For me, probably the beginning of August in 2006. I had a team playing in the West Coast Summer Series, a great 18u wood bat tournament. There were many things that made this day special, but the most important for me was that I knew this was the last game I was going to coach many of the young men who'd been playing for me, some for up to five years of summer ball with me. We went 5-1 in pool play, and were undefeated, 4-0, in the championship round. To give you an idea of our team, here was my starting lineup that day, and where they are now.
Rikki Foster, SS, UC Davis
Tim Wheeler, CF, Sacramento State
Corey Valine, 3B, San Jose State
Lars Anderson, 1B, Boston Red Sox organization (drafted by Boston two months earlier)
Tyler DeWitt, RF, Sierra College (drafted by Cincinnatti Reds two months earlier)
Jamie Niley, LF, University of the Pacific (drafted by Colorado Rockies two months earlier)
Alex Rivers, P, Santa Clara
Brent Hottman, C, Sacramento State
Marcus Kemp, 2B, Loyola Marymount (no longer playing)
We were playing Top Tier, which is a Chicago based team, and their starting pitcher was fresh and throwing low 90s gas. Rivers, who also sat low 90s, started off strong but then gave up two walks in the 2nd inning before getting out of the inning without allowing another baserunner. By the time we'd come to the 7th inning, we'd been held to only 3 hits, but.....Alex had a no-hitter going. Other than the two baserunners in the 2nd, they hadn't gotten a man on base. We go to the top of the 7th with a 3-0 lead, and Alex retires the first batter. The next hitter lines a soft line drive that gets over the shortstop and falls harmlessly in short left field. The no-hitter is gone. I was crushed, as Alex had pitched his heart out and had thrown three other 1-hitters for our team in the previous two summers, and I was really pulling for him to have his final game for my team be a no-hitter. Alex just backed off the mound, took off his cap and wiped his brow. When he climbed back on the mound, he had a smile on his face as he nodded at the fingers Hottman put down. His pitch jammed the hitter and he rolled a ground ball to 3rd, for a 5-4-3 double play and GAME OVER.
That was the best d*mn dog pile I've ever seen.
Lars signed a week later, and the rest went off to start their college baseball careers. I expect that several of the other players from that team will be drafted this June, and it'll be another great day for us all.
As my son is about to start the games in his last HS season, I am reminded of the very first play in the very first "organized" baseball game he played in.
Tee ball, coed, all the kids take the field. At that age you put them all out there. A kid at each base, a pitcher, a catcher, and seven kids in the outfield picking daisies. The positions rotated every inning. Pure torture.
My son was at the pitchers mound to start off that first game, and Tess was on first base. My kid, of course, was all excited to play ball. He had been throwing and catching and hitting with me and his friends for a long time.
First kid takes the tee, and predictably hits the ball to the pitchers mound. My son fields the ball, turns and throws it to first.
Tess wasn't even looking. The ball (at that age a padded ball) hit her squarely in the nose.
Thus ending Tess's baseball career. No lasting damage, but her emergency room doc dad was quick on the scene.
Said Dad to Son: "Nice throw!"
Tee ball, coed, all the kids take the field. At that age you put them all out there. A kid at each base, a pitcher, a catcher, and seven kids in the outfield picking daisies. The positions rotated every inning. Pure torture.
My son was at the pitchers mound to start off that first game, and Tess was on first base. My kid, of course, was all excited to play ball. He had been throwing and catching and hitting with me and his friends for a long time.
First kid takes the tee, and predictably hits the ball to the pitchers mound. My son fields the ball, turns and throws it to first.
Tess wasn't even looking. The ball (at that age a padded ball) hit her squarely in the nose.
Thus ending Tess's baseball career. No lasting damage, but her emergency room doc dad was quick on the scene.
Said Dad to Son: "Nice throw!"
quote:First kid takes the tee, and predictably hits the ball to the pitchers mound. My son fields the ball, turns and throws it to first.
Tess wasn't even looking. The ball (at that age a padded ball) hit her squarely in the nose.
One of my favorite memories is also when my son played t-ball. He was also "pitcher" and had two or three ground balls hit to him in a row, threw them over to first base where they were all missed. The next time the ball was hit to him, he rolled the ball over to first base where the put out was made. I will never forget that. (We did tell him not to do that anymore.)
Tball memory,
Son a lefty playing 1st base.
No outs runners on 1st and 2nd.
Ball hit right at my son, and he catches on the fly and runs to 1st base on instinct.
Double play, now the runner on 2nd ran on the hit to 3rd.
The 3rd base coach is telling him to run back to second.
My son sees all this and starts running for 2nd.
Now its a foot race to the bag.
Son missed an unassisted triple play by an eyelash.
He would of threw it, but nobody there.
Anyway it was fun to watch.
EH
Son a lefty playing 1st base.
No outs runners on 1st and 2nd.
Ball hit right at my son, and he catches on the fly and runs to 1st base on instinct.
Double play, now the runner on 2nd ran on the hit to 3rd.
The 3rd base coach is telling him to run back to second.
My son sees all this and starts running for 2nd.
