Man's Life Journey Through Baseball

The green grass and delicate dirt was the landscape of an Oklahoma Marine's soul as he waited to come home from battle and bask in baseball's bliss.

"I understand what liberty and freedom is all about," said World War II Veteran Harry Brook. "Go to the ballpark, hotdogs, popcorn, crackerjacks, watch them hit a home run. It was great."

For the 84-year-old, baseball's been a lifetime love. It started in the mid-1930's when Harry made a six mile journey on his bike to Oiler Park.

"I asked them what I could do to be a batboy for the visiting team and they said, ‘we pick ‘em from the first group that gets here,"' Brook said. "So the next night I jumped on my bicycle, I don't even think I told my parents, and I rode up there and sure enough, I got chosen."

From then on, the game was as close to his heart as the red stitches on a baseball. Harry would later teach his son about the gloried game and coach youth baseball. His passion for America's Pastime continued into retirement as the head usher for the Tulsa Drillers.

"I loved that more than anything. Just the camaraderie and seeing the same fans again," Brook said. "Some wealthy, some modest income and some of them just getting by. Baseball doesn't pick and choose. Whoever shows up is a fan"

Harry spent more than 20 years talking with fans, showing them their seats and sneaking peaks at ballgames.

"Those years went by so fast because I was busy," Brook said. "I wasn't working here for the money. I was working here because of the love of the game."

Today, Harry carries on his fountain of youth as the Drillers VIP and press box usher. It's a pleasure that eases his pain.

"I can be at home and say, ‘oh boy I don't feel good today, my leg hurts or my arthritis is bad,'" Brook said. "But come 5:30, I get in my car and I don't even feel a thing. It's a miracle."

Harry is a living, breathing example of the brilliance of baseball. His reverence for the game grows with each trip to the ballpark.

"It gives me a purpose," Brook said. "We all need a purpose. That's what life's all about."

By Kyle Dierking, Video Journalist.