What is a High School Baseball Player?

What is a High School Baseball Player?​

Between the indifferent and the protested, we find a marvelous creature called a high school baseball player. His species is varied. He comes in different sizes and different shapes, in different speeds, uniforms, and hair styles. But all have one thing in common: a desire to be the best player they can be.

High school baseball players can be found anywhere – in the classroom, in the locker-room, in the dugout, or on the diamond. In the thick of a nail biter, or sometimes at a laugher; at a fall workout, or a preseason scrimmage; in the heart of a conference race, battling for a tournament title or dancing their way through the playoffs in search of another state championship. You can find them in other places too – on the trainer’s table or on the mound; behind the plate or in the cage; on the field, in love, and in church; but not in the assistant principal’s office in trouble. You may see them throwing, hitting, catching, running, diving, sliding, caring for their field, and always hustling.

You don’t find the high school baseball player up late at night, in bars, at unsupervised parties, cutting class, missing church, being disrespectful, shirking his jobs at home, forgetting mom’s birthday, or in trouble.

Opposing players respect them, mothers fret over them, fathers boast about them, coaches hope and believe in them, umpires try to control them, teachers wonder about them, and small boys and girls idolize them.

A high school baseball player is made of wondrous stuff. He has the eyes and steadiness of a diamond cutter, the muscles of a blacksmith, the speed of a striking cobra, the calculation of a computer, the reflexes of a leopard, the agility of a spider, the touch of a surgeon, the endurance of a rumor, the heart of a giant, and the faith of a saint.

To his teammates, the high school baseball player is a hard worker, always trying to improve, modest, generous with praise, determined, and understanding of the meaning of teamwork. To his coach, the high school baseball player is a fine clay to be molded – a boy into manhood, a perfectionist to be encouraged, a temperament to be channeled, a body to be cared for, a student to be taught, and a dream come true.

To themselves, the high school baseball player is never good enough; they’d be nothing if not for their teammates’ great efforts, aware that they’re an example to others, the reason their team lost, but never the reason it won.

The high school baseball player likes new uniforms, sportsmanlike fans, loud full ball parks, firm and competent umpires, competent and daring coaches, a sparkling play by a teammate, extra base hits, well manicured grass, smooth infields, good lights, clean dugouts, nice shower rooms, dry towels, clutch situations, a day off, good competition, extra innings, lots of rest, a word of encouragement and winning.

A high school baseball player dislikes unreasonable fans, selfish teammates, a lack of hot water, wet grounds, blisters, dirty players, profanity, loafers, a bad hop, missed calls, rain outs, and childhood diseases that keep them off the diamond. A high school baseball player doesn’t care for being put out, making an error, being injured, ties, or losses.

The high school baseball player believes in heroes gone by like: Ruth and Wagner, Cobb and Young; Hornsby and Gehrig, DiMaggio and Williams; Robinson. Mays and Mantle, Koufax and Stargell; Gibson and Robinson, Kaline and Brock; Jackson and Bench, Ryan and Rose; Ripken and Brett; Smith and Gwynn; Alomar and Larkin. They believe in those immortal combos: Evers to Tinker to Chance and Glavine to Maddux to Smoltz. Today’s high school baseball players believe in the starts of their generation: The Captain and Tulo; the Mellville Metor and Miggy; Cutch and the Claw; Buster and the Freak; MadBum and Woody. The high school baseball player strives to be listed with the best of their own school, league and state but most of all, the high school baseball player believes in God.

A high school baseball player knows: that “there is no crying in baseball,” though sometimes that rule is suspended. That “baseball is a simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Got it? Good!” That “You’ve Gotta have Heart” to play, and sometimes the pitch is “just a bit outside.” That “people will come” even though you play “For the Love of the Game.” And as far as baseball is concerned, “a dad makes all the difference.”

A high school baseball player is a Spirit drenched in sweat, Courage in cleats, Sacrifice in the sun or rain, heart huffing as he stretches a double into a triple, Dedication with dirt on his chin, and Loyalty with a smile on his face.

A high school baseball player is a wondrous being. One may dislike him personally, but one has to admire the performance. One may doubt their capabilities, but never their courage. You may question their efficiency, but never their effort.

They are the epitome of Americanism and sportsmanship. One might be able to defeat them, but one will never be able to make them quit.

If you don’t fit this mold, then you are an imitation.

 

Wow...someone spent a lot of time thinking about this and they are absolutely correct. Great job!!!

Mincimi- are you the author of this?

 

Great Job!!!!!

DITTO

 

Very nice. Thanks for sharing. Did you write that?

 

Our son's

Because we love them dearly!!!!!!

 

My dad wrote a piece long ago called what is an athlete, I used that format to create this.

 

Outstanding!!! You are a pro, sir.

 

Great job!

That sir, is one fine piece of prose. With your permission I would like to print a copy to give to our High School coach.
thanks

 

Thanks!

You always add so much here. Thanks for writing that and sharing it with all of us.

 

Absolutely fine by me. That is why I posted it. Does more good for others to aspire too, than to sit in my files.