Now its a foot race to the bag.
Son missed an unassisted triple play by an eyelash.
He would of threw it, but nobody there.
Anyway it was fun to watch.
EH
My best baseball memory for myself was a chance meeting with Ferguson Jenkins and the ensuing conversation about a mutual team mate. He knew him when they both pitched for Chicago and I knew him when I tried to comeback with a semi-pro team called the Lawton Pepsis before he made it to the Cubs. It was one of the best baseball conversations I ever had.
The best memory of my boys- 1)Several of the Oklahoma State players would stop by the house to play catch with my two sons during their grade school years. The smiles were irreplaceable. The game was still fun for all of them.
2)My middle son was working a home game as batboy. He was sitting in his designated corner of the dugout by the screen and was watching everything intently. Two players were able to sneak up on him and place two cone shaped water cups filled with shaving cream on top of his batting helmet while another two were able to place nice wads of gum on the points of the cone. The crowd down the third baseline began to notice what was going on and erupted when the plate ump requested more baseballs and when coach Ward saw what was happening. That was the only time I saw the man look terrified. My boy trots out to the plate and the PU pulls his mask off and bends over laughing. Coach Ward is chewing on the overachievers and trying to find me in the stands at the same time. I thought it was funny!! My son had no clue what everyone was laughing at until he got back to the dugout and they told him to take his helmet off. He thought it was funny too!
The best memory of my boys- 1)Several of the Oklahoma State players would stop by the house to play catch with my two sons during their grade school years. The smiles were irreplaceable. The game was still fun for all of them.
2)My middle son was working a home game as batboy. He was sitting in his designated corner of the dugout by the screen and was watching everything intently. Two players were able to sneak up on him and place two cone shaped water cups filled with shaving cream on top of his batting helmet while another two were able to place nice wads of gum on the points of the cone. The crowd down the third baseline began to notice what was going on and erupted when the plate ump requested more baseballs and when coach Ward saw what was happening. That was the only time I saw the man look terrified. My boy trots out to the plate and the PU pulls his mask off and bends over laughing. Coach Ward is chewing on the overachievers and trying to find me in the stands at the same time. I thought it was funny!! My son had no clue what everyone was laughing at until he got back to the dugout and they told him to take his helmet off. He thought it was funny too!
That's a funny story CoachO, thanks for the laugh.
Mine are hopefully yet to come. Maybe tonight, if 8U son's game don't get rained out.
as a player it would have to be always turning around and seeing my dad in the stands with his scorebook. he would never miss a practice or game. that taught me alot about being a dad and he didn't have to say a word.
as a coach we took a 10 yr old team from dallas little league to the elite 8. two years later we were in liberty city, mo at the super series world series. the next year everyone went their seperate ways to play for "professional" coaches. this time next year there will be 8 or 9 of those kids playing college ball.
as a dad its taking both of my boys to yankee stadium and fenway park in june of 2007. one month before my oldest son left for basics. theres nothing like baseball memories.
as a coach we took a 10 yr old team from dallas little league to the elite 8. two years later we were in liberty city, mo at the super series world series. the next year everyone went their seperate ways to play for "professional" coaches. this time next year there will be 8 or 9 of those kids playing college ball.
as a dad its taking both of my boys to yankee stadium and fenway park in june of 2007. one month before my oldest son left for basics. theres nothing like baseball memories.
This is my very first post. A fellow coach told me about this site.
I've got 3 sons who play, hence the name, and I coach hs baseball. Last Saturday we had a home double header and my 6 year old came with me. When we got there he asked what I had to do and I told him to line the field. He watched the entire game from our dugout and I'd look back at him during the game and he'd be squeezed between two players whenever a lefty came up to protect him from a foul ball.
Between games he comes to me and says "dad, can I line the field? I watched you do it".
On the way home he said "Dad, today was the greatest day of my life" and I asked why, he says "because I got to sit in the dugout with you and the Bulldogs".
That night when I'm putting him to bed he says in real quiet voice..."dad, you're my hero".
I've got 3 sons who play, hence the name, and I coach hs baseball. Last Saturday we had a home double header and my 6 year old came with me. When we got there he asked what I had to do and I told him to line the field. He watched the entire game from our dugout and I'd look back at him during the game and he'd be squeezed between two players whenever a lefty came up to protect him from a foul ball.
Between games he comes to me and says "dad, can I line the field? I watched you do it".
On the way home he said "Dad, today was the greatest day of my life" and I asked why, he says "because I got to sit in the dugout with you and the Bulldogs".
That night when I'm putting him to bed he says in real quiet voice..."dad, you're my hero".
3baseballsons, first of all welcome 
What a great story
, you are definitely doing something right. Good luck with the three sons!
Oops, and good luck to your daughter as well.
What a great story
, you are definitely doing something right. Good luck with the three sons!Oops, and good luck to your daughter as well.
great post 3B and welcome to hsbaseballweb. it doesn't get any better than your son calling you his hero.
