A gravel lot behind the right field wall has allowed one family to put life’s worries on pause.
Knoxville, Tenn. – The music was cranked and Tennessee’s bats were popping inside Lindsey Nelson Stadium as the team prepared to host the NCAA Knoxville Regionals.
It was on that June afternoon that a father and son returned to their usual spot.
A gravel lot just beyond the right field wall.
For Perry and Brett Smith, it’s the perfect place to bond over their love of Tennessee baseball.
For Brett, it’s a chance to add to an already overflowing Vols memorabilia collection.
“[Brett] likes to get the home run balls when he comes out here, and then, later on, he’ll use them to get autographs,” Perry said.
Which they did.
“We got time today, Brett. We can go over and hang out for a while,” said Perry.
Brett was involved in a life-altering accident when he was a child and now relies on his wheelchair to navigate life.
“[Brett] was a good athlete before he got hurt. We love sports,” said Perry.
These afternoons together give them an escape, a chance to focus on the simple joys of life.
“He’s got a big autograph collection at the house; I told him it’s taking over the house and that we got to get rid of some of that stuff.”
That afternoon, the collection grew.
Following Tennessee’s practice, the pair waited for the players to leave the stadium with hopes they’d get a couple of new autographs from their favorite players.
From Christian Moore and Hunter Ensley to Marcus Phillips, several Vols signed baseball and shirts for the Smiths.
“Winning the way we are, I couldn’t be happier,” said Brett.
This battle has been going on for well over five years now, but their time on the gravel lot has been decades in the making.
Like his dad, Brett grew up cheering for the Volunteers. Some of his earliest and most cherished memories stem from this gravel lot.
“In this parking lot, one of my favorite moments was during the 1995 Super Regionals when Todd Helton was there,” Brett said.
In that 1995 season, Helton crushed a home run over that right field wall in the Vols Regional series against Oklahoma State.
Brett retrieved the baseball and delivered it to Helton after the game.
“Todd said, “Oh man, that’s cool!'” said Perry. “Brett gave him the ball, and then Todd gave Brett a ball and signed it. That home run ball was a memento for him because it was the ball that put him in the World Series.”
This brief interaction created a lasting bond. One Perry said neither of them would forget.
While Tennessee’s wins make their time together more enjoyable, it’s also given them time to connect with other families in the stands, like pitcher Drew Beam’s family.
The families sit behind home plate and cheer on the Vols together.
“Brett went over to her [Kelli Beam] the other day and said, “Mrs. Beam, I’m going to miss you.” Because they’ve been here 3 years,” Perry said.
America’s pastime has given the Smiths a little more time together.
“I lost my wife a year and a half ago, so this takes your mind off things. And we just enjoy doing it, we love it. It helps take your mind off things and it’s our bond.”
Brett added, “I couldn’t be happier. This program means so much to me.”