The Magic Of Baseball and What it means to you.

[Armor and Sword]

Re: The Magic Of Baseball and What it means to you.

Deadline for your story is Thursday 3/22/18 9PM EST.


Lot’s of great stories thus far. I hope to read some more!!!

[TheBigTee]

Re: The Magic Of Baseball and What it means to you.

I am going to post about my best friend, whom I know baseball means a great deal to. He has been my friend since we were in pre-school together, at the age of 3 years old. We played baseball together all throughout our childhood (from T-ball, to little league, to Babe Ruth league, to high school). We were the kids in high school that would rather hang together and play video games than go out to a party (from Ken Griffey Jr Slugfest on N64, through Triple Play, World Series 2k, Home Run Kings, up until now The Show).

We are both 32 years old now. I have two children and he just recently had one. We no longer live in the same area, but we keep in touch via Playstation. Up until his recent child we were still playing The Show and chatting with each other constantly. He has not been on much since having his child and I don't know whether he intends to buy the newest version or not, but I think winning it for him would be a pretty cool gift.

Let me explain why baseball means so much to my friend...

He was one of those kids whose father was a huge sports fan, baseball especially. His father was also a big baseball card collector. My friend and his two brothers grew up knowing the history of the game via their father's card collection and stories. His father was also a coach for some of his youth league teams. I know my friend was very close with his father and their mutual love for sports, but especially baseball, was a huge reason why.

Unfortunately, when we were freshmen in college my friend's father was diagnosed with cancer. He deteriorated rather quickly and within about 6 months he passed away. His baseball card collection was passed down to my best friend and his two brothers. They carry on his legacy by continuing to collect baseball cards. He gifts cards to my two boys for their birthdays and my groomsman's gift for being the best man in his wedding was a Mike Trout rookie card.

We don't talk about his father much, if at all, but I know he is greatly missed, and I know the game of baseball has much deeper meaning to my friend than just a game.

I think if this post were to win him a copy of MLB the Show 18 that would be a pretty special gesture to get him to take a little time away from his baby and get him back to enjoying the game he loves, if even just for a brief while. And maybe give him a chance to get that feeling back from when we were young, playing Home Run Kings at his house, able to hear the commentary of the Red Sox game in the room next door as his father watched on the couch.

[Surg2k]

Re: The Magic Of Baseball and What it means to you.

Hey Armor, I have the game paid for already but just wanted to share my tale.


Where my love developed- It all started when I was 9 years old. My family had just moved us to Idaho due to my dad getting a job and wanting to help with our religion in the area. I was the new kid in school and life, I always felt like I was an odd kid, but being alone in a rural part of the US probably made it worse. We were poor at the time, like shop at DI, food stamp, enough money for food and rent with the help of family poor. My dad grew up being a huge Yankee fan, and 1996 made me one too. He would take me to Kmart because they had a Little Caesars in the food area and a TV that was always on the sports channel. Throughout that season and for Every Playoff Game my dad took me for a slice of pizza and water. We sat and watched as the Yankees started a Dynasty. From there I fell in love with the game and my dad and Pizza.

My Grandpa also played a huge role in my love of the game. He would call me every day and go over who won and who lost. He would tell me stories of his friends who pitched for the Cardinals and Dodgers and the Cubs. He would take me to the batting cages, to single A Ogden Raptor games. He would buy me a new Glove and help me break it in. He passed away on Game 1 of the 2013 World Series and every year game 1 I listen to the game on the radio as a tribute to his time when that was the norm. I also usually wipe away a tear, except a couple years ago when the Cubs won. That was a full on ugly cry. He would of loved that Series.

My Dad was diagnosed with the same cancer that my Grandpa died of, He has chosen not to get any treatment due to the high risk and low percentage of any thing really helping. This Season may be the last one we have together but I know even if the worst happened Baseball would be there as a reminder of these 2 great men.

I also just found out that my wife and I are pregnant. For the first time. I am so excited to have a little player to be named later to share this unbelievable game with. Right now he/she is due for first week of November. I hope to pop champagne for the Yankees winning the World Series and then a couple weeks later popping champagne for my little guy/girl. I am pushing for Jeter if its a boy and Espn (think aspen) if its a girl.

I love that Baseball can bring us all together, no matter who we root for lets all root for Baseball, the greatest sport in the world.

[underdog13]

Re: The Magic Of Baseball and What it means to you.

I took a college course as an elective called the "History of American Baseball". The course wasn't just about the games themselves (i.e. not just about stats) but rather the "Story" of baseball.

Where can I find such a class?


Really love reading all these stories.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

[Armor and Sword]

Re: The Magic Of Baseball and What it means to you.

OK folks......tomorrow 9PM EST is the deadline to get your story posted. A bunch of great ones so far and it will be tough to choose one.

[Bigwebb48]

Re: The Magic Of Baseball and What it means to you.

