The Magic Of Baseball and What it Means To You.

[KnightTemplar]

Remembering my father, little league coach, a quiet, talented baseball player. I can still remember on Friday nights in 1956 it was grocery shopping night. If he could afford it he would give me a quarter and drop me off at the five and dime store while he went around the corner to get his hair cut and chat with the men.

I’d head for the table filled with packs of baseball cards and try to press down hard on the wrappers to see if I could tell which card I was looking at as I didn’t want any duplicates. .25 would buy me five packs, and I would treasure them all on the way home, especially if I got a Mantle, but not so much another Granny Hamner.

The box scores of the day....I’d cut them out of the paper, especially my rotten Phillies, who I stuck with for years. On to many more decades and nothing changed, just the little kid still left in me who waits every year for the pitchers/catchers to report to spring training so that I can lose myself from the mad world that media tries to shove down our throats.

Baseball is my youth, it’s innocence brought back every year.

NOTE: don’t want to be the winner, would give away the copy to someone else. I’ve been blessed during my life....and thanks for being so generous.

[bh446066]

I don’t know man, baseball just brings back memories. Good ones. For me it’s just quick flashes to taking my little brother to his games, or keeping score with my grandma at an Astros game. I know the older I get the more I appreciate AND the memories they conjur. Even the baseball movies are the best. They all seem to have a common theme of bringing you back to your childhood.

[Bullit]

This is going to be a long one and some of you have heard it before so bear with me.

Baseball literally has saved my sanity and my life, it continues to do so to this day.

When I was a kid, I grew up on a farm. I mean a real working farm. As soon as you were old enough you started working. Even a 5 and 6 years old I was up at 4am doing chores and trying to help. But there was a problem. I was a wild child and was always getting into some trouble or forgetting to do things, wandering off etc. One Saturday my Mother was just at her wits end with me and plopped me in front of the TV with my Grandfather who was watching a rarely televised baseball game. Now this was in the days before ADD or OCD was thing. All anybody knew is I was a pain in the ***. But that day I sat for 3 hours straight and never said a word. That was where it all began.

From then on, all i did was read, watch, listen, talk anything Baseball. Pops, my Grandfather, started teaching me stats, and players, history of the game all I wanted to know I would just sit there and absorb it all. It became my first love and obsession. It calmed my mind and quieted the crazy. When the world got to much or I would start being overwhelmed, I would just turn on a game in mind and everything would just slow back down and I could get thru a day.

Then Pops introduced me to Strato Matic Baseball. Every January on the last Friday he and I would drive up to New York to get the new cards for the year. Man, those were some peaceful times. He passed in 1978 and that next January I got a friends Dad to take me up and all of our friends up there saw me without Pops and just new. I hadn't cried until that day and I didn't think I would ever stop. I went up there one more year after and then I have not been since.

Then we move on this journey to High School. We has sold the farm, parents divorced and we moved to southern Virginia. I have always had trouble making friends, so I tried out for the team and made it as the short stop. Played all thru school until I graduated and left for the Army.

Throughout the 10+ years I was in the Army, the one thing that was always in my ruck was my glove and a ball. From North Africa to Afghanistan I have had some crazy pick up games of ball. I have a catch with Generals, Admirals, Senators and Congressman. With Israelis', Saudi's, Afhgan rebels and children all over the world.

When my daughter was born in 1996 I was blessed with the best little girl in the world. At about the same age as I was when I discovered the game, she did as well. Crawling up into my lap and just absorbing it all. Soon she was a big a fan as I was. We went to games anytime we could. College, Minors whatever it just didn't matter as long we were at a game. I mean like 20-30 games a summer was on the low end. It became our thing. The only rule was we had to go to 2 new parks every summer.

Then in 2007 we discovered MLB The Show and that was all she wrote. Every spring we would pre order and pray for something else big to release so we could get it at midnight. We would stand in the parking lot having a catch talking about what our plans were for this years game. It was just an amazing time. Day in and day out we would play. We each always had our own copy. But always comparing notes and trade ideas. It was "our" thing.

