An American passion: She's batty for baseball

by C.D. Walter

Staff Writer

The Shorthorn

April 16, 1995

"Batter up!"

In the game of life, Crista Tompkins has stepped up to the plate. She has gone back to school.

First pitch: strike one. As an older student returning to school, the interdisciplinary studies senior must deal with work, family and instructors who tolerate her unbridled passion for America’s pastime. Her enthusiasm for baseball, ignited in ’72 at an otherwise unmemorable Houston Astros game, gets her through.

"It’s my identity," says Tompkins, 45. "I’m the Baseball Lady."

She knows all the baseball trivia anyone would want to know. She loves the Rangers, Cubs and Red Sox, loves the game for its symmetry and drama.

"If I have to write a paper for school, I always try to write it on baseball if at all possible" she says. "I wrote two on baseball for astronomy, if you can believe it. They were like hopeful extra credit."

Another pitch: ball, high.

Baseball makes life bearable — even wonderful.

"When you’re there," Thompkins says, "there’s no place else you’re supposed to be. You just happen."

The third pitch is another ball.

Seeing two no-hitters have been highlights of her life. The first was when she was coaching her son’s team. The second was Nolan Ryan’s seventh no-hitter.

"It was the most orgasmic experience," Tompkins says. "I hope it was as good for Nolan as it was for me."

Strike two: her husband had to decline a promotion in Tulsa.

"Not a big-league town," she says. "I won’t be sent down to the minors."

Another pitch: a foul ball. Not exactly a strike, just a temporary holdup.

She and her husband generally take separate vacations. She makes an annual pilgrimage to the shrine—Fenway Park in Boston. She once went on a six-day bus tour of seven games in five cities. Her fellow travelers—all baseball nuts—pitied her because her family all hates baseball.

"My husband was all for it (the trip)," Tompkins says. He thought it would cure me."

The couple recently took a vacation together and like it so much they decided they’ll probably do it again. Ironically, they owe the trip to baseball—Tompkins won free air fare to anywhere at a Rangers game. They went to Banff in Canada.

"No baseball (there)," Tompkins sniffs. "Just to prove I’m not addicted."

Aside from her family, everyone in her sphere (doctors, dentist, etc.) have to be baseball fans. The first question she asked her current boss was, "American or National league?"

Another pitch: a base hit! A roar fills the stadium.

Tompkins publishes baseball-related works in Spitball, The Washington Post and USA Today Baseball Weekly.

She steals second with strength and meaning derived from baseball.

"A guy at work said baseball is a metaphor for life, but I say it’s life that helps us understand baseball," she says. "I put everything in terms of baseball."

Tompkins steals third, risking all by quitting full-time work and dedicating herself to finishing school.

She waits on third base, poised to steal home. It will be the end of the game, but not of the series.

She’ll begin working on her master’s degree after graduation this spring.

She’s ready for her next game.