As the Season gets started, please keep this in mind

After visiting this site for awhile, I saw this thread and just had to add my special memory. My son liked to play baseball but was never great at it. He wasn't talented enough to play high school ball but he played summer ball whether it was Little League or Babe Ruth, He never made any all star teams or such. He was just good enough to start. Most of all, he liked to play Babe Ruth ball with his friends. The boys just had a good time even though success was hard to find. During a Senior Babe Ruth game one night, my son was playing first and a fly ball was hit behind first into short right field. He turned and hustled to make an over the head catch that Willie Mays would have been proud of. I just stood there not believing what I just saw. I was in awe. Before I could make my way out of the dugout (I was on scorebook duty) to congratulate him, he had already returned the ball to the pitcher and was in stance for the next defensive play. With the next pitch, a ball was hit to second and he dropped a perfect throw at first. I told him when he came in how pretty the fly ball catch was and then asked him what happened on the throw from second. I can remember how fast his smile changed into a lowered head. To this day, I regret not making a bigger deal out of the great catch. And now I can't. My son was killed almost two years ago, months after making that catch. I responded to this thread so I could tell the dads out there to make sure you appreciate the memories you have and ones to come. Make sure your son has a smile on his face after the game. More importantly, make sure you do to. Always be positive and somehow forget the "bad". Believe me, winning or losing a baseball game just isn't that important anymore. I would give anything to see that smile again.

 

The last post is one of my all time favorites. After reading the message in the post, it has profoundly change my relationship with my son. I hope it will for you too.

 

Great post everyone need's to read this.

 

Thanks for sharing

Thanks for sharing. This is a very good lesson for all of us. I'm sorry about your son. Take comfort in the good memories.

 

I coached in youth leagues for many years, and still have grown men with children that are now playing HS ball, and they still refer to me as Coach, what I am getting to, I had a young man that played for me in youth ball, for various reasons he did not play hs ball, the young man grew up married and has a fine family, both of his children are girls and both play softball, one is playing hs softball and the youngest has a yr. before being able to play Middle school ball.
It sure makes me feel good that maybe I had a small contribution in shaping this fanily, as it is one you can be proud of...