In a festival-like atmosphere that celebrated all that is right about summer, baseball and Cape Cod, the Falmouth Commodores and the Cape Cod Baseball League reminded us yesterday to grab days like yesterday and hug them tight.

The league celebrated its 40th all-star game yesterday at Guv Fuller Field, playing it in honor of Falmouth's legendary Arnie Allen. Allen started as a batboy in Falmouth 46 years ago, as what would be termed today "special needs" youngster with a booming voice that became as much a part of the Cape League as baseball itself.

Last June, Allen, now 53, was diagnosed with esophageal cancer and given six months to live. Blessedly, Allen was still with us yesterday. On morphine to ease the pain, he proudly wore a Commodores uniform and escorted Falmouth police chief Dave Cusolito to the mound for the ceremonial first pitch. Better still, the Western Division managers stood aside and allowed Allen to coach first base.

Not an easy chore for someone in Arnie's condition, standing under that hot sun. He hardly eats anymore, taking just small doses of liquid, but not even cancer could keep the proud Allen off the field. If you believe in miracles, Arnie Allen standing in that coach's box yesterday was one.

"He was thrilled, of course," said Falmouth general manager Chuck Sturtevant, who has done so much since Arnie was diagnosed. "He wanted so much to be a part of it. He has given his life to this. The doctors say this is what keeps him going."

Of that, there is little doubt.

"If there's baseball, I can live," Allen said before being honored yesterday. "I'll do baseball a long time. I just hope that is what happens. Everything is going so great."

Of course, everything is not that great. Allen has really pushed the envelope. Eight Sundays ago, by his count,the pain got to him so badly he had to be hospitalized. It was not a pretty sight. "My pain was really bad. When I swear, you know there's something wrong. I try to watch what I say. That day I didn't care what I said. But I apologized to all the women, to the nurses. I couldn't bear the pain. It was hurting so bad I couldn't tolerate it."

His reaction when you sympathize. "Other people have it rough," he said. "It gets in their bones..." and he shakes his head.

With the morphine and with the day-after-day games of the Cape League, life has become more manageable and more bearable. But the Cape League season ends in a few weeks. As much as we all hate to think this, there may not be a lot more days for Arnie like yesterday at Guv Fuller Field. Of late, he's drifted to off to sleep in the dugout during games.

That uncertain future is what made his all-star game honor so special for all those whose paths have crossed with Arnie's over the last 46 years. Even to those who just met him this summer, Arnie is something special.

Falmouth slugger Joey Metropoulos is from Southern Cal, and didn't know Arnie before arriving in Falmouth in June. Yet Metropoulos has fallen under the spell of Arnie's magic much like all the other ex-Commodores, who whenever you see them inevitably ask before anything else, "How's Arnie?"

"He is one of the those people that gives everybody else hope in whatever they do," said the Cape League's leading homerun hitter. "He's been here over 40 years. No matter what he's been through, he shows up."

Arnie Allen showed up yesterday, in full uniform, to receive his honors. Truthfully, Arnie would have been there no matter, because there was a ballgame at Guv Fuller.

The sun shone brightly, the way it did when Shoeless Joe came out of the corn field in Field of Dreams. If there is a heaven, to Arnie it will be an endless baseball season, with a dugout perch reserved in his name. Much like his last 46 summers.

Staff writer Russ Charpentier can be reached at 508-862-1263 or rcharpentier@capecodonline.com

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