I am a baseball and my name is slider. I was just made with a group of 60 baseballs meant to go in the 2001-2002 World Series Game. I was just made, so I don't know what getting hit or thrown feels like. I wonder if I'll get sick or not. We baseballs have eyes, we just never open them when humans are around or when we get hit by a baseball bat. Don't even ask me where our ears are. We just hear things. We can roll around and hop a little.

They picked one ball to start Game One of the World Series, and it was me. I am so happy. I can barely wait for the game to start. I am in a case, so it is pretty boring until it becomes time for the game.

It is time to start the big game. The Yankees are on defense first. They sing the National Anthem then the announcer yells, "Play Ball!" The Braves are up to bat and Roger Clemens throws a slider, and to my astonishment, the batter slams me for a triple; I am feeling very dizzy.

The next batter up hits me for a single to score a run. That was exciting, but the next eight innings are boring until the bottom of the ninth inning.

The Yankees have one man on first when Derek Jeter comes to bat. The first two pitches are strikes, but on the third pitch he nails a huge hit! I open my eyes in the air, and the scenery is great. I am going to go over the wall for a home run! I am falling, falling, falling, falling, and now comes the part that hurts. I hit the bleachers and before I knew it someone picks me up and gives me to somebody. I learn that a dad picked me up and gave me to his son, David.

They finish the game and the Yankees win by one point. I am pretty excited because I played a whole game. Then David had a few people sign their autographs on me. Next, we go to his house and they put me in a case without a lock; thank goodness for that.

Their house is a new place for me and I hope I will like it. I will sleep in the case most of the time except sometimes when the parents and David are gone. Then I might get out of my case occasionally.

David and his family have a cat, and his name is Pounce because he likes to pounce on things. We play at night when everyone is asleep. He rolls me around because he's a cat and that's what he likes to do. We have made a deal that he can't pounce on me. Sometimes I roll around and explore rooms and race the cat. I'm glad they don't have a parrot or dog because it would wake someone up. I am a very lucky baseball, and I'm glad I got that opportunity.