad." Frasier said to Martin, also telling him goodnight, as Frasier then went into his bedroom while Martin went into his bedroom with his trademark cane as Sunday night ended with a sense of love, joy, and happiness beaming through the apartment.
WOW!
WHAT A STORY!
THAT WAS A FUN STORY TO WORK ON! I ACTUALLY ENJOYED WORKING ON IT!
THIS STORY IS DEDICATED TO THE MAN WHO INTRODUCED ME TO BASEBALL, MY DAD.
DAD, THIS FANFIC WAS FOR YOU.
TO EVERYONE ELSE, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED READING THIS STORY AS MUCH AS I ENJOYED WRITING IT.
READ AND REVIEW EVERYONE!