The Magic of Baseball and What it Means to You?

[FBeaule04]

Re: The Magic of Baseball and What it Means to You?

I grew up in Quebec City. Baseball was not that big since it was so badly organized that most kids we're playing hockey from august to april and then soccer from may to august.

But, there was a need to play baseball because it was so much a slow and strategic sports that it was backyard baseball thinking we we're Carter, Raines, Dawson.

Of course, there was the Expos. They played in Montreal so it was a ride of 3 hours to get there and 3 hours to get back, but my dad got me 2 to 3 times a summer to see the Expos. Always a blast because you not only get to see the home team, but also good teams visiting the Big O'!

When I was nine, we went to Cleveland. 18 hours drive, and I really annoyed my parents so we go to an Indians game. Geez, the Indians we're so awful, but hey, going to Cleveland Stadium and see the A's with Kingman, Lansford, Canseco, that was perfect. I remember seeing Andy Allanson and I really liked him, wanting him with the Expos! :-)

After that, I grew up and had to see teams like the 93' Phillies with the Expos still in the hunt at that moment. Remember where I was and what I was doing when Joe Carter hit it off the second deck to win the World Series, a few months later. Was thinking next year, it was the Expos turn!

And came 94', was there for the game on June 27! Maddux against Hill, the Expos at 44-29, the Braves at 46-29. We we're 45 000 in that stadium and it was so loud, we we're so pumped. That game was magic, simply magic, and we started to believed that it was possible.

After that game, the Expos we're 29-11, and rolling like crazy. We didn't miss a game that summer, you had to have a good reason to make us move from the TV! And came the strike...And came the yard sale from Claude Brochu (I hate that *&?% of a *&?%).

After that, I had the chance to see two of my favorites all-time after Larry Walker. Pedro Martinez and Vladimir Guerrero Sr. Went for the last game Martinez pitched with the Expos. Paid for a VIP seat on the third base line so I can get the most out of that magical pitcher.

For Guerrero, he was simply magic that I went to 10-12 games every year to see him play. Probably the best position player I saw in an Expos shirt.

When the Expos moved to Washington, I decided I would never, ever, ever, root for a team that will not have the money to pay it's players and have a chance every year. Yankees was an obvious choice, and I became the evil among friends all rooting for the Red Sox.

MLB The Show help keep that magic alive, and my love for baseball. It's not always perfect, but I still like to see the strategies of a pitcher having to outsmart a batter that want to send it out to the moon!

[LegendKillerOne]

Re: The Magic of Baseball and What it Means to You?

This is a great thread


It is really hard to put into words how the sport of baseball makes me feel. I get the high of highs when I hit that first spring training game in Port St Lucie.



Seemed like since birth baseball was in my families destiny to love. My cousin and I both played growing up. My cousin was a super hard thrower when he was like 13 years old and this is back in the 90's. He was offered at 15 years old a pro contract to go play in Japan. My aunt would not let him go and it turned out he would go to college at Florida State and by the middle of season one he threw him arm out to the point that he never could play again. Even today in his late 40's when it rains his arm hurts. I also played a lot of baseball myself and had high hopes growing up, I would play on travel teams. my father would send me every summer to Florida to a Mets baseball camp. Out of high school I was all set go to the U of Miami for baseball only to find out I had a major back issue and it would take a risky surgery to fix so I gave up playing.



I am lucky enough to get to work in the field right now doing producer work which lets me stay close to sports. There is nothing like baseball, To me watching it, just looking at the box scores. I truly can not get enough of it. Whether it is playing MLB the Show, Strat-o-Matic baseball. I just wrap any free time I can around baseball.



It really is hard to put into words that make sense, Smell of the fresh cut grass, Hotdogs, Beer, Ballparks like Cathedrals



I agree with the line there is something Romantic about Baseball.

[IndianSummer]

Re: The Magic of Baseball and What it Means to You?