Baseball means so much to me, I have so many fond memories of the game with family and friends alike, my first memory is watching scott brosius dominate the world series with my dad, who was the biggest Yankees fan. I fell in love with the game at an early age. however, my dad was disabled and wasn't able to do the traditional baseball stuff with me, so my mom would take me to A's and Giants games, and would throw me batting practice, would play catch with me etc. My dad was always my biggest fan and biggest critic. When I was 11, I was placed on the new family in towns team for LL and I ended up meeting my best friend of 15 years and his dad who was the coach who played college ball and was a wonderful person. He coached me throughout high school, and was the best coach I have ever had. When I was a senior in high school, my father passed away, and I went on to have my best season of high school as a senior to honor my dad. I ended up going to play in college, and when I was a sophomore I got the unfortunate news that my friends father had passed away. Baseball is a game that over the years formed so many wonderful and great friendships for me, its truly a special game that there isn't anything quite like it.


I was just watching Chasing 3000, the movie about Clemente's 3000th hit, where 2 brothers go cross country to try and see it. Through their adventure, they meet a gentleman who lends them a car to drive the rest of the way, but before that, there is a scene that brought me to tears, the old man is talking about how him and his mom loved Clemente and he had even received a baseball and it was a touching moment in the movie, and made me cry, my wife didn't really understand, and I just explained that baseball is such a beautiful game that had meant so much to me over the years and I've met so many great people and have so many fond memories with family and friends. It's something I hope to share with my kids one day.




Thanks for allowing us all to share these, baseball is a great game and brings us together!

[Surg2k]

Re: The Magic Of Baseball and What it means to you.

I was just watching Chasing 3000, the movie about Clemente's 3000th hit, where 2 brothers go cross country to try and see it. Through their adventure, they meet a gentleman who lends them a car to drive the rest of the way, but before that, there is a scene that brought me to tears, the old man is talking about how him and his mom loved Clemente and he had even received a baseball and it was a touching moment in the movie, and made me cry, my wife didn't really understand, and I just explained that baseball is such a beautiful game that had meant so much to me over the years and I've met so many great people and have so many fond memories with family and friends. It's something I hope to share with my kids one day.

I love this! One of my favorite quotes about baseball is from Fever Pitch (Chick flick but baseball related)

"You know what's really great about baseball? You can't fake it. You know, anything else in life you don't have to be great in - business, music, art - I mean you can get lucky.Yeah, you can fool everyone for awhile, you know? It's like - not - not baseball. You can either hit a curveball or you can't. That's the way it works...You can have a lucky day, sure, but you can't have a lucky career. It's a little like math. It's orderly. Win or lose, it's fair. It all adds up. It's, like, not as confusing or as ambiguous as, uh... Life.
I like being part of something that's bigger than me, than I. It's good for your soul to invest in something you can't control."

I feel this way about baseball, its a beautiful sport and honestly its a way of living. Its hard not to be romantic about baseball.

[stealyerface]

Re: The Magic Of Baseball and What it means to you.

I first set foot on a baseball field at five years old.

My last day on a baseball field (as a player) was in 2007, when my youngest daughter was born.

I played four years of high school, four years of college baseball, five years in Amateur Baseball, and a few years of just-for-fun hardball afterwards.

I've got more stories and trophies and crazy things to talk baseball about until I grow old.

I've got five knee surgeries, and an arm, that after 34 years of pitching, fights with me every day.

But the biggest thing, the best thing, the thing that makes me smile everyday no matter how bad I hurt...

Is that I gave my son my love of baseball.

Smiling at him from the mound after a particularly nasty pitch.

Hearing him tell me, "That was Awesome!," after I threw a complete game while he and his mother watched from the bleachers.

Seeing the tears in his eyes when I walked off the field after being hit in the head with a line drive.

But my greatest accomplishment didn't come from any of my days on the field.

My greatest moment in baseball came when the kid who loves this game like I love it, walked over to me after striking out the side in the last game of the season of his freshman year of high school.

The team gave him the game ball, and he walked over and handed it to me, gave me a hug, and said, "Thanks Dad".

To me, the magic of the game is not always what you do while you play it, but how you keep that ember glowing long after the fire has cooled.

I've passed the torch, and I can't wait to watch him run with it.
~syf

[NinjaGigolo]

Re: The Magic Of Baseball and What it means to you.

Baseball is everything. I grew up in South Carolina about 2hours from Atlanta. I was 9 in 1991. That should explain everything.

I have coached my sons team the last two years but last year suffered a stroke and was diagnosed with severe heart failure the day after taking him to his first braves game.

I have had to stop the coaching but tonight was without question the best Baseball moment in my life.

My son was selected to start pitcher in the opening game. It was like watching Maddux all over again. He doesn’t have the best arm but he does not throw balls, like ever. In two innings he walked 0 and struck out 5. He also drove in the first and only run we’d need.

Knowing I only have about 5 years left and will likely not get to see him play high school, I had to hide in the bathroom and have a meltdown.

P.S. already paid for game. Didn’t realize this was a contest. Just wanted to share. Kinda made Be feel a little better.

[Houston]

Re: The Magic Of Baseball and What it means to you.

I really don't need the game Armor, but wanted to post this again as I put something like this the last time you do this for a free MLB THE SHOW game.

