We also had a hammer and nails in the bag to take care of cracked bats and then came the black electrical tape
quote:Come to think of it I think we had more fun than the kids today
I'd say we were more creative with the games we played as kids. We were rarely bored growing up. Today's technology and the times have changed that.
WOW, some of this talk about pick-up games and playing where ever we could sure brings back some memories.
We had pickle, and stick ball, but we called it cork ball. After we broke a couple of windows playing in the street someone came up with a cork ball. It fell apart pretty fast so we started wrapping it with tape. Can't remember what kind of tape, probably electrical because it was pretty durable. Anyway, the ball lasted until someone hit it so far we did not see where it went for sure and could not find it. I remember getting in a lot of trouble for cutting a fairly new broom to make a "stick" bat after the one we were using had broken. When I saw leather covered cork balls in a baseball/softball equipment magazine I could not get one ordered fast enough.
Someone mentioned something about throwing a lot but only pitching once a week. That was a very good point and have to agree with that. It seemed like we threw the ball all the time but pitched only once a week. Not sure we are doing our kids any favors by letting them play those long summer seasons after school season?
We had pickle, and stick ball, but we called it cork ball. After we broke a couple of windows playing in the street someone came up with a cork ball. It fell apart pretty fast so we started wrapping it with tape. Can't remember what kind of tape, probably electrical because it was pretty durable. Anyway, the ball lasted until someone hit it so far we did not see where it went for sure and could not find it. I remember getting in a lot of trouble for cutting a fairly new broom to make a "stick" bat after the one we were using had broken. When I saw leather covered cork balls in a baseball/softball equipment magazine I could not get one ordered fast enough.
Someone mentioned something about throwing a lot but only pitching once a week. That was a very good point and have to agree with that. It seemed like we threw the ball all the time but pitched only once a week. Not sure we are doing our kids any favors by letting them play those long summer seasons after school season?
After breaking some windows in the yard with whiffle balls (not enough space) we came up with cup ball. We stuffed bathroom size Dixie cups with newspaper and folded over the tops. Four squares on the garage door made a strike zone. We would fire cup balls from twenty to twenty-five feet away. What a curve you could break off with the shape of a cup. Today dads would look at this as the perfect formula for destroying arms. We played this game until high school. Four of us were pitchers and never hurt our arms.
What we got from this game is we were all hard to smoke with fastballs. We all had low strike out ratios in high school and college (two were position players in college). Because one pitching strategy was to hook a curve around the swing zone and hit the squares for a strike we were all good at fouling off/wasting curves.
We used to have acorn and chestnut fights wearing goggles. Throwing acorns and chestnuts at full velocity would be frowned on by today's dads as arm abuse. No one ever got hurt (their arms anyway).
Then there was "How far can you throw a snow ball?" More underweighted spheres thrown at max velocity in freezing cold weather without warming up.
We played lots of whiffle ball at other kid's houses. We played home run derby down at the fields swinging from our heels. None of this ever screwed up our swing mechanics. I think a lot of today's dads overthink things and try to create the perfect bubble world for their kids.
By the way, in high school I started one game (and always finished) and relieved at least one other the same week, all season. When I relieved my bullpen was swinging my arm between pitches in center.
What we got from this game is we were all hard to smoke with fastballs. We all had low strike out ratios in high school and college (two were position players in college). Because one pitching strategy was to hook a curve around the swing zone and hit the squares for a strike we were all good at fouling off/wasting curves.
We used to have acorn and chestnut fights wearing goggles. Throwing acorns and chestnuts at full velocity would be frowned on by today's dads as arm abuse. No one ever got hurt (their arms anyway).
Then there was "How far can you throw a snow ball?" More underweighted spheres thrown at max velocity in freezing cold weather without warming up.
We played lots of whiffle ball at other kid's houses. We played home run derby down at the fields swinging from our heels. None of this ever screwed up our swing mechanics. I think a lot of today's dads overthink things and try to create the perfect bubble world for their kids.
By the way, in high school I started one game (and always finished) and relieved at least one other the same week, all season. When I relieved my bullpen was swinging my arm between pitches in center.
Yep, that black electrician's tape was on every bat in the neighborhood.
I saw my first Japanese newspaper playing baseball. We were out of baseballs. The corner store ** had a bucket with baseballs for sale. We bought a couple. They got soft fast. Then they started to come apart. The core was balled up Japanese newspaper.
** Remember the mom and pop corner stores? These were owned by people in the community. As a kid you went to the store, bought something and told them to put it on your family's card. Dad dropped in Saturday morning to paid the bill.
** Remember the mom and pop corner stores? These were owned by people in the community. As a kid you went to the store, bought something and told them to put it on your family's card. Dad dropped in Saturday morning to paid the bill.
ours was an italian neighborhood. every time i went to the store, (for a jic jac orange soda) the lady would squeeze my cheek. minga didn't that smart.
