World Series Ring

I was just watching highlights of the Kansas City Royals-Toronto Blue Jays 7-game American League Championship Series on MLB-TV.
They were showing a close-up of Royals Manager Dick Howser and I remembered a fond memory from my youth.
In 1978, I was at a baseball camp in Pennington, New Jersey. They would bring in guest instructors, mainly from the nearby Major League teams, the Yankees, Mets and Phillies.
This particular morning, Dick Howser, then the Yankees third base coach, was a guest instructor. I vividly recall him discussing hitting and base running. I also noticed the 1977 World Series ring on his finger, earned when the Yankees defeated the Dodgers in 6-games, highlighted by Reggie Jackson's three home runs in the clincher.
Anyway, at lunchtime, I was sitting at a table in the cafeteria when Howser sat down across from me. He must have seen me staring at his ring because he took it off, handed it to me and said, "Try it on."
I did. It was heavy and impressive. Displaying my comedic skills at an early age I asked, "Can I keep it?"
Howser laughed. I was kidding. Sort of.
Every day I dreamed that one day I would get a World Series ring of my own. Never happened.
But I still remember the feeling I got when I had a chance to put Howser's World Series ring on my finger.
Howser of course led the Royals to the 1985 World Series championship, adding another ring to his collection.
During the following season, Howser was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He passed away the next summer at the young age of 51. Very sad.
But each time I see Howser on the highlights or hear about him, I think of the time he graciously let me try on his 1977 World Series ring.