I grew up in Missouri. I had the option of the Cardinals or the A’s…..the Kansas City A’s. So yes, I’m old.
Baseball was the first organized sport I ever played and it is a history line to me and the greatest sport ever invented.
My loyalty fell into Sportsman’s Park and the Cardinals. I used to listen to Harry Caray on KMOX radio broadcast the Cardinals games. I had the privilege of watching Bob Gibson, Stan Musial, Lou Brock and many other great players such as Sandy Koufax, Juan Marichal, Mickey Mantle etc. It was a great period in baseball. I seen the Cardinals win the 64 series against the Yankees and 67 series against the Red Sox. I had a fourth grade teacher and she loved the Cardinals as well so we got to watch the 68 series but lost in 7 games to the Tigers. Gibson had a 1.12 era that year, Denny McClain was a 31 game winner but Mickey Lolich was the Cardinals kriptonite.

Also in 68 my aunt and uncle who was KC A’s fans lived in the Bay Area in California, I visited for a couple of weeks and I got see the Oakland A’s in their inaugural year. So that gave me a passion for the A’s as well as the Cardinals. I was fortunate to be able to visit them in the summer for several years and we would attend the A’s games. Vida Blue, Reggie Jackson, Blue Moon Odom, etc. was a solid team.

I am a MLB fan and I use it as a timeline in history.

I moved to Texas after high school.
I played the great game until I was 40 in the Ft Worth leagues. I enjoyed watching the Rangers, RoughRiders and the Ft Worth Cats.

Baseball is a very important part of my life.

[Ghost Of The Year]

Re: The Magic of Baseball and What it Means to You?

I love the rich history major league baseball offers. When General Custer made his last stand, it was already in its infancy. We're talking about going into the 1800's when you realize how far back MLB goes. The NFL and NBA would kill to have that legacy. The NFL didn't begin until after World War One and WWII was over when the NBA began.

Baseball had a major impact in healing America after the Civil War and continued that healing influence on America many times since then. It may no longer be the number one sport since the merger of the NFL and AFL but it will always and forever be number one in my heart mind and soul.

[Ranger Fan]

Re: The Magic of Baseball and What it Means to You?

The best thing I can think about as far as being a Baseball fan and what it means to me is the bonding with your friends and kids. It's a sport I grew up playing as early as Tball where my dad coached me. Being 59 now, I have had that same chance with my own son and grandkids. Going to your first ball game and learning how to do a score book, eating roasted peanuts, buying a hot dog and just relaxing and not sitting on the edge of your seat for every moment like other sports. As I grew, I taught my own son how to play and watch a game. We both are fans of the Texas Rangers and although he lives in Arizona now and I live in Arkansas, we still text and talk during the games. I remember my best memory being just last year when the Rangers won the World Series for the first time ever. It easily eclipsed 2011 when the Cardinals yanked our hearts out. But what happened in game 5 of 2023 was special . We both joked when the playoffs began, what would he do if Texas played Arizona? Well it happened and he got tickets for the game. As we were on the phone together I remember his excitement when he actually witnessed a World Championship. I reflected and cried just thinking back of all the years and the games I used to coach as well as the games we watched. So for me baseball is a piece of life and culture for bonding

[Mauer4MVP]

Re: The Magic of Baseball and What it Means to You?

It means so many things, but most importantly it reminds me of growing up with my older brother.

Playing one vs one in the backyard, staying up late to catch baseball tonight (that theme music is the GOAT), talking ourselves into the Twins contending (before we knew better about politics, cheap ownership, etc).

Heck, we'd go camping all the time in the summer as a family and we'd always try to make a baseball bat with some log we found. They always turned out horrible, but man was that fun.

As corny as he is, Macklemore's My Oh My does a great job summarizing what baseball means.

[Houston]

Re: The Magic of Baseball and What it Means to You?

Hey Michael, so proud and glad to see this back.again. I was honored and proud to be chosen back in 2018 and still am.