I already have it on my arena, but like I mentioned above I wanted to share my story with everyone here, not to win , but to just a reminder of what baseball means to me.

The reason I love baseball is probably the same as any other baseball fanatic, but I have a good story behind why I love the game and why I'm so passionate about it.

Me and my brother always played video games from Atari all the way up to dream-cast. My mom worked for Holiday inn for 20 something years my brother was 8 years older than me, but he had epilepsy and someone had to be home with him. So that person was me. Although my brother had epilepsy and was border line mentally challenged he was a walking genius.
He could answer any sport question you gave him, any stat, any record, he knew it all.

To make a long story short we would sit in front of the TV for hours playing video games. I was probably in my teen age years - early twenties we played a lot of baseball games like World Series on Sega, Ken Griffey Jr, (Yes we did play lots of football as well, Madden, Quarterback Club and the 2k Football on Dreamcast) but we fell in love with ALL STAR BASEBALL at the time on Nintendo 64.

I half to be honest when I first started playing I didn't know a lot about the players etc etc...but as we played year after year I begin to learn the game and learn the sport inside and out. We had so much fun together playing game after game using the Houston Astros of course.

My brother loved his hometown teams and so do I, I can remember when the Astros were opening there new stadium (Minute Maid Park) from playing so many years in the Astrodome and my brother was so excited to go, but before the season began my brother passed away March 25, 2000 and we never got to take him.

It took me a long time to pick up a controller and play these video games again as it always reminded me of him. As time went on the pain of losing my brother got a little easier but still found myself missing him everyday. I made it a dream/promise and a real passion to play a full baseball season in memory of him. I know my brother is up in heaven and looking down proud of where these games have gone and I wish he was down here to enjoy MLB THE SHOW series with me.

I know this was probably a lot to read, but this is what baseball means to me and the real reason I choose to do my rosters. I am not a professional baseball player and never was, I spent my teenage and young adult years playing baseball games with my brother although he is no longer with me I can still play this game in memory of him and feel like he is still sitting right next to me.

I just love everything there is about baseball from the stadiums, the players, the stats and the fans all around the country and I have my brother to thank for all those games we played, all those games we watched in person or on TV.

Glad to share the story and the real reason behind my MLB ON FOX: Opening Day Rosters & Pitch Edits. This is why I love baseball so much and maybe there are others out there with a similar experience.

[StormsWarning]

Re: The Magic Of Baseball and What it means to you.

I'm fortunate to not need the game, but I wanted to just stop in and say this is an amazing blessing that will be to someone and Armor you will be blessed for helping someone in need. Matter fact I was a receiver of this very thread back in 2015/16.

Baseball out of all sports is my favorite, I grew up playing it in little league, I remember watching a lot of the legends inducted into the hall of fame from the 80s and 90s, and some still trying to get there.
To me baseball is the purest Sport i know.

One thing I'll say in my closing of this post..

"For that slight very brief moment, what makes this game so special to me and why it's so pure, when that ball leaves the pitches hand and it's traveling in the air, that's where the game is at its purest form, because of the anticipation of will it be a strike out, will it be a ball, will it be the homerun needed to win the world series in the bottom of the 9th, game 7!

Or is it what you picture out to be when your watching, or playing the game of baseball."

Armor stay cool brotha, and I wish everyone in this entire forum to be blessed and stay safe. Enjoy the game lady's and gentlemen.

Peace
Storm.

[Armor and Sword]

Re: The Magic Of Baseball and What it means to you.

A winner has been chosen and PM’d.

Awaiting confirmation.

Thank you to everyone who participated. So many great stories here. Like I said....everyone is a winner. It was hard to pick just one.

Enjoy the game everyone!!!!

[HC0023]

Re: The Magic Of Baseball and What it means to you.

Hi Armor , So nice of you to do this for the community .I was reading your thread and all you guys got me pumped up reading about The Show. I haven't purchased it yet . Great stories by everyone . Been away from OS for awhile due to being a caretaker for my mom. Unfortunately she passed in September and thru good days and bad I have started coming back to OS more . Good to see guys like yourself, Skyboxer , Josh, and King.Kblover, Looking forward to you rfeedback about the game . Apologize for putting this here ,But it brought back good memories for me with watching baseball with my mom. Enjoy the game everyone

[sooner1]

Re: The Magic Of Baseball and What it means to you.

Who I must know???

[Armor and Sword]

Re: The Magic Of Baseball and What it means to you.

Hi Armor , So nice of you to do this for the community .I was reading your thread and all you guys got me pumped up reading about The Show. I haven't purchased it yet . Great stories by everyone . Been away from OS for awhile due to being a caretaker for my mom. Unfortunately she passed in September and thru good days and bad I have started coming back to OS more . Good to see guys like yourself, Skyboxer , Josh, and King.Kblover, Looking forward to you rfeedback about the game . Apologize for putting this here ,But it brought back good memories for me with watching baseball with my mom. Enjoy the game everyone

So sorry about your mom HC.....but glad you are back here. It has been a while my friend.