Then in November of 2012 my daughter passed unexpectedly of illness in November. My family here on OS was a true blessing. If not for the folks on here I am not sure I would have survived those first few months. My Cricket was my everything. Her mother had left us when she was 6 months old and she is all I had or needed. There is no other family. That winter I reached out to the folks at The Show and told them our story, just to share how much their hard work was appreciated and that it did touch lives. Well that spring I received a copy of The Show in mail just a day or so before release. To this day I have no idea who sent it or why. But MLB The Show had my daughters name added into the voice file and my daughter has played on her beloved Mets every year since.

So some folks on here accuse me of being a fan boy. Well how can you not be. This game means everything to me. This last year I have finished 4 years of a Padres franchise, 1 Year of a Nats franchise and I am in 2026 of my RTTS career. I have logged almost 1300 hours in this game, just this year.

I have fallen a little quiet this past year. But I was having a tough year. I was briefly a Moderator which was an amazing honor but I had some issues on my end that where hurting me and OS so I stepped back just to get back on track. Im happy to say I am off every med I have been put on and slowly getting back to life. Some days the pain is still unbearable and the darkness wins. But I am still here and moving a little forward everyday.

Thru it all there has always been Baseball.

Peace.

[StormsWarning]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bullit

This is going to be a long one and some of you have heard it before so bear with me. Baseball literally has saved my sanity and my life, it continues to do so to this day. When I was a kid, I grew up on a farm. I mean a real working farm. As soon as you were old enough you started working. Even a 5 and 6 years old I was up at 4am doing chores and trying to help. But there was a problem. I was a wild child and was always getting into some trouble or forgetting to do things, wandering off etc. One Saturday my Mother was just at her wits end with me and plopped me in front of the TV with my Grandfather who was watching a rarely televised baseball game. Now this was in the days before ADD or OCD was thing. All anybody knew is I was a pain in the ***. But that day I sat for 3 hours straight and never said a word. That was where it all began. From then on, all i did was read, watch, listen, talk anything Baseball. Pops, my Grandfather, started teaching me stats, and players, history of the game all I wanted to know I would just sit there and absorb it all. It became my first love and obsession. It calmed my mind and quieted the crazy. When the world got to much or I would start being overwhelmed, I would just turn on a game in mind and everything would just slow back down and I could get thru a day. Then Pops introduced me to Strato Matic Baseball. Every January on the last Friday he and I would drive up to New York to get the new cards for the year. Man, those were some peaceful times. He passed in 1978 and that next January I got a friends Dad to take me up and all of our friends up there saw me without Pops and just new. I hadn't cried until that day and I didn't think I would ever stop. I went up there one more year after and then I have not been since. Then we move on this journey to High School. We has sold the farm, parents divorced and we moved to southern Virginia. I have always had trouble making friends, so I tried out for the team and made it as the short stop. Played all thru school until I graduated and left for the Army. Throughout the 10+ years I was in the Army, the one thing that was always in my ruck was my glove and a ball. From North Africa to Afghanistan I have had some crazy pick up games of ball. I have a catch with Generals, Admirals, Senators and Congressman. With Israelis', Saudi's, Afhgan rebels and children all over the world. When my daughter was born in 1996 I was blessed with the best little girl in the world. At about the same age as I was when I discovered the game, she did as well. Crawling up into my lap and just absorbing it all. Soon she was a big a fan as I was. We went to games anytime we could. College, Minors whatever it just didn't matter as long we were at a game. I mean like 20-30 games a summer was on the low end. It became our thing. The only rule was we had to go to 2 new parks every summer. Then in 2007 we discovered MLB The Show and that was all she wrote. Every spring we would pre order and pray for something else big to release so we could get it at midnight. We would stand in the parking lot having a catch talking about what our plans were for this years game. It was just an amazing time. Day in and day out we would play. We each always had our own copy. But always comparing notes and trade ideas. It was "our" thing. Then in November of 2012 my daughter passed unexpectedly of illness in November. My family here on OS was a true blessing. If not for the folks on here I am not sure I would have survived those first few months. My Cricket was my everything. Her mother had left us when she was 6 months old and she is all I had or needed. There is no other family. That winter I reached out to the folks at The Show and told them our story, just to share how much their hard work was appreciated and that it did touch lives. Well that spring I received a copy of The Show in mail just a day or so before release. To this day I have no idea who sent it or why. But MLB The Show had my daughters name added into the voice file and my daughter has played on her beloved Mets every year since. So some folks on here accuse me of being a fan boy. Well how can you not be. This game means everything to me. This last year I have finished 4 years of a Padres franchise, 1 Year of a Nats franchise and I am in 2026 of my RTTS career. I have logged almost 1300 hours in this game, just this year. I have fallen a little quiet this past year. But I was having a tough year. I was briefly a Moderator which was an amazing honor but I had some issues on my end that where hurting me and OS so I stepped back just to get back on track. Im happy to say I am off every med I have been put on and slowly getting back to life. Some days the pain is still unbearable and the darkness wins. But I am still here and moving a little forward everyday. Thru it all there has always been Baseball. Peace. ps: I am not entering to win anything, just wanted to share

