The Magic Of Baseball and What it Means To You.

[Speedy]

Re: The Magic Of Baseball and What it Means To You.

I love this thread, man...A&S always trying to lift up this sub-forum for the better.

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[DamnYanks2]

Re: The Magic Of Baseball and What it Means To You.

Baseball to me is just pure. How do I explain this? To me it's the purest of the sports. And I love basketball and football. But those sports are more highlight driven for the masses.

I can get away from the pettiness of the world and lose myself in a baseball game. Like nothing else. It's just relaxing.

I honestly, selfishly like that baseball isn't as talked about in the media as football and basketball. Makes it more personal for me. Like we have our own circle.

I think it's literally in my blood. Ever since my dad gave me my first baseball cards. I've been obsessed. It's a feeling I can't describe.

But damnit is it underrated. It's the best.







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[Therebelyell626]

Re: The Magic Of Baseball and What it Means To You.

Nothing better than a warm 78 degree evening in Anaheim. Cold beer in hand. Peanuts in lap. Atmosphere of the crowd. The stadium sounds. I try to visit a stadium and watch a game anytime I am in a city for business or personal reasons providing it is baseball season. So far I have been to Yankees, mets, Fenway (I was shocked how small the stadium felt compared to modern stadiums), pnc park, coors field, petco, Oakland (technically for a raiders game, but they share with the A's. But there is nothing like my home stadium the big A.

One of the best games I've ever been to was Memorial Day weekend against the Yankees. High scoring game 7-7 going to extra innings and mark trumbo hit the game winning homer in our section in the 10th or 11th, can't quite remember.

Brad Pitt had it right in moneyball. It really is hard to not be romantic about baseball. It is such a huge part of our history as America.

[Armor and Sword]

Re: The Magic Of Baseball and What it Means To You.

Man the stories so far this year have been great! I may even consider giving away a standard copy for second place.


Keep em coming!




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[TGov]

Re: The Magic Of Baseball and What it Means To You.

I just want to share, the Mrs. preorder me a copy for V-Day [emoji4]

I'll try and keep this short.
Baseball has always been part of my life, I played little league just like my siblings and as I watched many sports growing up, I've always been drawn to baseball more than any other.
Baseball to me is comfort, calming yet exciting and sporadic. Some say it's boring and too long, I think it's perfect. Anything can happen in a game that has no limit.
I'm constantly seeing things I've never seen in baseball every year and that's exciting and fun.
If there's one thing my son knows about me, it's that I love baseball. I hope one day he will love it just the same, if not, I hope he finds something to love as much as I love baseball.
Also, baseball isn't something you outgrow. When you go to a game, all ages are there and that's a wonderful thing to share.
Baseball is also so diverse, having international players joining MLB is really cool. Being able to see different styles and things players bring to the game is fun. As a fan you feel like your part of the organization in a way.
To put it simply, whenever I feel lost in life, baseball is there, even if it's the off-season.
I remember when I would have trouble sleeping, from being worried or scared, I would think about the Red Sox roster, and baseball in general. It would help me go to sleep, and to be honest I still do it today too. [emoji6]
For me, I love my Sox but I just love baseball.

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[MrArlingtonBeach]

Re: The Magic Of Baseball and What it Means To You.

Man the stories so far this year have been great! I may even consider giving away a standard copy for second place.


Keep em coming!




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You're a gentleman, and a scholar. Thanks for the opportunity!

And thanks to all who are sharing their stories...baseball is indeed more than just a game.

[mrsaito]

Re: The Magic Of Baseball and What it Means To You.

After reading this thread for a couple of years I need to share…

• When I was five years old and a seasoned whiffle ball player I can still picture my father approaching me in our TV room and saying, “it’s time”. We were off to the store to get a glove, ball and bat!

• My entire first year of little league I failed to get a hit. I was a decent fielder and drew a few walks, but my batting average was a smooth .000.

• The next year when I finally got a hit, a nice line double, I was so excited that I peed my pants. It was obvious because our uniforms were only T-shirts and the stain stood out on my faded jeans.

• I bought a second-hand Strat-O-Matic game, 1969 vintage. This was before the player cards had the lefty / righty splits on the back of the cards.

• Throughout my teen years I added a few teams to my collection and figured out how to create a schedule. Stats were kept on a clipboard, one sheet of loose-leaf paper per team. I made a dice rolling surface out of a carpet remnant.

• In college one of my proudest moments was winning a ‘Strats’ best of 15 game all-star series against my best friend. He had way more teams (and therefore players to choose from) than I did but he was far less experienced and didn’t realize the importance of defense. I had all ‘number 1’ fielders and that was why I won.

• The only time I ever won any sort of championship in a team sport was a softball tournament.

• When I bought my first gaming console, a SEGA Genesis, Tony LaRussa Baseball was one of the first games I bought.

• MVP Baseball 2005 was a revelation.

