Lovin the Game

I love getting to the ballpark early to soak up some ambiance or to cut up with the guys. Last night my wife went with me which she doesn’t do that often. It’s not that she doesn’t like baseball (she went to everyone of our son's games) it is just that she seems to think that the kids should at least have access to one parent at home. I’m not sure I fully understand that philosophy. The kids know they can always find me at a field and they are more than welcome to call my cell phone whenever they need access.

Anyway as my wife and I were walking around the stands trying to decide what we would eat, she said the strangest thing. “You know, I just don’t get why people get so excited about going to the ballgame unless you have a son playing. After all, it is just a game.”

Are you kidding me? You mean after being married for 23 years you still don’t get it? It’s not just a game; it is a way for all of us to connect with something from our childhood. It is a way for each of us to get away from the trials and tribulations and forget about all the trivial issues we have in our every day lives. It is an opportunity for us to share in a game that our parents or grandparents taught us. Baseball is the one constant in the universe. Technology may change, the way we live our lives may be vastly different than it was for our parents but the one thing we have in common is baseball. I may not be able to talk to my parents about computers or ipods or any of the countless other gadgets we have available, but I do know that my dad and I can have passionate discussions about the designated hitter and who was the best pitcher to ever play the game. Baseball is that one equalizer in our lives that bridges generations and helps us to come to grips with getting older. We know that soon it will be our time to tell the next generation of the time we saw this player break that record or how we celebrated with milkshakes when we won our high school conference. It is the warm memories we feel when we watch our boy's play the positions we occupied on the diamond as youngsters. It’s like coming home to find a fresh baked plate of chocolate chip cookies waiting for you just as soon as you washed your hands and put your mitt away. That’s why people get excited about baseball.

What do you love about the game?

 

Awesome post.

There are so many things I love about the game. From sunflower seeds to the smell of pine tar. Then all of the other things the game brings to us. Can't put it all into words.

It was nights like last night that really reminded me of what baseball means to me. Got off work around 8:45 and was heading to the girlfriends house... Saw the lights on at the high school so I figured I would swing by and see if anyone was still in the parking lot that I knew. Wrong. Game was tied in the 7th inning. Ended up getting to see a couple innings of my old high school team playing a local rival. We lost the game, but it doesn't get any better.

 

I Love This Game.

It makes sense out of a nonsensical world.

I love seeing young boys become young men with passion for something that means so much to so few.

I love seeing young men struggle together, triumph together and console one another.

I love the feel of that first evening game with a coolness in the air that seems to wash over me and for just a little while, forget about $3.45 a gallon gas and HAVING to earn a living.

I love the way baseball has a language of its own.

I love the way my cell phone blows up during baseball season with updates and final scores.

I love the sound of a ball smacking leather.

I love the joy in the eyes of a young man who experiences the rewards of hard work in the off season and a game well played.

I love the innocence of Little League.

I love how Little Leaguers look up to high school players as if they were big leaugers.

I love the fact my wife knows as much or more about baseball than most men my age.

I love the fact my wife knows the Atlanta Braves starting lineup, their BA and the rotation.

I love the fact I can look at my wifes book after a game and know EXACTLY what transpired.

I love the fact that when I wanted Direct TV and the MLB package, my wife ordered it without a word.

I love seeing parents cheer not only their child, but the other kids as well.

I love the fact that so many people are willing to donate their time to this sport to teach kids the right way to play.

I love the National Anthem with players lined up. It gives me chills EVERY time.

I love that baseball teaches life lessons....whether the player realizes it or not.

I love that my daughter is very proud of her big brother, although she would never admit it.

I love the double steal.

I love the smell of pine tar.

I love the tradition and honor of the game.

I Love This Game.

 

Stretchlon, you hit the nail right on the head, great post!

JM15 ..... I know the feeling!

Both my boys have been out of Little league for years, but when I am near the fields, I still stop by and watch more than a couple of innings. Heck, I've even done this when I have been on vacation. My wife thinks I'm crazy, but what the hell! It doesn't matter if I know anyone or not ............. it's just watching the game.

 

I'm not sure, but I think I created a monster. My wife not only goes to more games than I do, she keeps a book on every one, for no other reason than to keep track of the game.
I love watching two well-coached teams take a clean infield, and then battling it out for seven innings of error-free baseball with good umpires .
I love watching players who can handle the action, without throwing a temper tantrum when the road gets bumpy.
I love watching players who leave their at bats in dugout, and don't take them to the field.
I love watching guys execute a perfect hit and run just out of reach of the second baseman, that advances the lead runner to third.
I love watching underdogs rise to the occaison when given a chance to play.

 

I love the fact that I have a 10 yo and I get to do it all over again (hopefully wiser)

 

I loved watching my 2 sons play this great game for many years and I know for a fact that I was the proudest papa in town the year they both started and played together (one soph and one a senior in HS). But as my 2 boys have grown into young men and moved on,,,,,,, as a 47 year old man, Stretchlon's post hits the nail on the head for me. I still look at any baseball field where 2 teams are lining up to play, and no matter what city the park is in,,,,,,,, I just feel a relaxing attachment, sorta like being at HOME.

To me its simple, ballparks are where the rest of the world's problems can NOT get to,,,,,,,,, and ballgames are fun for obvious reasons,,,,,,,,,, you always meet people at ballgames,,,,,,,,,, and the best part, the many discussions that go on DURING and AFTER the games last a lifetime, with many stories growing better and better endings over the years.....

 

You're right tj. Baseball is one of the few sports you can watch and I can regale you with one of my stories without missing a play.

 

... and if "regale" means to lie or exaggerate,,,,, Braves you can regale with the best of 'em....

 

Not only do I not ( and never have) had a son playing, I wasn't even much of a baseball fan until I started going to Ragsdale games about five years ago. The extent of my baseball experience was one year of little league, a couple major league games, a couple minor league games every year and maybe watching the world series on TV.

But once I started going I got hooked on high school baseball. Yeah it helps that Ragsdale plays a high caliber brand of ball year in and year out but just being at the ball park in the spring is a great thing. I know many of the parents through the years have wondered who I am and why I'm there if I don't have a kid playing but I just tell them "I'm just a fan."

Of course I know many of the players since my daughter is in school now. She is a junior and is friends with most of the players. She has taken up as her cause to go to the JV games and make sure they have a score board operator. It's fun sitting with her, talking strategy and explaining the calls and plays. And she actually pays attention too.

As a "fan for life" I am testament to the fact you don't have to have a kid playing to enjoy the experience of a baseball game.