Every Fourth of July is special. July 4, 1972 was particularly sweet for me.

I spent the evening at Comiskey Park, home of the Chicago White Sox. I was a newly-minted veteran on my way home to Lindsay from Fort Dix, N.J.

I had stopped in Chicago to visit a friend from basic training, Norm Harelik. Norm is the world's No. 1 baseball fan and No. 1 Cubs fan. But I repeat myself.

Many events from the night's White Sox-Baltimore Orioles game have faded with time, but three memories remain vivid:

* White Sox first baseman Dick (Don't Call Me Richie) Allen hit a towering home run in the first inning; he'd be named American League MVP that year. The man had Hall of Fame talent.

* There was a good crowd, and the beverages flowed.

* Great game (Baltimore won, 2-1), but even better fireworks show.