Former Major League umpire Barnett pays visit to veterans
BUTLER TWP — Former Major League Baseball umpire Larry Barnett was getting ready to leave Butler's VA living center when a staff member told him two new arrivals had asked for Barnett to visit.
“Thanks for stopping by, that means a lot to me,” said Fred Marrapode, a Vietnam veteran with Parkinson's disease. He met Barnett's shake with a hand taut and twisted by the degenerative disease.
Barnett spent Tuesday afternoon visiting veterans and handing out papers with his signature at the Sergeant Joseph George Kusick VA Community Living Center, which serves as a nursing home for permanent and temporary residents.
Barnett was an umpire in the American League from 1969 to 1999 before becoming the Major Leagues' supervisor of umpires from 2000 to 2001. Since 1979, he's devoted a portion of his time to visiting VA centers across the country.
Marrapode recalled the baseball field in his hometown of Kittanning, which is “right on the Allegheny River.”
“Man, I miss that river,” he said.
During his time in Vietnam from 1969 to 1971, Marrapode was exposed to the herbicide known as Agent Orange.
“That's probably why I'm here,” he said, drawing a connection between his exposure and subsequent development of Parkinson's.
Barnett left Marrapode to visit another veteran next door. Soon after, Marrapode received a visit from Jax, a therapy dog that visits every the facility every Tuesday.
“I love doing this,” Barnett said later. “The best thing I've probably done in my life is the 43 years of working with disabled veterans.”
Barnett's visit to the medical center started in the morning with a talk with John “Sarge” Kozlosky, a 98-year-old World War II and Korean War veteran. Kozlosky recalled his first and only confirmed kill during the war in Germany, followed by being captured by forces of the Third Reich.
Some veterans like Kozlosky earnestly told Barnett their stories — and still others talked to him about baseball.
Bob Wagner, an 86-year-old veteran from the Korean period, remembered when attending a baseball game used to cost 75 cents. Wagner and Barnett talked about the difference between baseball players now and during earlier periods in the game's history.“You can't compare Babe Ruth's era to the kids I had, and you can't compare them to the kids they have now,” Barnett said. “Baseball is the greatest sport ever. Now, I'll be the first to admit I'm biased.”After touring the building, Barnett said “If even one of them got something out of my visit, it's worthwhile.”He pointed to a spot above his left thumb knuckle where a bulb pushes his skin out.“That's from a foul ball,” he said and noted that arthritis makes it harder for him to travel for these visits. Next year, he said, will mark the end of his marathon of visits to medical centers.Barnett usually visits 50 VA centers each year, according to a statement by John Kleindienst, National Voluntary Services director.“What these people did for us, we could never, ever repay them for,” Barnett said. “Next year is going to be tough knowing it'll be my last.”
