If I had to do it all over

PG, my dad owned a tavern.  It was a busy, popular but conventional-type with a horseshoe bar.  Dad is extremely affable and can tell story after story, including flying over Hiroshima in World War II after they dropped the big one.  I met literally hundreds of his friends from the tavern, and every single one of them were fun-loving people who liked fishing, camping, sailing, and..

 

..drinking beer.  Lots of it.

 

Dad is now 92 and has outlived them all.  Not a single customer or employee left.  He has lived a great life.  Growing up, I was very proud of dad, even when the neighbors across the street once called me "tavern boy".

 

I'm proud of my blue-collar dad, and consider myself blue-collar, too.  The "tavern people" were some of the kindest, most fun-loving people I have ever met.  Told it like it is.  They'd argue and forgive.  I loved them and miss them.

A statistic given to me was that most players only last 4 years in MLB.  Only a few (in comparison to the numbers that play)  really play for an extended period of time.

One can accumulate a nice nest egg, but statistics also show that most spend a lot while they are making it.

 

I do not know of too many professions that one can do without any type of training. When filling out a job application, keep in mind that there are hundreds of others doing the same thing.

 

To move forward in baseball you have to be different, there are lots of guys out there that hit for average and lots of guys who throw hard and get people out.  To play beyond HS you have to show them that your stuff is different or that you are mentally, physically capable of earning a spot on a college roster or a milb or ML roster.

Competing  for any other job is IMO essentially the same thing. 

 

We always talk about the scenario if you have two players which one would you sign.

If you had a perspective employee with a degree  verses one who doesn't who are you going to choose?

 

Don't ever let anyone make you think that education beyond HS is not important, because it is. Maybe it wasn't back "then" but it certainly is now.

 

Employers are preferring employees with master degrees over 4 year degrees, so tell me how a guy who only played bb for a few years in the minors (as most don't get further) is going to compete in this economy (unless he comes from a family with resources or marries into one) with no training or education?

 

One more thing, the younger generation of today wants to make lots of money, very few that I know of are willing to settle for mediocrity.

 

Funny thing is that you would be amazed how many college/pro bb players really do have serious career interests other than bb.

 

I have 2 older sons that didn't play baseball beyond HS. One is 25 and the other is 23.

 

When 25 yr old finished HS, he went to the local big school like so many others in his class. He had no idea what he wanted. We were rookie college parents and believed the "he is 18 and adult". 2 years went by. At that time, "because he was an adult and it was his education", we found out he had basically flunked out. He had dropped classes to go from full to part time, retook classes lots of same classes, rarely attended class, and between he and I owed 12k in loans. He said he just didn't know what he wanted to do but college wasn't for him. He had a job making about $10 an hour, so moved in with 4 friends and partied. had a great time. did that for 2 years. Then he met "the girl" who was in college. Came to us as parents and  asked us to help as he couldn't afford college. We simply said sorry but no he had to do it this time by himself, There is a local community college that he could afford if he moved back home. He figured that out after being mad at us for a week or 2. He asked us and we said that we could do. So he did that. In 2 years in got his associates degree, then went back to local big college. Next May he will graduate. He owes a bit more than his part from original time in college. I do not. I put a roof over his head for last 4 years, fed him, but college was all his.  Next June, I will have a daughter in law.

 

My 23 yr old graduated HS knowing what he wanted to do - teach. Off he went to college. We learned. He had to give us access to all is college stuff if he wanted money from us. He needed it so we had the access. Because he knew we monitored and learned from his brother, he went to class. He did well. It still took him 5 years. He graduated last June and is employed as a teacher in the city we live in. STILL lives at our house. But is actively paying off loans and has a plan.

 

My driveway looks like a parking lot (5 cars)! ) and thats when we don't even have anyone else but our family there.

 

I guess what I am saying to PUHD and all others is they will find there path. It might be messy but they will. LOVE them, support them, hold them accountable, BUT mostly love them

I received my AS degree and after 2 years of working in a local supermarket , decided that i needed to get back and finish. Sometimes it takes awhile to realize what you are ready to do
As for son- his HS career was great fun with great success and memories.  But stat wise- not so much for his college ball- what was a success was his dedication and perseverence throughout 4 years.  He never quit on himself or his teammates and was well thought of as a teammate and person - now he is about to finish his degree as a teacher and no doubt will be a great teacher and coach - He will speak from personal experience about never giving up on yourself and your teamates no matter how bleak things are going for you. He realized sometimes things are out of your control.
Stats fade on a page over time- but good character and committment to a common goal attributes he will have for each day in the "real world".

Quote"Stats fade on a page over time- but good character and committment to a common goal attributes he will have for each day in the "real world". End Quote

 

Well said