The Magic Of Baseball and What it Means To You.

[shogunofharlem3]

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

Oh the Magic of baseball. Grew up playing baseball, I am 40 now, both organized an unorganized where the neighborhood boys would meet at the field. Played in high school and was fortunate to play 4 years of D2 college baseball.

I currently teach and coach. Funny, I hated school, my parents knew I hated school. Baseball kept me in school, finished 4 years of baseball and I got a diploma in Business Management and somehow became a teacher (so I could coach). Baseball got me a diploma. It gave me opportunity to do what I love, which I didn't know at the time.

My parents never missed a game. They never approached any of my coaches and they supported me every day. I still have my dad's makeshift scorecards from my high school and college games. My dad passed in 2012, while he was sick my mother drove him to every home game. He'd call me and second guess every move, sportively and jokingly.

Well wouldn't you know, my boys won the State Title in 13. My dad wasn't there but my oldest brother and mother were there to watch my team celebrate. Mom passed in 16, and one of my players in that tournament said, "This one is for you mom Coach", we came just short of the title but damn those kids, still make me have something in my eye.

Now, I try so hard to keep kids in baseball (or any athletics or activities) to keep them involved. Not everyone is a school kid, dont tell my students, but everyone has the ability to positively impact themselves and those around them.

So, ya, in a long post, sorry, just got back from hanging with my college teammates from 19 years ago and it was like time never passed. So to me, baseball has given me opportunities I never thought I would have. It also has left me with a bond to my late parents that I wouldn't trade for anything. Every opening day of the high school season I leave a ball with them at the cemetery and they still second guess me, I know it. That keeps me motivated

(finally, I don't have a ps4 so I am not entering. Just saw an opportunity with some great people to share what baseball means to me).

EVERYTHING

[Armor and Sword]

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

Hey everyone, just an FYI I am moving up the deadline to 2/28 at 10pm EST.


A lot of great stories this year. So many I will be announcing two winners this cycle. One copy of the MLB 19 The Show MVP version and one Standard Copy of the game.


I look forward to hopefully reading a few more and will announce the winners this weekend.

[Instant C1a55ic]

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

Baseball is my summer family. (Thanks Jimmy Fallon)



I always caught myself watching games when I was young. I had no idea what was going on when I first started warching, but I was amazed at the speed and movement a pitcher could put on a ball when it left his hand. From certain tv views, i would call balls and strikes, just amazed at the ball weaving back and fourth across the strike zone. The pop of the glove, the dust leaving the leather. I was hooked.



I played ball throughout my adolescence. I started at age 7 after watching a friend of mine playing t-ball. Sitting there, seeing the holes to rip that ball through, the energy of parents yelling at the kids when the ball skidded through the dirt, and then onto the luscious green grass...it was intoxicating. I begged my mom to let me play, I was signed up and on his team the following week!


I imitated batting stances from my favorite ball players each time I stepped into the box, pretending to be in that bottom of the 9th, based loaded moment everyone dreamed of. it was only t-ball, but it's all that mattered that summer and beyond.



My passion turned to pitching once I graduated to slow pitch. Nolan Ryan was my favorite pitcher, and I knew I couldn't throw hard like him, but I wanted so wanted to be the best, just like him. I asked my dad how do I get players out, and he told me to pretend to be better then them, even tho I might not be. I learned that year there is always someone better then you. I started a game shortly after and got batted around on twice in the same inning. I was crushed. Pitching was over for me after trying it for 3 years.



When high school started, I swear I was the first one to sign up to play ball even tho I probably wasnt. Nothing made more excited then seeing my last name printed on the back of a Jersey. My little league were community leagues, and the sponsors were the only things printed on them, no numbers, no names. When I got my jersey, I wore it all the time. I felt like a big league player. My mom had to order me 2 more jerseys because the letters were coming off from her having to was it nearly every day.



When I was 16 I got my dream job. I got a job as a dippin dots vendor at coors field in Denver. That happened to be the very same year were my fav Rockie of all time Todd Helton had his best season as a ball player. Sneaking out into the seats, just hoping to catch a glimpse of him was a thrill I'll never forget. I got to see him hit what seemed like a million home runs in that park. I'll never forgot my time there.



I played ball all 4 years in high school. I wasnt the best ball player, but at that time I felt invincible. I played first base, and catcher during my time there. After my senior year, I felt like Rudy from the movie Rudy. Nothing offered to me, but I still wanted to play.



I played with other guys from school, kind of like a Sandlot type of thing, that didnt last long unfortunately. I eventually settled into adult "beer" league slow pitch when I hit 21. It sounded lame, but it was ball, and I had my name back on a Jersey lol.



