WEBVTT 00:00:06.041 --> 00:00:08.750 Tommy's dream is to be a baseball player, 00:00:08.750 --> 00:00:13.250 just like other kids around his age. 00:00:13.250 --> 00:00:18.000 Tommy is waiting for the next year to come. 00:00:18.000 --> 00:00:22.666 He is still young, and he could only play catch with his dad 00:00:22.666 --> 00:00:27.000 or watch older boys play baseball. 00:00:27.000 --> 00:00:33.291 But next year, he could play in the Little League. 00:00:33.291 --> 00:00:36.666 Babe Ruth is an American professional baseball 00:00:36.666 --> 00:00:40.666 player, who is known for his legendary record as the 00:00:40.666 --> 00:00:45.708 two home-run king in the American League. 00:00:45.708 --> 00:00:48.583 "Mom, hurry!" 00:00:48.583 --> 00:00:53.375 Tommy was busy from the early morning. 00:00:53.375 --> 00:01:00.250 He wore his favorite baseball uniform and ran around the house. 00:01:00.250 --> 00:01:05.958 He was going to see a Major League game for the first time. 00:01:05.958 --> 00:01:10.583 "Mr. Ruth, I'm going to the stadium today! 00:01:10.583 --> 00:01:14.125 You'll cheer for our team, right?" 00:01:14.125 --> 00:01:19.458 Tommy smiled at the picture of *Babe Ruth. 00:01:19.458 --> 00:01:25.416 Finally, he arrived at the *U.S. Cellular Field stadium. 00:01:25.416 --> 00:01:33.291 "Wow, it's huge! Dad, It's Chicago White Sox!", 00:01:33.291 --> 00:01:37.041 Tommy screamed with excitement. 00:01:37.041 --> 00:01:42.250 He couldn't believe he was looking at famous players 00:01:42.250 --> 00:01:44.541 at such a huge arena. 00:01:44.541 --> 00:01:48.875 Tommy didn't notice the people were around him 00:01:48.875 --> 00:01:53.666 and began to murmur the players' names. 00:01:53.666 --> 00:01:58.875 The Chicago White Sox is one of the teams in the U.S. Major League. 00:01:58.875 --> 00:02:05.291 U.S. Cellular Field was the name their home stadium in Chicago. 00:02:05.291 --> 00:02:08.500 When the game was halfway through, 00:02:08.500 --> 00:02:14.958 a player hit the ball which landed in the stands near the first base. 00:02:14.958 --> 00:02:20.000 Tommy's family was sitting there in the 2nd row. 00:02:20.000 --> 00:02:24.083 When Tommy watched similar situations on *TV broadcast, 00:02:24.083 --> 00:02:28.333 he thought, 00:02:28.333 --> 00:02:34.208 "If I catch a ball that flew into the stands, I'd be so happy." 00:02:34.208 --> 00:02:41.125 Then suddenly, someone picked up the ball and approached him. 00:02:41.125 --> 00:02:47.833 It was Mansu Lee, the Asian coach for the Chicago White Sox. 00:02:47.833 --> 00:02:52.333 Coach Lee smiled and waved 00:02:52.333 --> 00:02:55.999 at him. 00:02:55.999 --> 00:03:00.166 Tommy quickly ran out to the front. 00:03:00.166 --> 00:03:06.833 Coach Lee signed the ball and gave it to Tommy. 00:03:06.833 --> 00:03:11.583 Tommy smiled with joy. 00:03:11.583 --> 00:03:15.000 When the players were leaving after the game, 00:03:15.000 --> 00:03:20.000 Tommy's dad went to Coach Lee. 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:24.166 "Thank you. But why did you give my son the signed ball? 00:03:24.166 --> 00:03:29.625 There are so many kids here." 00:03:29.625 --> 00:03:35.666 "Oh, Tommy had my favorite facial expression. 00:03:35.666 --> 00:03:39.250 He was in love with baseball. 00:03:39.250 --> 00:03:43.666 I used to have that expression when I was a kid." 00:03:43.666 --> 00:03:47.750 Tommy's dad smiled. 00:03:47.750 --> 00:03:51.958 "Congratulations, Tommy," 00:03:51.958 --> 00:03:56.791 Dad told him with a smile on their way back home. 00:03:56.791 --> 00:04:01.291 "I’ll keep this signed ball forever." 00:04:01.291 --> 00:04:05.958 "Good. I've been to baseball stadium many times, 00:04:05.958 --> 00:04:08.875 but I never got a signed ball. 00:04:08.875 --> 00:04:15.500 It's even from a Major League coach. Take good care of it." 00:04:15.500 --> 00:04:22.208 Tommy stared at the ball as if he couldn't believe his eyes. 00:04:22.208 --> 00:04:24.750 Whenever a Chicago White Sox's game was 00:04:24.750 --> 00:04:26.541 held, Tommy's family 00:04:26.541 --> 00:04:29.500 visited the stadium. 