Our story begins in that serene sanctuary where so many consequential decisions are made: The airport bar. It was September 1988, and the Pittsburgh Pirates were entering the final leg of a four-city road swing near season’s end.

The Buccos were above .500 but far away from postseason contention. So this was a time for first baseman/right fielder Benny Distefano -- a September callup with only a modicum of Major League service time in his seven years in the pros -- to make an impression and possibly position himself for the 1989 roster.