Here's the old thread if anyone wants to read those amazing stories of 2018.


https://forums.operationsports.com/f...means-you.html

It's so hard to choose just 1 and I know armor will have a tough time doing so. Unfortunately I can't afford to buy the runner up MLB THE SHOW 25 but I'm willing to send armor the funds and he can purchase one of those MLB THE SHOW 25 T-Shirts since he can get there info and size etc...

Here is my story:

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 Opening Day Rosters & Custom League. This is why I love baseball so much and maybe there are others out there with a similar experience.

[Armor and Sword]

Re: The Magic of Baseball and What it Means to You?

Great idea Houston.

I updated the OP and the runner up will get an official MLB The Show Tee Shirt compliments of Houston.

[Houston]

Re: The Magic of Baseball and What it Means to You?

Great idea Houston.

I updated the OP and the runner up will get an official MLB The Show Tee Shirt compliments of Houston.

My pleasure just my small contribution to give back to such a great idea and thread that really should become our own OS tradition. 😃

[Armor and Sword]

Re: The Magic of Baseball and What it Means to You?

Some really great stories in here thus far.

We have 13 days left before we determine who gets a standard disc copy of the game on the system of your choice and who gets an official MLB The Show T-Shirt.

I hope to read some more!!!

[Armor and Sword]

Re: The Magic of Baseball and What it Means to You?

It seems quite apparent these are the stories. So I am now going over every post and will pick out our 1st place winner who will get a standard physical copy of the game on their system of their choice and our second place story who will get a MLB The Show Tee-Shirt of their choice as they released 3 more new designs.

They have:

MLB The Show 25 Cover Art Tee

Road To The Show Tee

MLB The Show 06 Logo Tee

David Ortiz MLB The Show 06 Cover art Tee

https://www.homage.com/collections/mlb-the-show?utm_source=sony&utm_medium=par&utm_campaign=mlbts

You can check out the tee shirts on this link!

Winners will be announced tomorrow evening 2/28

[Armor and Sword]

Re: The Magic of Baseball and What it Means to You?

We had some very difficult choices to make as I read a lot of great stories in here.

I always loved doing this and was glad I brought it back for MLB 25. I think we are getting a special game this cycle.


So without further ado I am pleased to announce our winners.

In 2nd place and the winner of a MLB The Show Tee Shirt of his choice:

The Gamer!!

And in 1st place and the winner of a standard disc copy (on the system of their choice) of MLB The Show 25 is:

Instant Classic!!!

Everyone IMO was a winner and I want to thank each of you that took the time to share some Magic.

To the winners please PM me your full mailing information (Gamer I will need what size you want your shirt in and Instant Classic what system you want the game on).

I will have the prizes directly shipped to you from the vendors.

Peace everyone!!!

[FBeaule04]

Re: The Magic of Baseball and What it Means to You?

Thanks for doing this! On top of reading people's tie with a game I love, one thing jumped to my mind this morning.

I'm living in the North, and while growing up, the only people you could talk about baseball outside where you lived we're if you'd travel or writing letters to a journalist covering the sport.

And now, in 2025, add a chance to read stories from people, mostly in North America here, but nevermind, it's so much more global and makes the sport shine even more.

And that, to me, makes Baseball even more magic!

[Instant C1a55ic]

Re: The Magic of Baseball and What it Means to You?

I am beyond humbled to have won this contest.

Baseball has always been more than just a game to me. It is a connection to its rich history, family, and the spirit of competition. But my story is just a small snippet of what baseball means to this country.

Every fan, every player, every coach, and every parent in the stands has a story shaped by this sport. Baseball has a way of bringing people together, teaching life lessons, and creating friends/moments that last a lifetime. That’s what makes us all winners. Not trophies or accolades, but the love we share for the game.

Thank you to everyone who participated, shared their stories, and continues to keep the heart of baseball beating strong. I was lucky enough to win a copy of a game, but the luck isn’t just mine. It belongs to all of us who are lucky and privileged enough to live and breathe this sport.


Sent from my SM-F946U using Operation Sports mobile app

[swiftsport]

Re: The Magic of Baseball and What it Means to You?