Just thought I would chime in about pitch counts. I watched my son go 4 and 1 in eight days during the first part of his junior year in high school ball. Won a lot of games and all-state (in Texas). He had bone chips removed before his senior season.
He threw almost 100 innings his senior year after having the bone chips removed in November.
Went to a major college and hit 97. Was told by his D-1 coach he was the hardest thrower he ever had. Transferred to another major program and I gunned him at his sophomore (high school) velocity. He had shoulder problems and this university ran him back in the Fall too fast against what his doctor advised.
Was drafted last summer and is recovering from shoulder surgery -- two front labral tears and some clean-up. Pitched in pro ball until his shoulder wouldn't stand up. Had 15 innings and 24 Ks. That with his high school velocity.
I use to post on this website. At that time, I asked about pitch counts and was told by some not to talk to the coach. That is foolishness. The kids won't, the parents must. In our case, it was my son who absolutely loved his coach (still does) and wanted to win for him. I also really like his coach. The blame is on me. He shouldn't have thrown so much and I should have seen to that.
Additionally, I hear so many say that it depends upon the pitcher. I agree with that but how can a coach evaluate that without x-ray vision. There has to be guidelines on pitch counts. It cannot nor should not depend upon the coaching philosophy or the perception of the strength of the kid. The whole body is chaining energy from the ground up. When a pitcher throws 90, his hand is moving 90. Our tissues were not made for that. The weak part of the chain will cause the problem.
Although poor mechanics can cause or quicken the problem, a pitcher with "perfect" mechanics can have injury.
Two facts. The harder a pitcher throws, the greater the chance for injury. If you and I casually tossed back and forth in the front yard we probably will not get hurt. The second is the more you throw the greater the chance for injury. When I lift weights the first rep is not so bad. However, the 8th rep is sometimes worse than the first 7. After we fatique, we can get hurt -- the same with a pitcher.
I like you always enjoyed Coach May's insight.
He threw almost 100 innings his senior year after having the bone chips removed in November.
Went to a major college and hit 97. Was told by his D-1 coach he was the hardest thrower he ever had. Transferred to another major program and I gunned him at his sophomore (high school) velocity. He had shoulder problems and this university ran him back in the Fall too fast against what his doctor advised.
Was drafted last summer and is recovering from shoulder surgery -- two front labral tears and some clean-up. Pitched in pro ball until his shoulder wouldn't stand up. Had 15 innings and 24 Ks. That with his high school velocity.
I use to post on this website. At that time, I asked about pitch counts and was told by some not to talk to the coach. That is foolishness. The kids won't, the parents must. In our case, it was my son who absolutely loved his coach (still does) and wanted to win for him. I also really like his coach. The blame is on me. He shouldn't have thrown so much and I should have seen to that.
Additionally, I hear so many say that it depends upon the pitcher. I agree with that but how can a coach evaluate that without x-ray vision. There has to be guidelines on pitch counts. It cannot nor should not depend upon the coaching philosophy or the perception of the strength of the kid. The whole body is chaining energy from the ground up. When a pitcher throws 90, his hand is moving 90. Our tissues were not made for that. The weak part of the chain will cause the problem.
Although poor mechanics can cause or quicken the problem, a pitcher with "perfect" mechanics can have injury.
Two facts. The harder a pitcher throws, the greater the chance for injury. If you and I casually tossed back and forth in the front yard we probably will not get hurt. The second is the more you throw the greater the chance for injury. When I lift weights the first rep is not so bad. However, the 8th rep is sometimes worse than the first 7. After we fatique, we can get hurt -- the same with a pitcher.
I like you always enjoyed Coach May's insight.
baseballpapa,
Glad to receive update on your son and good to see your post this morning. I have to admit, it was a sight for sore eyes. I have survived the cutbacks and received another promotion at my workplace
Can you still relate to that profession? That's my moonlight Graham job. Give me a call sometimes. You can still reach me at the same number. The radar gun has been invaluable in my scouting travels. My latest use was two weekends back when Pelfrey pitched here at Tradition Field at the Mets spring training stadium. He hit 94MPH several times that day. Would like to hear from you.
blessings,
Glad to receive update on your son and good to see your post this morning. I have to admit, it was a sight for sore eyes. I have survived the cutbacks and received another promotion at my workplace
Can you still relate to that profession? That's my moonlight Graham job. Give me a call sometimes. You can still reach me at the same number. The radar gun has been invaluable in my scouting travels. My latest use was two weekends back when Pelfrey pitched here at Tradition Field at the Mets spring training stadium. He hit 94MPH several times that day. Would like to hear from you.blessings,
BBP, Good luck to Casey going forward!
Marone!
quote:Originally posted by 20dad:
ours was an italian neighborhood. every time i went to the store, (for a jic jac orange soda) the lady would squeeze my cheek. minga didn't that smart.
Marone!