These are some great stories. They remind me of just why baseball is so special among all of the sports. Just to add my 2 cents worth, mine is the first time son pitched at one of the big national tourneys. At the time, he had not really had any exposure, and so was an unknown at this particular event, and up to that point, had been a rec/local aau player. Takes his warm-up pitches, has a quick chat with the catcher. Gets on the mound and looks up to see like 40 radar guns pointed at him!! He looked like he was gonna make a #2 right there!! He stepped off the back, adjusted his cup (guess it was time to see what you got down there), and proceeded to throw a CG gem against one of the top teams in the country. He had just turned 16 at the time, and after the last pitch (89 on the black), his fist-pump was probably one of the most pure moments of joy either one of us will ever experience.
Wow, 3B, that's a great story. My son will probably never say that to me, but I did see him walk on air last night.
2B hit his first high school home run - a GRAND SLAM!! His next AB, line single to right. He ended up 3-for-4, 5 RBIs, and was Player of the Game in the local paper.
He is the one with his helmet on, smiling.
Seemed like he was taller this morning. Awesome.
2B hit his first high school home run - a GRAND SLAM!! His next AB, line single to right. He ended up 3-for-4, 5 RBIs, and was Player of the Game in the local paper.
He is the one with his helmet on, smiling.
Seemed like he was taller this morning. Awesome.
It doesn't get much better than that 2Bmom.
Congrats!!!
Congrats!!!
My best memory in baseball? Thats easy, last year my 9 year comes to bat in his first year of kid pitch. Its the last inning of a league game and we are down by who knows, 10 runs or something and hits a weak, bloop single over the SS. The toothless grin he showed off on first base was priceless.
3 weeks earlier in the boys first scrimmage ever against kids throwing live, his very first plate appearance, actually the very first pitch he ever saw(or didn't see) ended up knocking out 2 1/2 teeth. He went hitless his first 7 games after that, but stayed with it and that smile on first will stay with me forever.
3 weeks earlier in the boys first scrimmage ever against kids throwing live, his very first plate appearance, actually the very first pitch he ever saw(or didn't see) ended up knocking out 2 1/2 teeth. He went hitless his first 7 games after that, but stayed with it and that smile on first will stay with me forever.
I have blessed with so many great baseball memories it probably isn't fair...
I grew up in the Cincinnati area during the "Big Red Machine" era, that whole decade was a "best of" series of memoires for me.
For my oldest son... "The Pittsburgh Pirates select..."
For my youngest son (8th grader)... got a text from him yesterday saying "Dad I made the school team"
Both very different however both just as special to me. Yes I have been blessed; the baseball gods have been very good to me.
I grew up in the Cincinnati area during the "Big Red Machine" era, that whole decade was a "best of" series of memoires for me.
For my oldest son... "The Pittsburgh Pirates select..."
For my youngest son (8th grader)... got a text from him yesterday saying "Dad I made the school team"
Both very different however both just as special to me. Yes I have been blessed; the baseball gods have been very good to me.
3baseballsons nice to have you on the site. Thats an awesome post.
There have been alot of great baseball memories over the years involving my son and other young men on different teams and at different levels, but about 3 weeks ago, I realized the memories that I cherish the most.
About 3 weeks ago, my son called and said he was on the college travel squad to Conway SC for 4 games. I couldn't miss this, so I loaded up the car and set off for the 5 hour ride to Conway. Wife was working, so I was by myself. About halfway thru the trip, I realized how many great memories I had of just the trips to baseball games. Those times my son and I just spent talking about baseball, girls, school, laughing and fighting.
Baseball brought my son and I closer, I made alot of mistakes in my life, and those trips gave me a chance to tell my son about each and every one of them and advise him how to keep himself out of those same situations. So far it seems to be paying off.
I will never forget our baseball trips!
About 3 weeks ago, my son called and said he was on the college travel squad to Conway SC for 4 games. I couldn't miss this, so I loaded up the car and set off for the 5 hour ride to Conway. Wife was working, so I was by myself. About halfway thru the trip, I realized how many great memories I had of just the trips to baseball games. Those times my son and I just spent talking about baseball, girls, school, laughing and fighting.
Baseball brought my son and I closer, I made alot of mistakes in my life, and those trips gave me a chance to tell my son about each and every one of them and advise him how to keep himself out of those same situations. So far it seems to be paying off.
I will never forget our baseball trips!
Here's another one our family will always cherish. As much time as we spend on fundamentals, mechanics, BP, games, titles, All-Stars, etc., oftentimes it's the character traits that shine the brightest and make us the proudest.
As our son completed his Little League years, he was awarded our league's highest award (voted on by the Majors managers).
The [XYZ] Memorial Award, [Our] Little League's highest award, is presented annually to the Major League Player that best personifies determination, respect, good attitude, sportsmanship, hustle and the ability to get along with others. The recipient of the 2007 [XYZ] Memorial Award was...
As our son completed his Little League years, he was awarded our league's highest award (voted on by the Majors managers).
The [XYZ] Memorial Award, [Our] Little League's highest award, is presented annually to the Major League Player that best personifies determination, respect, good attitude, sportsmanship, hustle and the ability to get along with others. The recipient of the 2007 [XYZ] Memorial Award was...