Firsts

I remember baseball firsts but not with such great detail, I am not sure how you all can remember that stuff..do you write it down?
I actually remember more of the firsts that don't necessary mean they happened in a game but milestones our kids have in growing up, such as first tooth they lost, first day in kindergarten, first day in HS, first time behind the wheel but I do remember the first tball game like it was yesterday. Maybe dads hang onto more of those firsts in sports than us moms do. I think if all one can do and look back at just firsts in sports, you have missed some important things in your kids lives besides baseball (or sports). Don't let your relationships with your kids be all about what he can do on the field. They grow up TOO fast!

One thing I do remember, and I have posted here before, is the first time I saw my son in his college uni. I still get tears thinking of that day, remember everything about it, more so than the first time I saw him in his Cardinals uniform. Most likely because the college uni represented the good choices he made for himself, the hard work to attend a good school with a good bb program, while the pro uniform could have been any team.

Good topic RJM, hope it takes off.

I also remember his first AB on the 60/90 field. He hit the ball up the middle for base hit that snuck through and stopped rolling when it hit the OF grass. He weighed 105lbs. After the game I told him he could handle the "big field" that hit proved it; he looked at me like I was out of my mind.

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quote:

Originally posted by TPM: One thing I do remember, and I have posted here before, is the first time I saw my son in his college uni. I still get tears thinking of that day, remember everything about it....

Yep.

44
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I remember my son's first time pitching in a game. In our area, the players didn't pitch until age 10 - before that it was coach pitch and machine pitch.

Son was picked to pitch because he threw pretty hard for a 10-yr-old. His very first game, he hit a batter in the ribs and the kid crumpled to the ground and took a while to get back up. I felt so bad, so guilty! I hoped the other parents knew that my son wasn't a mean kid, just a little wild!

Son gets up to bat and ... gets hit by a pitch. Ouch, that looked like it hurt, too. Suddenly I didn't feel quite so guilty - guess it's all part of the game.

Julie

I remember some firsts, to be sure. But I think I remember the "lasts" even more.

His last first game of the little league season. His last little league at bat. His last first game his high school season. The last first playoff game of high school. His last high school game and at bat. His last pre-college summer game and at-bat.

I think I remember the "lasts" rather than the "firsts" because at some point there is going to be a "last last" game. And who knows when that will come?

I think I remember the "lasts" more than the "firsts" because I've felt so fortunate that every "last" so far I knew there was a "first" that would soon follow.

At some point, there won't be a "first" that follows a "last" in his baseball career. I've tried very hard to smell every rose along the way, and not worry too much about when that day might come.

I hope it's a ways off, but I sure hope whenever it comes, I am there to see it, to share it with him, and to remember it.

1st Varsity Start: No-Hitter
Last Varsity Start: No-Hitter

Had a perfect game wrecked this Summer when an opposing player laid down a bunt single. (Surprised he didn't pitch at his head the next time he faced him.)

..but my favorite "first": First h.s. pitcher in Washington State history to strikeout 21 guys.

quote:

Originally posted by Bum:
Had a perfect game wrecked this Summer when an opposing player laid down a bunt single. (Surprised he didn't pitch at his head the next time he faced him.)

Maybe better advice is to have him learn to field bunts the best he possibly can and let the chips fall where they may.

I hope your ego isn't so big that you counsel your kid to throw at someone's head if something doesn't go his way If that comment was intended as a joke, it wasn't funny.

In case you were unaware, college summer games are meaningless. I'll grant that a perfect game is an impressive achievement but not at the expense of someone elses well-being. Hopefully we can agree that no game is that important.

First callup game as an 8yr old playing up in the 9-10 yr old division: Kid hits what looked like a routine line drive single to RF, picks up the ball and fires to 1B for the 9-3 putout. This was the first of a number of times he pulled off that play from RF from Cal Ripken ball thru American Legion including once in a HS game where the opposing HS coach went ballistic on the kid who got thrown out in the HS game at 1B.

First all-star game: went 4 for 4 and opened up with 7 straight hits before he made his first out in this first tournament.