Late to the party, but still want to share. Congrats to the winners.

The magic of baseball, to me, is MLB 23 on Switch and Jackson Chourio. Together, they created the most magical moment I’ve ever experienced in a video game and then some.

Here’s how.

I didn’t grow up with baseball. Being from Europe, I discovered it very late in life, and through and a winding path.

My sports journey began with motorsports. Like many in Europe, I was a Formula 1 fan. But at some point, F1 had started to feel predictable, so I found myself drawn to NASCAR. It was an exciting time in that sport, just after Jimmie Johnson’s championship streak, with the competition wide open again. My love for the sport grew, and for my birthday, I made a dream come true: I traveled to Florida to watch the 2015 NASCAR Championship race, Jeff Gordon’s final event. The experience was incredible, even though the driver I was rooting for, Martin Truex Jr., didn’t win.

But, that trip to the U.S. introduced me also to the NFL. I watched it there for the first time on my hotel TV. Back then, the NFL wasn’t nearly as popular in Europe as it is today, but I was instantly hooked. When it came time to choose a team to follow, I picked the Rams. They had just relocated to Los Angeles and were one of the league’s worst teams, giving me something to root for. Of course, that choice worked out far better than I expected. Over the years, I attended several NFL games in London, including an unforgettable Rams vs. Cardinals matchup where Todd Gurley led a 44:0 shutout.

Still, I wanted to see an NFL game in the U.S. So, during our post-COVID honeymoon in New York, I bought tickets for the Patriots-Jets game at MetLife Stadium. The game itself was one-sided and forgettable but for me, just being there was special.

The night before that game, however, is when I discovered my now favorite sport: baseball. With no plans for that evening, my wife and I had an early dinner, went back to our hotel, and turned on the TV. Right on time for the 2022 World Series. I was fascinated right away.

Ever since that evening I’m trying to get es much baseball in my life as possible. If you haven’t seen SB Nation’s YouTube documentary on the Mariners’ history, do yourself a favor, it’s a masterpiece.

After a while I wanted to try a baseball video game. I had been a longtime Madden franchise player, so I was eager to find a baseball game that let me build and manage my own team. That’s how I found MLB 23. Even better, there was a Nintendo Switch version (23 lives on Switch for me. 20 and 24 on PS5), perfect for my frequent post-COVID work travel.

Now, I needed a team. I wanted a good-but-not-great one, one I could develop into a contender. I also wanted a team that had never won a World Series, so I could help them get their first. Because of name, color scheme and vibe I picked the Brewers.

I started with vanilla rosters and default sliders. This was around May 2023. From that moment on, I was addicted. Over the next four months, I logged more than 120 hours, something I hadn’t done with any game since a decade.

I built my own baseball universe. With lots of ups and downs. And finally, in 2033, everything worked out. We reached the World Series against the Rays. I took a 3:2 lead going into Game 6.

And there. Bottom of the ninth. Down 0 to 1. With Trey McClendon on first. (Trey went to become WS MVP btw.) Jackson Chourio stepped up to the plate.

At this point in my franchise, Chourio and Sal Frelick were the only two original Brewers still on the team. And with Chourio I crushed a walk-off home run to seal the championship. I was just overjoyed. This was and is my all-time favorite gaming moment, better than beating any Souls game. Pure adrenaline, pure happiness.

So far so good. But here’s where the real magic of baseball happens.

All of this, my World Series win with Jackson Chourio happened in summer 2023, before he had ever taken a swing in the majors.

In fact, it should take another few months, until Opening Day March 29th 2024, 1.44 PM for his first AB. How I know the time so well… I was there. On a crisp spring afternoon, I watched Jackson Chourio step up for his very first major league at-bat. Brewers at Mets in Citi Field. My wonderful wife had agreed to another New York trip, not only, but also to see this exact moment in time.

Jackson didn’t do anything with his first at-bat, but I had goosebumps when he stepped on and was the happiest guy in the stadium.