00:04:29.500 --> 00:04:34.333 This time, he visited with his friends. 00:04:34.333 --> 00:04:39.375 "Hey, that IS Mansu Lee. My friend!" 00:04:39.375 --> 00:04:41.583 "Really?" 00:04:41.583 --> 00:04:45.999 "Yeah! You saw the signed ball at my house!" 00:04:45.999 --> 00:04:49.541 Tommy shrugged his shoulders. 00:04:49.541 --> 00:04:52.833 Wow! 00:04:52.833 --> 00:04:59.541 Then, Coach Lee walked over to Tommy and his friends. 00:04:59.541 --> 00:05:04.083 Tommy stood up and screamed. 00:05:04.083 --> 00:05:07.875 "Mansu Lee! Mansu Lee!" 00:05:07.875 --> 00:05:12.625 Coach Lee turned to him. 00:05:12.625 --> 00:05:18.916 At that moment, Tommy felt his heartbeat speed up. 00:05:18.916 --> 00:05:26.166 He was nervous that Coach Lee wouldn't recognize him. 00:05:26.166 --> 00:05:30.250 But Coach Lee smiled and threw him 00:05:30.250 --> 00:05:34.958 some bubble gum. 00:05:34.958 --> 00:05:41.250 After that day, Tommy was famous in town. 00:05:41.250 --> 00:05:46.541 Today, Tommy looked sad, even though he was going to the stadium. 00:05:46.541 --> 00:05:52.916 "Tommy, aren't you happy to see Coach Lee?" 00:05:52.916 --> 00:05:58.999 "Dad, I'm his friend now, but…" 00:05:58.999 --> 00:06:01.333 "But?" 00:06:01.333 --> 00:06:07.416 "I have Carlos Lee's number on my uniform." 00:06:07.416 --> 00:06:12.083 "Oh, so that's why you were sad." 00:06:12.083 --> 00:06:16.958 Dad winked at him. 00:06:16.958 --> 00:06:20.750 Carlos Lee was a Major Leaguer who used to play 00:06:20.750 --> 00:06:24.041 for the Chicago White Sox. 00:06:24.041 --> 00:06:29.458 Tommy went to the stadium with excitement. 00:06:29.458 --> 00:06:34.750 Tommy stood up as usual and screamed. 00:06:34.750 --> 00:06:38.791 "Mansu Lee! Mansu Lee!" 00:06:38.791 --> 00:06:42.041 When Coach Lee approached him, 00:06:42.041 --> 00:06:45.583 Tommy turned around. 00:06:45.583 --> 00:06:51.666 On Tommy's back, it had number 22, which was Coach Lee's 00:06:51.666 --> 00:06:55.458 number when he was a player in Korea. 00:06:55.458 --> 00:07:00.875 This time, Tommy made Coach Lee laugh. 00:07:00.875 --> 00:07:07.625 That day, Coach Lee gave him many signed balls. 00:07:07.625 --> 00:07:16.416 Number 22, which was used by Coach Lee when he was a player, became a retired 00:07:16.416 --> 00:07:22.833 number. It's to commemorate his achievements by not allowing other players to use it. 00:07:22.833 --> 00:07:27.458 Since then, Tommy didn't show up at the stadium. 00:07:27.458 --> 00:07:31.125 At the stadium, there were many children around Tommy's age 00:07:31.125 --> 00:07:36.625 watching the game with similar facial expression. 00:07:36.625 --> 00:07:40.833 After watching them, Coach Lee signed balls and 00:07:40.833 --> 00:07:44.291 handed them to the children. 00:07:44.291 --> 00:07:49.500 Children were delighted, just like Tommy. 00:07:49.500 --> 00:07:51.375 Hello. 00:07:51.375 --> 00:07:57.958 It's Tommy. You gave me many signed balls. 00:07:57.958 --> 00:08:02.999 I'm sending you a picture I took with them. You remember, right? 00:08:02.999 --> 00:08:07.541 I left Chicago and moved to Los Angeles 00:08:07.541 --> 00:08:10.333 due to my father's business. 00:08:10.333 --> 00:08:14.208 There's a Major League team here too, 00:08:14.208 --> 00:08:17.833 but the White Sox is the only team I support. 00:08:17.833 --> 00:08:23.999 It's because the White Sox has Coach Lee, my good friend. 00:08:23.999 --> 00:08:29.416 The signed ball you gave me is the most valuable thing I have. 00:08:29.416 --> 00:08:33.750 I'll work hard and become a great baseball player 00:08:33.750 --> 00:08:38.333 one day. Please don't forget my name - I'll visit you 00:08:38.333 --> 00:08:40.416 when I achieve my dream. 00:08:40.416 --> 00:08:44.666 From Tommy, Mansu's friend. 00:08:44.666 --> 00:08:50.333 After a while, Coach Lee received a letter. 00:08:50.333 --> 00:08:54.208 It was from Tommy. 00:08:54.208 --> 00:08:59.000 For a long time, Coach Lee became a good friend of American children 00:08:59.000 --> 00:09:02.416 that love baseball.