COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — A promise was made between a mother and her son long ago when Edgar Martinez was still tormenting pitchers and torching baseballs into the right-center gaps of whatever park he happened to be playing on that day.
Ryan Brooks and his mom, Shari, told each other they would travel to Cooperstown, New York, if/when the Mariners designated hitter was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Fast forward almost two decades later, that promise was kept.
On the main street of this little upstate village that becomes the focal point of baseball each July, the Brookses were soaking in baseball Valhalla.