Father?s Day had a little extra meaning for Al Bumbry this year.
The former Orioles outfielder could celebrate the holiday Sunday knowing that he still had his son Steve with him. Bumbry now has an even greater appreciation for his son since April when he worried for Steve?s safety following the massacre at Virginia Tech where a gunman killed 32 people on the college campus.
Steve Bumbry, who didn?t know any of the victims directly, just completed his freshman season at the Blacksburg, Va. school. He said dealing with the fallout from those tragic events wasn?t easy, but having baseball in his life provided him with a diversion and made life at school a little easier.
“The first couple weeks after the attack were really hard,” said Bumbry, who batted .271 with two home runs and 11 RBI with the Hokies. “I was just glad I was able to be a part of the team down there as the coaches were really helpful with whatever we needed.”
The younger Bumbry continues to move forward after the tragedy and hopes to become an even better player for Virginia Tech next season after spending this summer playing for Youse?s Maryland Orioles in the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball team. Through Saturday, Bumbry was batting .278 in helping his team off to a 5-1 start.
Al Bumbry is also involved with the Maryland Orioles as a part-time assistant coach. Getting a chance to spend extra time with his son and teach young players about baseball is an opportunity the elder Bumbry appreciates.
“Life is precious and you never know what turn it will take so you just have to enjoy each moment,” Al Bumbry said. “It was a difficult time in the weeks after those tragic events at Virginia Tech. The campus was so somber. It was probably very good that he was on the baseball team because he had something to distract him.”
Steve Bumbry said one of the most emotional moments for him came five days after the attack when a school-record 3,132 fans poured into Virginia Tech?s English Field to watch the Hokies play Miami. The game, which Miami won 11-9, marked the first athletic event on campus after the attack.
“We had a great showing from all of the fans which was unbelievable,” Steve Bumbry said. “It was more of a relief for me and everyone else in the community because it got your mind off things and watching baseball always seems to do that.”
