All of us have dreams of a project, trip, experience, or adventure that will define who we are or what our legacy will be that we leave behind when we depart this “mortal soil”. Only a few will actually achieve the fruition of their passions and reach the inner satisfaction that brings to oneself.
One such person is Chris Snyder, a retired mechanical engineer who resides near the Union City Country Club here in Darke County. My videographer here at MyCountyLink, Nick Schmidt, and I recently traveled to the Snyder homestead to meet with Chris and his wife Gretchen to tape a show about one man’s dream and its fulfillment.
Ever since he was a boy growing up in the Canton area, Chris had built baseball diamonds of various degrees in his parents’ backyard, something he truly loved doing. As a varsity baseball player at North Canton Hoover High School, he was influenced by the school’s athletic fields’ groundskeeper and always had a desire to build a true ball field. Following a long career in the GPS and navigation industry, Chris retired and has been able to pursue his dream over the past seven years with the assistance of his wife. What has transpired is similar to Kevin Costner’s character’s work in the memorable sports film “Field of Dreams.”
Beginning with clearing a wooded lot of dead or dying ash trees, Snyder carved out several acres of land leveled by bulldozer (accomplished by Chris despite never having operated one!). Using his skills dealing with lasers, he sited out the dimensions for a baseball diamond suited to the 12 to 13-year-old age group, complete with 70’ bases and a 50’ regulation pitching mound. Distances down the foul lines are 220’ with 250’ to dead center, complete with foul poles and a dark green fence.
The infield is grass with a dirt composite of baseball-ready soil imported from out of state. The immaculate field is irrigated by a sprinkler system, has a wide backstop complex, and a flagpole with a dedication plaque. Chris plans on adding dugouts and benches in the future while continuing to cut the grass by hand in a checked pattern reminiscent of the Giants’ old ballpark in San Francisco, Candlestick Park.
The name of the field you ask? Totality Field, so named because the center of the solar eclipse back in April passed within a mile or so of the diamond!!
If you want to hear the entire story of Chris’s dream, be watching for the “Talk of the Town” episode to be shown here at MyCountyLInk sometime in the next week or so. If interested in possibly using the facility Chris and Gretchen can be contacted on Facebook at Totality Field or by e-mail at [email protected]. One more thing—why the shortened fences and smaller base paths? Chris not only wanted the field to be used for 12 and 13 year-olds, (the field is also set for girls’ softball) but also for any players over 60 years of age so some of you oldtimers out there might want to get out the old bat and glove, loosen up your arm, and contact the Snyders!!
Every now and then, you come across a memorable person in your life who leaves a lasting impression, regardless of the time you spent with them. One such individual I met briefly was the recently deceased comedian Bob Newhart, one of the truly great entertainers of my lifetime. Known for his two long-running sitcoms of the mid-‘70s through the ‘90s, first “The Bob Newhart Show” and later “Newhart,” he was also an able substitute host for Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show as well as a highly sought-after solo performer in various arenas of entertainment. The final episode of his “Newhart” show was one of the most highly acclaimed in television history.
I met Newhart while standing outside of a hotel in St. Joseph, Michigan, while attending a Warner Family Reunion back in 2002. I was just cooling down following a morning run along the Lake Michigan beaches when he came out, waiting for a ride to the airport. We talked for about 10 minutes, some of the most interesting 10 minutes of my life.
He was as down to earth and just plain nice a guy as you could imagine, full of funny remarks and observations just in that brief period of time. I know that millions of fans who were entertained by him and those in the entertainment industry will greatly miss the humor and talents of my buddy, Bob Newhart!!
Have a great week, and stay active and healthy!!