First all-star game pitching: Gave up 1 run on 3 hits in a 12-1 against top team in the tournament(4 inning mercy rule game.) Got game ball.

First over the fence HR: In the Babe Ruth district semi finals hit a grand slam to left center. Finished the game 5 for 5 with 9 RBI.

First HS Homerun. An opposite field shot to RF.

First varsity AB: Struck out swinging, went down after hacking off a couple foul balls on an 0-2 count.

First varsity hit: Line drive to CF off a current D1 and former all-state pitcher. Went 2 for 2 off him and finished the day 2 for 3.

First varsity playoff game. went 4 for 5 w/ a triple, 3RBI, 4 runs scored and 3 stolen bases.

Last varsity AB, came off the bench as a PH for the first time all year and hit a game tying RBI single to center after trailing by 3 runs in the last inning. Scored the winning run from 3B on a walk.

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"Hopefully we can agree that no game is that important."

Point made CD.

My well honed educated guess, if all of you are able to lay aside your incredulity, is Bum was very much joking with that comment.




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There are only two firsts I remember.

The first time he hit a wiffle ball I kept lobbing it up to him underhanded and he couldn't hit it. So I stepped back about 15 feet and threw it overhand and he tattooed it...at about 5.

Like TPM and others...the first time I saw him in his college uniform. It was special for me, I'll never forget.

Other than that, just moments...

quote:

Originally posted by ClevelandDad:
I hope your ego isn't so big that you counsel your kid to throw at someone's head if something doesn't go his way If that comment was intended as a joke, it wasn't funny.

No, my counsel to him has always been NEVER EVER throw at someone's head. As for your comments on my ego, that is chastisement I probably deserve for a flippant remark, but then you make it personal to my kid, suggesting he learn how to field bunts.. You are being very judgmental Cleveland Dad and if you want to lecture try the local community college. Nuff said.

My first uniform, at 13, I got the same number my big brother had on his uniform (he was 17) and I thought that was the coolest thing in the world.

When I first read this the one big memory came to mind (1st AB on "big field"). After reading some of the other great moments here; it has brought me back to some great thoughts & memories.

Good post!

Firsts?

My first day in a baseball uniform over 44 years ago. I sat on the bench hoping beyond measure the coach didn't ask me to play...he did...LOL!!!

My first breakup with my girlfriend at 18. I really thought I was in love...hahahaha!!!

My first marriage...and I'm still married to her too!

The first big sigh of relief knowing that I don't have to coach my 16U RHP son any longer. Though I still catch for him, which is getting more dangerous to my health everyday.

My first high school coaching position after years of slugging it out in club and league ball...very good result...city championship.

And by far my best first of all time...

Watching my first child born...ah, the beauty of seeing the beginning of a life's journey. She is now in the last semester of becoming a teacher.

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I'm with you on the kids being born Coach.

Best memories-

First...a son.
Second...a son.
Third...a daughter.
Fourth...a daughter.

And to be fair the order doesn't matter!



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quote:

One thing I do remember, and I have posted here before, is the first time I saw my son in his college uni.

I'll 3rd or 4th that!

Funny, as you know my son is a pitcher...but my most vivid memory of a first was when he hit his first HS home run. A grand salami as a sophomore to beat the local rival. And on TV! The most vivid part is the little boy smile on his face as he rounded 2nd base.

I am waiting for the vision in the college uni - will get that one shortly

As for the others, I'm with TPM, hard to remember them, but I vividly remember his first home run on a regular size field (not little league). Walk off game winning 3 runner, smacked it over dead center at about 390 on a full count. He was maybe 10 or 11? You should have seen his face coming round to home. The team swarmed him, the someone ran out and found the ball and they all signed it. He has it in one of those baseball boxes on a shelf in his room.

Great memories.

quote:

The most vivid part is the little boy smile on his face

That's something I will never get tired of seeing in my son. That brings back some good memories.

This is a great thread. I feel awful that I don't remember the first little field HR! But I remember the first (and so far only) 2 HR game. He hit 2 doubles that day too. Gainesville rec league fall ball.

First grand slam on the little field was at Cooperstown.

First varsity hit, a double over the LF's head against the Dixie County Bears. They had been making fun of him because he looked every bit the 140 pound 8th grader.