• MLB The Show was a console buying decision when the PS3 came out.

• Today I am completely in Nirvana with the quality of the game we have. As somebody who used to imagine the stadiums, uniforms and players while rolling dice what we have today is completely unimaginable to the kid who scraped up $5 in change to buy his first game.

[mathey270]

Re: The Magic Of Baseball and What it Means To You.

I played baseball from t-ball at 4 years old all the way up to college at the Divison 2 level. Many times I thought about giving it up and focusing on other sports/ hobbies. I had the pleasure to pass my knowledge of the game down to high school players at the American Legion baseball level.

Baseball to me is about dealing with failure . Only sport in the world where u fail 7 out of 10 times and your a Hall of Famer. Life is about failures and not what the failure is but how you get back up and overcome it.

I remember one game in my career where i had been 0 for 3 with 3 Ks. Opposing pitcher had a no no through 6. I come up with two outs in the bottom of the 7th ( 7 inning game) and break up the no no with a Single to left field.

Just about ready to quit and success finds me. That's what baseball means to me.

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[mockme]

Re: The Magic Of Baseball and What it Means To You.

I've been a bit hesitant to share since I haven't posted in a long, long time and don't want to look like I'm just popping in for the chance to get a free copy of the game. I also don't know what Armor's policy is with us overseas guys taking part in this, but I just want to tell you guys my story.


I got into baseball as a young adult (iirc I was around 19 at the time). I always was a football (soccer) guy and baseball just isn't a big thing here as Finland has its own variant of the game called pesäpallo. I read a manga series called Rookies and loved the setting of baseball. The moments the game creates are unlike any other. Bottom of the ninth, 2 outs? Still a chance to turn the game around. I adored that. I had some Cardinals merchandise that a St. Louis-based relative of mine had brought me when she visited Finland years ago, so I started following the team, got my copy of The Show 09 (which at the time wasn't even sold in Finland. You can get it digitally or on a disc these days) and was ready to go. I was a baseball fan.


Baseball still wasn't my number one sport, though. It is played in Finland, albeit on a very low level. I was still living in my hometown and there wasn't a team within hundreds of kilometres. I had become a bit fed up with the atmosphere at my football club, ended up quitting, but had no chance to go and try playing baseball.


I kept following the sport throughout the years. I moved to another city for university and found out that there actually was a team here, but I had already promised to play with our university football team that was just starting out at the very bottom of the Finnish football pyramid. I went with it for a couple of years, it got a bit too serious and the fun was sucked out, so I quit. I was desperate for a new hobby to keep me active, and then I remembered the existence of that local baseball team. But surely I was already too old? Even if the level wasn't that high, the team surely were not interested in a guy who was closer to 30 than 25?


Turns out they were. I couldn't participate in team activities last summer due to working the evening shift and being way too tired when I didn't, but it looks like this year will be different.


So here I am. I'll be 29 next summer and I've just become a baseball player. I'm not too good at it yet, but no matter how many balls hit my arms and legs after I miss them during fielding practice, I love it. I love playing baseball. In a way, I'm even thankful that I'm in Finland, because I don't think that I'd have this same chance to get into it like this, at this age, if I lived in the States. It has really got to the point where during winter I just stare out the window and wait for spring (had to fit this in here). I still love watching football too, that will never change, but baseball is my sport now. I'll talk football with my friends, I love it, but baseball is truly mine.


So, what does baseball mean to me? I guess it means second chances and that it's never too late. Whether it's the bottom of the ninth with two outs or just before you turn thirty, baseball will give you a chance. And that's why it's so beautiful.

[hardcor2]

Re: The Magic Of Baseball and What it Means To You.

Baseball is a wondrous sport. I played ball from 6 to about 13, when I hurt my shoulder. I don't watch much baseball now but I still have fond memories of it. I played football and wrestled after baseball, but baseball was the only sport my parents came and watched me play. I remember hitting my first HR and seeing them in the crowd as I rounded the bases and the look of pride in their faces.



My own son played T-ball a few years ago and while it didn't stick he had fun but decided it just wasn't for him. I loved watching him play and it kind of resparked my interest in baseball again. I've been watching more games these last couple years. The Indians making it to the World series definitely helped my renewed interest lol.



While I haven't had the lifelong love as many others here have I do have a love of the game that has always been there lying dormant. I recently picked up The Show 18 after getting my son a PS4 for Christmas and am loving it so far. Whether I win a copy or not I will for sure be getting a copy of 19 in the future.

[Scooter3]

Re: The Magic Of Baseball and What it Means To You.