I stopped playing when I was 25. I was like Jake Taylor from Major League, i destroyed my knees. I developed arthritis at age 22, almost unheard of, but I did. As stated earlier, I played catcher, and I'm sure others can attest, it ends careers. It also didnt help that I played football as well in the winter times when I wasnt playing baseball.


Fast forward 9 years and I'm a proud papa of 5 beautiful children. I have posted some of my favorite moments here, from my son pretending to be batting with a bat shaped toy in his hand while MLB the show is showing a batter in the background, to sharing my pride in my daughter being a switch hitter at age 8.



All my children that can be, are in t-ball and slow pitch. Not because I force them too, but because I love baseball so much, they want to be apart of that love, and share it with others. Nothing brings me so much joy then hearing an ump yell:


PLAY BALL

[Therebelyell626]

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

I have played baseball my whole life. But I think my favorite baseball memory was my first summer playing for a minor league club in North Carolina.

That summer I was guided in the merits of the game as well as love by a local woman name Annie. That summer I was also was mentored by a wily career minor leaguer catcher on the mental aspects of the game.

This was the summer I got what would be my nickname I would use throughout my career.... Nuke.

[mb625]

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

Tons of great stories here. I kind of just want to share my story, come what may, because I never truly get to really share it and just muse about it. It's... not going to be the most well-written thing in the world. I'm kind of just ranting, to be honest, but here goes...

I grew up learning to love baseball. Went to my first game at Coors Field when I was three or so and was interviewed on the local news near my hometown in Iowa because I knew a lot about the game as a kid. Baseball was everything to me as a kid. Baseball cards taught me to read, they even taught me math. I loved all the numbers, the sounds, the sights, the smells, all of it. We lived a little under three hours away from the nearest major league team (my favorite team today, the Twins) and so we only got to go to a game once a year, but it was always the best day of the year. I always looked forward to it.

My grandfather was a huge Cubs fan, so I remember going for a family event when the Cubs played at the Twins, it was one of the most exciting things I think he ever experienced. I'm not entirely sure if he'd been to Wrigley or not. He never spoke about it, but he was always certain that this was the Cubs year. I'll never forget the year he told me that Sean Marshall was gonna win the Cy Young someday. I remember watching ballgames with him on TV, sitting out on the porch with a radio and barely getting WGN radio to come across. If the handheld radio didn't work, we'd go to his car in the garage and try to get it in. He loved baseball and he taught my dad to love baseball. And my dad passed it on to me.

My parents always encouraged me in my pursuit of baseball. Even when I barely played, barely saw the field, they always kept me going. My dad especially. He'd always come out with us to play catch, or to throw us pitches. I remember when I was 10 or 11, he injured his shoulder working on the farm. He couldn't raise his arm above his shoulder, so from that point on he had to throw a weird sidearm, but he still would play ball with us. I don't remember a summer without baseball growing up. Even when I was brought very low with the game in high school and I had a coach that... wasn't the best to me, let's just say... I never even dreamed of quitting. Baseball meant far too much to me, and I wasn't going to let anything keep me from it.

Then I hit college and baseball wasn't an option for me anymore. I thought about joining the school club team, but it just didn't work from a money standpoint. I tried getting into softball, but it just wasn't the same. More on that one in a bit, but after my freshman year in college, 2011, my grandfather passed away. And that kind of hit me really hard in 2016. I'll never forget watching Game 7 and just... I don't even know. I won't lie. There were tears. My grandpa never saw the Cubs win the series and, even though I'm not personally a huge Cubs fan, I couldn't help but get emotional. My dad had died that past summer and it all just kind of hit home in that moment. I still get emotional thinking even about the potential of the Twins winning a series within my lifetime (I was born in 93, so I just missed 1991). Baseball was just so meaningful within my family that just these thoughts get me going a bit.

There's so much more I could write about, but I won't. This past summer, I moved to a town with an amateur team, so I'm back playing ball for the first time since high school. I'm obviously rusty, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. It's amazing being back on the field after so long away. Baseball has always been deeply meaningful throughout my whole life and I couldn't help but share my, random, sort of nonsensical thoughts on it.

[King Gro23]

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

To me baseball always holds My greatest & purest feelings of nostalgia. I owe my family a great deal. Because for me none of what I received was initially meant for me. I grew up in foster care before finding an amazing family that adopted me. They gave me memories & opportunities I will never forget.

Also I do apologize that this is going to be extremely lengthy. I hope you/those who read it enjoy it!

