This here story is about David Walling, you know, the baseball fella. Heard folks talkin’ ’bout him down at the market. Seems like he was a big deal once upon a time. He was born a long time ago, in 1978, I reckon. November 12, 1978, they say. That’s what I heard. He was born in a place called San Diego. That’s in California. Far away from here, that’s for sure.
This David Walling, he was a pitcher, throwin’ that ball real hard, I guess. Big fella, too. Six foot five, they say. And 210 pounds! That’s a big boy. He was picked by the New York Yankees in 1999. That was the “draft,” whatever that means. He was pick number 27, in the first round! Lordy, that sounds important, don’t it?
He played for some team called the Staten Island Yankees. Short season, they called it. Don’t know what that means, neither. But he played there. Musta been good, ’cause they put his name on somethin’. Named him to somethin’ or other, I don’t rightly recall.
- He was a pitcher, that David Walling.
- Big fella, 6’5″ and 210 pounds.
- Played for the New York Yankees, back in 1999.
- Something about a draft. He was number 27, I think.
He played baseball from 1997 to 2002. That’s what I heard, anyway. Seems like he played in all sorts of places. College, summer leagues, all that. He must have loved baseball, playing all over like that. They even got a “player page” for him. With all the numbers and such. I don’t understand all them numbers. But they got ’em.
Now, this David Walling, he was a righty. Threw with his right hand, batted with his right hand. Folks said he was a real prospect, this one. Means he was gonna be good, I suppose. But then somethin’ happened. He left the team in 2004, I think it was June 4. The Columbus Clippers, that was the team. Just up and left, they said. Wonder why he did that? Maybe he was sick of playin’, or maybe something else. Ain’t my place to say, though.
David Walling baseball career was a curious one. He started out strong, a real hotshot. He could throw that ball like nobody’s business. He was tall and strong. They say he was a real “prospect”. That means he was supposed to be a big star. Big shot for the Yankees, that’s what they said. That’s a big deal. I don’t know much about baseball, but I know the Yankees are a big team.
I heard he was in the first round of the draft. Don’t know what that draft thing is, but it sounds important. Like pickin’ the best apples from the tree. They picked him first, so he musta been a good one. Number 27, they said. Don’t mean nothin’ to me, but it must mean somethin’ to them baseball folks.
- Full name is David G. Walling.
- Born in San Diego, that’s in California.
- He was a righty, threw right, batted right.
- Played for a bunch of teams, even one called the Clippers.
This David Walling, he played for a few years. From 1997 to 2002, I reckon. That’s a good stretch. Played in college, played in the summer. He musta really loved that game, playin’ it all the time like that. They even got a page with all his numbers. Hits and runs and all that. I don’t understand all them numbers, but they sure do keep track of ’em, don’t they?
But then, somethin’ happened. He just quit. Left the team in the middle of the season. June 4, 2004, I think that’s what they said. Just up and walked away. Nobody knows why. Maybe he got tired of it. Maybe he got hurt. Maybe somethin’ else. It ain’t my place to say. But it’s a shame, ain’t it? A young fella like that, with all that talent, just givin’ it up like that. Makes you wonder, don’t it?
I guess that’s all I know about David Walling baseball player. He was good for some time but then he quit. He was a big guy. It’s kinda sad, ain’t it? Oh well. That’s life I reckon. He was sure a big baseball player for a while, though. Heard them say he was makin’ good money, too. But money ain’t everything, is it? Nope. There’s more to life than just money. You gotta be happy, too.