First 4 for 4 varsity performance. Dixie County Bears.

First varsity HR, a grand slam last year (sophomore) against (you guessed it!) the Dixie County Bears. He loves playing against the Dixie County Bears!

Right now, we are dealing with the first car . It's a cute little 2000 Honda Civic. It won't start. He and 2B dad replaced the fuel pump over the weekend,and that didn't do it, so 2B and I replaced the distributor cap and rotor last night. We even got the spark plug wires connected in the right order. (Don't ask me why we didn't try the easy and inexpensive repair first! 2Bdad was convinced it was the fuel pump.) Unfortunately, it still didn't start, so we sent it to the shop, and I just got the call for the $489.92 bill!

I've tried and am embarrassed to admit, I can't remember any firsts. Lots of great memories, some not so great memories, just can't come up with any firsts when it comes to baseball.

Vividly remember each of four births (three sons and a daughter) does that count?

quote:

Originally posted by PGStaff:
Vividly remember each of four births (three sons and a daughter) does that count?

PG, that counts much more than baseball ever will...

Many special memories in our house also happen to be firsts:

1st Tee-Ball Practice -- Held at McDonalds Playland. It was cold and dreary, and it seemed to me (Coach) that it was more important that the kids have fun together, and become friends, than that they freeze their rears off learning to field a ground ball. The kids left LOVING baseball.

1st Season of Kid Pitch -- SP_son could not wait to play kid pitch, so he moved up to playing with 10-12 year olds in the fall when he was 8. He hit exactly 1 ball that season ... foul. But he was happy because he was finally playing real baseball.

1st Pitching Appearance -- Suffered a heartbreaking loss as he struggled throwing strikes, and team struggled to field the ball. When we got home, I dug into the closet and found the game ball from my first HS No-Hitter. I inscribed it to him as being a gift from Dad to Son on his first pitching appearance. He came back a little later to tell me how cool he thought it was that both games we played on the same day ... 28 years apart. I was totally unaware of this coincidence until he told me. That ball still sits on his shelf in a place of honor.

1st LL Home Run -- Went deep over CF fence as an 11 year old in a Fall tournament. I'm reminded of it daily because a sports photographer working the tournament happened to snap a picture of it at the moment of impact, and it is now the wallpaper on my computer.

1st Interview -- Not baseball ... he skipped baseball so he could go work with the Disney cast members at Epcot center, where they were selling the products he imports from Australia. An editor from the St. Pete Times found out about this, and interviewed him for an article featuring the teen entrepreneur in the paper (he was 13 at the time).

Like all of you ... we have a lifetime of memories, many of which are firsts, all of which are special ... but these are some favorites.

In my sons first year of t-ball I was the coach and I had a the full spectrum of kids and parents who I had just met. There was a kid, Brad, who had no tools, but had a single Mom who the other Moms spited and the Dad's drooled over. Brad stuck on me like Velcro and Mom who sat by herself always smiled. I always thought that if my wife didn't work weekends and was at the games, she would have sided with the Moms. Anyway, after a game Brads Mom approached me and asked if we could speak privately, I thought there was a Brad issue and said "sure".

In the parking lot she said

"I don't want to sound forward..."

rz is thinking this is awkward, I hope she knows I'm married

"I'm going to a party out of town and I was wondering...."

rz is starting to sweat...a lot

"Would you mind watching Brad over night?"

rz thought he was a "player" with a game winning hit, instead, he just missed a sign and struck out looking. Probably the best strikeout of my life

My son walked up as she was leaving and said, "She doesn't look like a Mom" and all I could say was Brad was staying over night next weekend.

My second life a ballfield gigolo ended before it started.

Moral of the story: While the game evolves around our sons, there are many experiences and friendships in our life's that are touched by our sons baseball life.

The next thread: Where would you be without baseball?

Son's 1st homerun in high school was two years ago as a freshman. Hitting in the nine hole as he did all year, he hit one over the left field wall giving the team a 3-0 lead. Talk about a big grin coming around third base. It was almost as big as his dads. The pitcher was drafted later that year and is now pitching in MILB.