I am truly sorry for your loss, you can rest easy and know she is with God and very well taken care of. I will keep you in my Prayers may God give you strength and peace in your heart and soul.

Your story is truly amazing I hope you continue to be blessed.

[bh446066]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bullit

This is going to be a long one and some of you have heard it before so bear with me. Baseball literally has saved my sanity and my life, it continues to do so to this day. When I was a kid, I grew up on a farm. I mean a real working farm. As soon as you were old enough you started working. Even a 5 and 6 years old I was up at 4am doing chores and trying to help. But there was a problem. I was a wild child and was always getting into some trouble or forgetting to do things, wandering off etc. One Saturday my Mother was just at her wits end with me and plopped me in front of the TV with my Grandfather who was watching a rarely televised baseball game. Now this was in the days before ADD or OCD was thing. All anybody knew is I was a pain in the ***. But that day I sat for 3 hours straight and never said a word. That was where it all began. From then on, all i did was read, watch, listen, talk anything Baseball. Pops, my Grandfather, started teaching me stats, and players, history of the game all I wanted to know I would just sit there and absorb it all. It became my first love and obsession. It calmed my mind and quieted the crazy. When the world got to much or I would start being overwhelmed, I would just turn on a game in mind and everything would just slow back down and I could get thru a day. Then Pops introduced me to Strato Matic Baseball. Every January on the last Friday he and I would drive up to New York to get the new cards for the year. Man, those were some peaceful times. He passed in 1978 and that next January I got a friends Dad to take me up and all of our friends up there saw me without Pops and just new. I hadn't cried until that day and I didn't think I would ever stop. I went up there one more year after and then I have not been since. Then we move on this journey to High School. We has sold the farm, parents divorced and we moved to southern Virginia. I have always had trouble making friends, so I tried out for the team and made it as the short stop. Played all thru school until I graduated and left for the Army. Throughout the 10+ years I was in the Army, the one thing that was always in my ruck was my glove and a ball. From North Africa to Afghanistan I have had some crazy pick up games of ball. I have a catch with Generals, Admirals, Senators and Congressman. With Israelis', Saudi's, Afhgan rebels and children all over the world. When my daughter was born in 1996 I was blessed with the best little girl in the world. At about the same age as I was when I discovered the game, she did as well. Crawling up into my lap and just absorbing it all. Soon she was a big a fan as I was. We went to games anytime we could. College, Minors whatever it just didn't matter as long we were at a game. I mean like 20-30 games a summer was on the low end. It became our thing. The only rule was we had to go to 2 new parks every summer. Then in 2007 we discovered MLB The Show and that was all she wrote. Every spring we would pre order and pray for something else big to release so we could get it at midnight. We would stand in the parking lot having a catch talking about what our plans were for this years game. It was just an amazing time. Day in and day out we would play. We each always had our own copy. But always comparing notes and trade ideas. It was "our" thing. Then in November of 2012 my daughter passed unexpectedly of illness in November. My family here on OS was a true blessing. If not for the folks on here I am not sure I would have survived those first few months. My Cricket was my everything. Her mother had left us when she was 6 months old and she is all I had or needed. There is no other family. That winter I reached out to the folks at The Show and told them our story, just to share how much their hard work was appreciated and that it did touch lives. Well that spring I received a copy of The Show in mail just a day or so before release. To this day I have no idea who sent it or why. But MLB The Show had my daughters name added into the voice file and my daughter has played on her beloved Mets every year since. So some folks on here accuse me of being a fan boy. Well how can you not be. This game means everything to me. This last year I have finished 4 years of a Padres franchise, 1 Year of a Nats franchise and I am in 2026 of my RTTS career. I have logged almost 1300 hours in this game, just this year. I have fallen a little quiet this past year. But I was having a tough year. I was briefly a Moderator which was an amazing honor but I had some issues on my end that where hurting me and OS so I stepped back just to get back on track. Im happy to say I am off every med I have been put on and slowly getting back to life. Some days the pain is still unbearable and the darkness wins. But I am still here and moving a little forward everyday. Thru it all there has always been Baseball. Peace. ps: I am not entering to win anything, just wanted to share