As a kid I grew up in a small town of Southern Ohio, I started all sports by the time I was 5. T-ball came and stole my heart. I was able to hit the ball half way in the outfield at 5 years old. Granted I was already 4'10 entering kindergarten. My love for the sport exploded. Next I was decorating a great backyard as a ballpark. Strike zones painted on my fence,a pool tarp as left field wall murals, even had a small shed located in a tricky corner and a slight hill around my "center field area." I labeled it as Minute maid hill (Astros center field) as I warned my friends they would need a different skill set to play in my backyard diamond.

I was blessed to be in neighborhoods where kids enjoyed baseball and my best friends had were the same type of neighborhood.
Between my closest baseball friends we were able to make up 5 different ballparks. So depending on the friend it was like playing in different MLB parks spring through fall in our child minds.

As I'm recounting my memories I even had the infamous DOG like "The beast" in Sandlot, my neighbors owned a black rottweiler that was an outdoor dog 90% of the year. They only brought it in when it was freezing outside. So hitting homeruns or having wild throws meant hopping the fence and running to get the ball, was pure adrenaline as you never knew if the BEAST was gonna break out of its cage or be free roaming on their property. I had to evade the beast more than a handful of times!

Every summer as I was young we were acting out baseball's greatest moments. Nothing like scarfing down dinner or rushing home to finish homework after school just to sprint to your friends house bat and Mitt in hand and ask if they can come out and play balI. If whether was inclement we were able to play many baseball games. My dad would often take me to a local game trading store. My dad & I were always buying every baseball game: Backyard baseball series, Ken Griffey baseball, all star baseball, world series, high heat, mvp, 2k, & last but not least The Show!

I remember running in from our pickup neighborhood game at my buddy's house to run inside after his dad (a Pittsburgh native and fanatic) call out to us "Barryyy Bondsssss" out of the open window. We rushed inside to watch Barry Bonds break the single season HR record.

Still during my youth I would use my Allowance money to buy spray paint and tennis balls, baseballs, bats, bases, tools or props to make my rigged ballparks feel "authentic" for me and the neighborhood kids. Tennis balls were our less destructive way of ball or If we were running low on guys we would have a sort of a "Peg your out" dodgeball esque rule.

behind my massive yard was a open field that was suited more for football as it was the length of the road, which was a dead end but only about 65 yards in width before a forest line & my fence reach. But as a kid baseball season meant I was taking my dads Lawnmower and mowing down the vacant lot behind my yard.. using spray paint to make baseball diamonds, digging up dirt out of the forest and packing it around a brick for a mound. As I got older I would get into it more, creating different texture levels by changing the blade level on my dads mower for shorter and higher grass. Taking it as low as could for baselines and infield dirt.. and having it thicker in outfield and foul territory lol I knew what I was cutting and creating talk about Home field Advantage!!
I would practice my craft endlessly even practiced robbing homeruns as some areas my fence was 7 ft tall.

Side note: As I aged into my teens I now appreciate my dad more many things, he is blue collar to the core. He worked at an industrial plant for 44 years. My dad always found time to make it to nearly all of my games (250+ a year for close to 8 years) of course I didnt realize but it cost him so much. He would often work 16-18 hour shifts consecutive to be able to have the free time he needed for me. He did have to slow up though because that grind over that stretch caused him to have 2 heart attacks and eventual open heart surgery. Thankfully he is still with us. Me and my dads main connection is sports. Beyond that we never developed any other bond as 90% of time together was spent participating or watching sports even or dad pointers.

He would always have extra wood to fix our fence or any DIY fix to repair my field of dreams.( Pretty awesome dad to be breadwinner and groundskeeper! )Taking me to batting clinics and cages, or even the longer commutes and road trips to tournament after tournament. State by state. Often had sports radio playing. we would be discussing the sport, and different scenarios. I wish I had footage of some of these road trips. We would make agreements at ball parks, I would tell him "hey dad I'll drink water and I dont need concession snacks let's save that money for the batting cages. Cant forget the post game evaluation talks. (What I did vs. What dad thought I should of did)

He even would play ball with me or be my catcher giving me pitching pointers. That abruptly ended when at a certain age I had too much velocity for him + his lost ability nearing his series of heart attacks. Which caused a few too many injuries including a black eye and busted toenail. It's remarkable how much he poured into me being his adopted son. He had 4 kids on his own. My mother says its because i was his only son. Mind you this is just for baseball. One christmas He even got me a 1200 card collection of players all the way from the 60s through the 2000s. Still have that collection. Pure gems