My love for baseball started when I was very young. I was very fortunate to have lived in Hawaii because it's a good place to hone your skills it's baseball season all year round. I have fond memories of my baseball years. My coach lived down the block and he told me if you show up after school I'll work with you I want to start you at shortstop this year.
I was nine at that time.
I used to sleep with my glove under my pillow baseball was all I ever dreamt about. I took my lumps practicing with my coach but I really started to be a vacuum cleaner.
I was 9 and started at shortstop in a league that was Superior.
Our league was called the Armed Forces pineapple Little League. And that year we went number 4 in the Little League World Series.
My coach in High School varsity called me in his office the first time he saw me play he was a great coach he played AAA a catcher and would have made The Bigs but he blew his knee out.
I'll never forget what he said. You looked pretty good out there have you been playing winter ball?
I said no coach me and my buddy Mike practiced all winter rain or shine and then he said something that I'll never forget he said you have the heart guts and talent to go all the way.
I guess that's my only regret I got sidetracked I'm also an artist.
But such is life.
My two favorite positions were shortstop and third base I love the Hot Corner had great reflexes and strong arm.
I pitched a one-hit game in Little League it would have been a perfect game but this kid was put in right field and I don't think he ever played baseball before it was hit right to him I only needed one more out for perfect game he backed up and let it bounce caught it on the first hop.
I had a sixth sense where the ball was going to be and I would turn my back to the plate and run full speed head down and then look up dive and catch the ball off the grass and roll over twice.
Growing up was tough for me I didn't have a good relationship with my father he hated my guts. Later in my life I found my biological father and found out that he played for Pawtucket AAA.
Baseball was like a refuge for me I put everything I had into every play.
I made all stars when I was 10 years old my batting average that year was 667 nobody ever made all stars in that League but 12 year olds. The league was 25 years old. I'm so thankful for this game I can still play baseball It's a wonderful game.
One more thing 1961 the year Rodger Maris hit his 61st home run I was in California I had the 61 home run flu that week stayed home from school all week just to see Maris hit his 61st home run as it turns out I think he hit it on the weekend but I'll never forget when he laid wood on it I knew it was gone I jumped up and down you couldn't even tell I was sick I think my mom knew. One other highlight I have to squeeze in 1955 we were stationed in Hawaii as a family and the Brooklyn Dodgers went on world tour my dad got me a ball and the Brooklyn Dodgers played the Hawaiian All-Stars I think they beat them 13 to 3 during the game I went up to the Dugout and I asked a player if he could sign my ball and he said we can't sign balls during the game you'll have to come back later as I was turning around to walk back to my seat I heard somebody yell Hey kid give me that ball son and I'll see that everybody signs it for you it turned out it was Pee Wee Reese he said come back after the game and get your ball I came back after the game and he handed me the ball it was signed by Pee Wee Reese Roy Campanella Duke Snider Junior Gilliam Gil Hodges Carl Erskine Don Newcombe I still have the cherished ball. I guess I'm as old as dirt now but I still have that little boy in me the guy that would get up early go get his friends play Sandlot all day until it got dark yes we drank out of hoses never got sick. Baseball the greatest game ever invented

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[mrsaito]

Re: The Magic Of Baseball and What it Means To You.

A bit off topic here but I have recently been watching the Ken Burns documentary about baseball on Amazon Prime and I must say that it is outstanding...

[Therebelyell626]

Re: The Magic Of Baseball and What it Means To You.

A bit off topic here but I have recently been watching the Ken Burns documentary about baseball on Amazon Prime and I must say that it is outstanding...

I just started watching this again for the 3rd time a few weeks ago. It's such a good documentary. A little slow in parts so you really have to like baseball to get through it. After watching this for the first time I couldn't help but me more impressed by babe ruth. He really was a man of the people and an awesome humanitarian despite his flaws.

[georgiapackees]

Re: The Magic Of Baseball and What it Means To You.

My Grandpa got me hooked on this crazy game. He grew up in Detroit, a poor kid. He used to talk about the Sunday doubleheader for a dollar, at old Tiger Stadium, and getting picked up by Ted Williams hitchiking home one night. I grew up in Georgia, one day on a whim, we drove from Atlanta to Royston, Ty Cobbs birthplace just because. My favorite memories though were the really young days, in the back yard with my plastic bat and ball learning how to swing and make contact. The Summer days spent watching the Cubs on WGN with him. The day he gave me his old wooden Slugger he got when he was 9, and using it exclusively until I finally splintered it. Lastly, the two Ty Cobb cards I was left when he passed, they are worth about 250k a piece today. Unfortunately they were stolen from me by a family member with addiction issues. After he passed I couldn't bear to watch it for a very long time. The Cubs 2016 World Serie brought me back, and the resurrection of the Braves, have kept me back. Chop on!

"Baseball is just a game you say..."

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[georgiapackees]

Re: The Magic Of Baseball and What it Means To You.

A bit off topic here but I have recently been watching the Ken Burns documentary about baseball on Amazon Prime and I must say that it is outstanding...

One of the most wonderful things I've ever heard about baseball was early in the series Costas is talking about how symetrically perfect the game is and how the bases being moved one foot in either direction changes the game into almost unplayable.

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