I was sad to hear that Ralph Schoenstein died last week. The funeral is today. He was a radio (and erstwhile TV) commentator and author. One of his own books (he ghostwrote for many other people), which I read, was called Diamonds for Lori and Me, where he recalled sharing baseball with his young daughter during the Mets' 1986 run for the championship. I wasn't a Mets fan myself so I didn't quite relate… but it was one of those nice baseball books that understands why baseball is so meaningful to its fans. It's more than just an athletic contest; it's a vehicle for life.
I only met Ralph (and his daughter Lori) a few times in my life - they became cousins by marriage when my great uncle married his mom. I saw her many times (the last also being the last time I saw my grandma, when I drove her up so they could visit). But I did happen to hear him on occasion on the radio, and I couldn't help smiling to myself, thinking about how much the way he talked sounded like her.
You can hear him, and his humor, on this tribute to him on All Things Considered.