Middle school came around I was gaining enough velocity to break through my privacy fence after repetively hitting my my spots in the zone & pitch count! Which I typically based off the last pitcher I watched. I would watch Indians or Cubs or Braves games then go out in the backyard pretending I was pitching to the lineup the very pitchers were. It felt good breaking zones of fence out of my strike zone I painted as the "K- Zone" thanks to ESPNs introducing that back in the early 2000s. Here I am a 6ft middle schooler. Living MLB dreams pretending to be Kerry Wood, John smoltz, Cliff Lee, Kevin Milwood, victor Zambrano, as a lefty I admired Barry Zito, Andy pettitte, johan Santana, randy Johnson as well add in Young Dontrelle Willis also. All the backyard duels and games, clinics practices & scenario drills around 12 years old paid off when I proceeded to win one of the biggest tournaments called the Shrine tournament. I pitched 2 no hitters in the tournament and we won a 1st place prize trophy which was over 6ft tall. The game balls and trophies were adding up. As pictured below are my most prestiged moments in which I received game balls. Ranging from my 1st home run, to an 18 strike out game, a few walk offs. Cool story I have 2 home runs that I launched deep into the woods in a local ball park during games. I would go into the woods after the game and try and hunt down my ball. Only to be super bummed out when I didnt find them proceeding the game. Low and behold day after day I would go to local ball park and I ended up finding them both. I wish for my children to have moments and memories like so.

Baseball was my life growing up from the hot summer's at the diamond, to doing fundraisers to raise money, to emulating baseball's most iconic moments in my backyard alone or with friends or watching MLB all star games and Home run derbies in hotels as I played on several travel clubs. To pitching 5 total no hitters, or having a 4 hr game and all the Rallys! I spent most of the year participating in baseball moments.


I grew up being a multi sport athlete. I was excellent and had offers from colleges for all three sports.
I would get into elite travel basketball & baseball around 3rd grade. Playing over 100 games a year per sport over the next 8 years & I traveled to 19 different states & even Canada for baseball and basketball. gathering a ton of game balls for super performances. (Pic below)

I've won over 90 trophies and played against a small amount of big leaguers kyle Schwarber & benintendi or farm guys when we were young. Basketball was my best sport played d-1 college ball, crazy enough the last 4 years of my life I've played professional amateur football. Winning 2 national championships with the Columbus Fire.

I ended up playing basketball as a walk on to a d-1 (Oh if only they had time machines) I gave up on baseball by my senior season after having 2 serious ending injuries in 4 years. A broken ankle my sophomore year. And broken throwing hand as a 8th grader. I do regret letting go of baseball. It was probably my safest bet. I had the tools. I boast to my buddy's about my high school stats, they weren't super. I was a high average hitter but in 3 seasons I only struck out a total of 4 seasons. My mentality was formed young. I modeled Vlad Guerrero as a hitter. If it's around the zone or close, put the bat on the ball poke it somewhere. So I never stressed. Because anything was better than striking out.

The high school I attended had a great hall of fame coach. We won state my freshman year. My Coach was an absolute wizard. Humble, kind, he had won coach of the year 26 times in 41 years of coaching. Dave klontz if your interested in the name.


In high school I became 6'5 220lb Lefty. I Played pitcher, OF & 1B. I always viewed myself as a corner outfielder . I just happened to be an elite pitcher. Although I truly disliked it. Mainly after I broke my throwing hand. To this day I still attend Indians games. I've been to 8 games the past 2 seasons including 2 during their 22 game win streak. I have a 3 year old daughter in which I plan on transitioning her into the sport in the future. My best friend, whom started the magic of baseball with me. He made it to d-1 baseball but then tore his acl and that was enough for him. He however is still living his baseball dream as he works in the Philadelphia Phillies organization now. So now my summer also consist of visiting him and watching Phillies games in the summer.

It's something about that adrenaline rush of reading that fly ball the first few tenths of a second after contact. . I think about getting back into baseball. As a recently turned 26 year old. As crazy as I am I still believe I have enough tools succeed.


Special thanks

Also thank you for giving us this platform. Writing this story made me revisit so many memories that still aren't mentioned, memories that were brushed off and pulled deep from the memory bank. I'm actually going to personally travel back to properties me and my friends grew up making our fields and take pictures just to see what it looks like now as father/Adult. The residents there today will never know that those were once of fields of many special dreams!!

FB_IMG_1551155963623.jpg20190219_125505.jpg

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[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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My two loves in my life are art and baseball the only two things I was ever good at there's one photograph of over four hundred I have created using the facetool from the show I think this rendition of Stan 'The Man'Musial shows my love for Baseball.20190228_122754.jpg

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[Armor and Sword]

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

@ Houston,


I need you to clear your PM box....trying to message you and it is full bro.

[Armor and Sword]

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

Winners will be announced today.


