Baseball - A Game for Life

I’m a huge St. Louis baseball fan. The Cardinals have been part of my life since I can remember.  Even though I didn’t come from a particularly sports-minded family growing up, I learned to embrace the sport of baseball.  I don’t think any of my immediate family really understands.  I’m not a crazy, paint your face, statistic spouting, obnoxious in-your-face type of baseball fan.  I’m just a regular guy who enjoys the game. 

Yes, I have the requisite Cardinal paraphernalia….the shirts, the hats, the pins and ties I wear to work to irritate my Cubs fan boss.  My favorite is the mini Fred Bird that lounges on the bed and comes out for the games on TV and the occasional stadium visit.  He makes me smile when I look at him. 

When I was around 7 or 8 years old we lived about 50-miles west of St. Louis.  I can remember Dad telling me that every year he would receive a FREE pass into Busch Stadium….something about him being a church pastor.  But…to my knowledge he never attended a game.  As a kid, that just didn’t make any sense to me. 

I didn’t get to go to my first professional baseball game until I was a young adult in my 20’s.  Cheap nose-bleed seats, cold blustery day, and mesmerized by the whole experience.  I’ve been hooked ever since. 

For those who are not baseball fans, trust me.  I get it.  Who wants to sit for 3-hours in the stands with a bunch of screaming people eating terrible food and freezing your gluts off during a season opener in April?  And Lord forbid there’s a pitching duel and no runs……BORING!!!!!!! 

But that’s just the attraction for me.  To me, the love of the game is the camaraderie of the crowd, the crazy mascot, the bad food, the bigger-than-life experience of the stadium, and the strategy of the game itself.  Especially the strategy.  How do you know when to pull the pitcher?  How does the manager decide where to place the players for the next batter?  How does the runner make the perfect bunt and what does it take to fake the pitcher out to steal a base?  And then, throw in the unpredictable factors like an injury, a bad baseball hop or just a bad call by the officials. It all makes for fabulous drama!

I used to umpire softball and baseball for the youth, high school and college leagues.  One day I was umpiring a game of 4 and 5-year old girls softball.  If you’ve not had that experience then trust me, it’s well worth going to watch.  Absolutely NOTHING happens like anyone plans.  The coach of the “Bumble Bees” was having particular problems with his outfielders not paying attention to the game.  At one point, the coach asked for “time” and proceeded out to centerfield.  After a short exchange, the girl reached into her pocket and handed over….a bag of Skittles. 

Life is much like a good baseball game.  How do we know what career to work towards?  How much money should I save up to buy my first house?  What kind of education is important?  What’s the secret to landing that great job?  What do I need to do in order to get that pretty girl to say “yes” to marriage?  How do I hang on to a life that I love, but can so easily be turned upside down by the unpredictable?  How much money do I need for retirement? What kind of advice should I give my kids?  What kind of legacy do I want to leave my family when I die?

Small decisions in baseball can have a dramatic outcome in the game.  An outfielder moving one step to the right for the next batter could cause him to miss being able to field a hit in time resulting in a run. Throwing a fast ball low and inside on a batter could be perfect for the near golf swing that sends the ball over the outfield wall. 

Life is the same way.  When the pitch comes how we react can be life changing.   Making the wrong choices can have life altering results.  We all want to hit the home run.  But the reality is that we oftentimes strike outs. 

Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers recently became the first player to win a Triple Crown since Carl Yastrzemski in 1967, and yet, he “only” carried a .320 batting average.  In other words, he only hit the ball successfully less than 1 out of 3 times at bat.  And yet, that’s Hall of Fame material! 

When they fail to connect and go through a streak of missed opportunities, a good baseball player returns to the batting cage…gets advice from the batting coach…and never gives up. 

When life throws you a curve ball and you strike out, the result can be heartbreaking.  But it doesn’t have to be devastating or career-ending.  Go back…evaluate your technique…seek out good advice…study up on your mechanics…and get back out there and swing again. 

Just as in baseball, to be good in life you have to hone your skills and practice, practice, practice!  You’ll fall and make mistakes along the way, but each experience will make you better.  Dwelling on the missed opportunity will not make life any better.  Reach for the home runs in life, even when you strike out.  Eventually you’ll end up in the Hall of Fame if you persevere.

Papa Chief