Damn it I got something in my eye....

Aaaahhhh...trying to hold it together. That breaks my heart man, hope you’ve been able to find some peace. God love you.

[stealyerface]

I love this part of the year, as A&S gets some great stories shared on here, and although I wrote my baseball piece last year, I wanted to share a fun story that you guys might enjoy...

The year is 1999 an I am playing baseball in Rochester, NY for the Rochester Amateur Baseball Congress. I had graduated from four years of college baseball in 1991, and had continued to play in the summer to try and stay in some semblance of condition.

We have an 8:30pm game under the lights, and we are pretty excited to hear that the pitcher for the other team that evening, is going to be MLB-bound Tim Redding, also from Rochester, NY, and soon (we didn't know then) to be a Houston Astro.

I am on the mound opposing him that night, and we are all pretty amped up to see a host of MLB scouts at the game, behind the backstop, getting the radar guns all set up and calibrated.

We are the home team, and I go out for warmups, and I am pretty much trying to throw my arm out of its socket in an attempt to light up the radar guns. We get out of the top of the first, 1-2-3 and we go to work in the bottom half against Redding.

He too is pretty jacked up for the scouts and he is throwing gaaaaas. I mean, scary stuff. You can hear it from the bench, just sizzling like hot bacon towards the plate.

He walks our first guy, we Sac bunt the two-hole guy, but Redding throws the ball over the first baseman's head, so we have second and third, no one out. Three hitter taps a ball to second, scores the run on a fielder's choice, wild pitch the next pitch, and we are up 2-0 before the clean up guy is done with his AB.

We end the first up 3-0 and I go out for the second inning, get the first two on K's and give up a long homerun that ends up in the Genesee River (not kidding).

We are up 3-1 batting in the second inning, and we string together a hit and an error, run into a long double, and the wheels are coming off the train. He is trying to throw harder and harder, and we are taking pitches and moving runners, and by the third out in the second inning we are up 6-1.

He takes the mound in the third, walks the first two guys and his coach comes out to get him. There is a brief argument, Redding stomps down off the hill, throws his glove over the backstop, packs up his bag, walks out to his car, and drives away, leaving his team down 6-1 and with two guys on, and no outs in the third inning.

I watch the scouts starting to pack up their gear, and walk over towards them as my team is batting. I approach one of the Astro's scouts I recognize, and say, "Nice attitude, huh?"

He looks at me, looks down at his notebook, then back up at me and says (and I quote),

"Well, we can teach that kid some attitude, but we're never gonna teach you how to throw ninety-eight".