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[rkocjay]

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

My love for baseball started when I was about 13 when I watched the 2004 ALCS all by myself. I am a Yankees fan by the way but also just understanding baseball. I became a fan of sports from my father who to this day still watches everything New York. So baseball had a bit of a learning curve for me to fully understand. I never played as a child because I felt I was too small and weak. I been to a few games both Mets (Shea) and Yankees (both Yankees stadiums) games. All with my dad he has had a big sports influence on me to where I can feel comfortable defending baseball when people say it is boring and too long of a game. Baseball has the best playoffs atmosphere in all American sports in my opinion. Baseball is life.

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[Armor and Sword]

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

I want to thank everyone for participating and sharing your stories. This thread is always a joy to read and this year was no different.


We have two winners and I am ready to announce the first winner who will receive a copy of MLB The Show 19 MVP Version. And that winner is:

Buliit

His story is a testament to his love of baseball. In our inaugural “Magic of baseball” thread I had his story in the top two and I am so glad he shared it again because it is powerful.


I will announce the winner for the standard copy of the game later today as I have 3 stories that for me are terrific and I want to read them again before making a final decision. So stay tuned.....I expect to announce it this afternoon.

[Bullit]

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

Thanks Armor,

I had originally passed on being in "competition" for a copy as I am already receiving a copy from a good friend of mine. But there is a single mother that lives down the road from me and her sons birthday is in April. Now I don't have a lot of extra money right now because of loosing my job and struggling myself but as somebody who has been a single parent its 10 times harder. I can eat pb&j's and not complain or get creative in the bill paying department. But when you have kids that changes the game on a whole new level.

Anyway, I am giving her my "backup" PS4 that I had when I upgraded to a PRO when things were going better, for her to give her son for his birthday. He does play little league and loves ball. He and I have even had a catch every once in a while.I just thought it would be nice to add a copy of The Show for his Birthday, so I will take Armors generosity and pass it forward to this young man and hopefully grow somebody else's love of this sport we all treasure so much.

So thank you Armor and thank you all. A lot of you have helped me on my dark road and the path that I struggle with everyday. We have our issues here on OS sometimes but every family is a little dysfunctional and I love you all.

Peace.

[dpc134]

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

I realize the contest is over and I am only posting for fun.

Baseball for me is the start of a new "season" every year. "Season" for me is, the start of a new year of my life. I don't think of New Years as the start of a new year. For me, Baseball Opening Day is the start of a new year.
I live in NE Pennsylvania. The winters are cold, dark, and long. The constant ice, snow, wind is brutal. The months after Xmas is when I start thinking about Baseball.
When Spring Training finally begins, I begin to prepare for the New Year. And then the magic begins, Opening Day. Opening Day is my favorite day of the year. I always take vacation day from work. I watch baseball all day.
Baseball is the time when winter ends and spring /summer cycle starts. The warm summer breeze, bright beautiful sun, the smell of charcoal grills, summer time in NEPA is the best. Watching baseball on my deck on warm summer nights with my 2 dogs, sipping on bourbon = heaven.
My Dad was never into sports. Baseball was something I was always drawn to as a kid. And like, a few others on this thread have mentioned, it is a way for me to calm down, to slow down life, to really enjoy the gift of life and forget about all of the "background noise" that life throws at us.
To me, there is nothing more magical than sitting in a baseball stadium at 7 pm, 80 degrees, smell of popcorn, sounds of baseball and hearing the national anthem playing.
To me baseball is America. Baseball is the start of a new year. Baseball is life.
Thank you for letting me share.
Play ball!!

[Armor and Sword]

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

The winner of our Standard copy of MLB The Show 19 is:




King Gro23

Congratulations. Your story was outstanding. It was a very close race for this second copy. The fact of the matter is so many great stories this year. Hence why we gave away and additional copy. I hope everyone enjoyed the posts and by all means if you have a great baseball story and what this game means to you please keep sharing. We will do this again for MLBTS 20.

In the meantime let's have a great year with The Show. I know I will!!!



To both winners please PM me your mailing information. Your games will go out the day after they release. Enjoy!

[trublud0dger]

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

Now that this contest is over. I told you my story last year about how baseball has brought my brother and I closer. This year this game will keep me sober. I have drank heavily for 15 years. Every year is the same 3 months from April til usually end of June or early July I am sober while I play The Show. Then I start drinking again. Not this year. When the game is released will be my sobriety date. I am going to play every day for the next year until The Show 20 is released. I pray and hope a year from that date I can stay sober. I didn't want that promise to myself to weigh in on your decision for your giveaway Armor. I don't deserve anything from anyone. Your sliders and awesome giving tells me you are a great person that absolutely loved this sport and game as much as I do.

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