The other scouts all looked up at me and laughed, and I nodded and walked back to the bench...

That was a harsh, quick lesson in humility, and he certainly got the last laugh, pitching for the Astros, Yankees, Nationals and the Mets...

Not a story to win anything, but figured you guys might get a chuckle.
~syf

[ML]

I was born in 1994 on Long Island, New York, to a mother who still spends all of Sunday preparing dinner after Mass, and a dad who in his words had a “real shot at making it to the big leagues if he didn’t blow out his damn knee”.

Everybody in my family is a Mets fan, my dad still tells stories of him and my grandfather and all my uncles sneaking beers into Shea Stadium in a blue cooler, hiding them underneath sandwiches that my grandmother would make for them.

Despite being surrounded by the misery of being a Mets fan, I grew up watching the Yankees who had won 4 rings by the time I was 6. Hell, I still remember sitting on my parents bedroom floor, crying my eyes out as I watched the Diamondbacks celebrate their World Series walkoff single off the bat of Gonzo.

I wasn’t gifted with all of the athletic ability in the world, or the height, size, speed, etc. as the more talented players in my town, but I was always willing to put the work in to be able to compete with them. I used to work in the concession stand at the town park, just so I could have access to the storage closet to rake out the batters box so my dad could throw me batting practice on the days that there were no games scheduled...

After getting the chance to play for my town’s high school varsity team when I was in 8th grade, it had occurred to me that maybe I was as talented as the other guys. My dad must have known it too, because my parents worked their butts off to afford to get me into a Catholic School, for the education and sports that they offered.

We won the state championship my sophmore and senior years. I had the NY Gatorade player of the year on my team my senior year, and I was able to benefit from that and managed to snag a full ride to a division 2 school out here on the island. I worked hard at my craft, and after hitting above .300 playing everyday as the starting Center Fielder, I had entered the transfer portal.

The travel team that I played for had a tournament down in Florida, where I was approached by the head coach at the University of Tampa. After falling in love with the program, I officially accepted a scholorship, and planned to get one more summer in with the boys from home before heading to play for the number one ranked school in the country in division 2 baseball. I had hit the jackpot.

Halfway through the summer, I was playing left field, when I tried to shoot a runner heading for the plate on a bang bang play. I slipped, and felt something in my shoulder pop. I shrugged it off (no pun intended). Waiting for my turn in the lineup, every swing I took felt like razor blades cutting into my shoulder. I went to the doctor the very next day.

My world came to a screeching halt as I got the results from my tests; I had completely torn the rotator cuff in my throwing shoulder, as well as my labrum. The doctor said that the fractured AC joint I had suffered the year before hadn’t healed correctly and was putting additional pressure on my shoulder. My arm was a ticking timebomb, and the clock struck zero.

I still went down to Tampa post surgery, and after medically redshirting my first year down, they pulled my scholorship as I had gotten hurt out of season. Not being able to afford tuition, I headed home. Things were dark for a while, and to keep this on the lighter side, I won’t get into it too much here.

There’s always been two things that have always been there for me, in good times and bad times, and that is family and baseball. I go to every game I possibly can, Mets or Yanks, as well as all the minor league affiliates. I coach the younger kids in my towns little league system, and this summer I’m coaching the 16 year old travel team. I have the games on 24/7 during the season, and DVR the day games so I can watch them with a cold one after work. Whether its watching the game, playing the game, or even starting a franchise or RTTS, I feel like that little kid I once was, pretending to be Derek Jeter in Game 7 of the World Series, rounded the bases at that little old town park.

This has gotten long, but even as I type this I’ve looked at my signed Stan Musial bat, next to the “Whos on First?” Abbot and Costello poster and laughed.

There’s a quote I saw in a book once, and I’ll never forget it. “You spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball and in the end it turns out that it was the other way around all the time.”


Sent from my iPhone using Operation Sports

[Speedy]

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

Sent from my SM-G950U using Operation Sports mobile app