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Learn from history

ClevelandDadClevelandDadHSBBWeb Administrator
Politely ask no political comments in this thread if possible - thanks Smile

Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson was considered an outstanding General - second only to the legendary Robert E. Lee. From Wikipedia on Jackson:

quote:
West Point...

In 1842, Jackson was accepted to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. Because of his inadequate schooling, he had difficulty with the entrance examinations and began his studies at the bottom of his class. As a student, he had to work harder than most cadets to absorb lessons. Displaying a dogged determination that was to characterize his life, however, he became one of the hardest working cadets in the academy, and moved steadily up the academic rankings. Jackson graduated 17th out of 59 students in the Class of 1846. It was said by his peers that if he had stayed there another year, he would have graduated first.

My question is for the young ballplayers in the audience and/or their parents. What if you employed that type of mentality and work ethic for baseball?
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G gotwood4sale10,000+ posts
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Stonewall was accepted into the Academy. Someone recognized his potential. He was given an opportunity and he seized it. He obviously was lagging behind others initially, but he ended up surpassing many and excelling. Everything worked out for him. But what if he had never been recognized? And the opportunity he received was never offered?

I think that the same dynamic would have to be in place for young, rising baseball players who find themselves in a similar circumstance as Stonewall. Someone must see their potential and then offer them opportunity.

Certainly there is no shortage of players, not unlike Stonewall in his pursuit, who are lagging behind others, yet have what it takes to be highly successful. Who are these potentially great baseball players? Are they being recognized? How many of them do not have the ability or resources to present themselves for decisionmakers to judge?

Stonewall made the right moves...in front of the right people...and that is what it takes to succeed.

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Last edited by gotwood4sale
BW Bob Williams500+ posts
CD;

Willie Mays, Henry Aaron, Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, Albert and many others all survive and succeed because they were determined to succeed. "Baseball was their life."

There are young players now [too slow, too small, too heavy,single parent, difficult environment], who can "give up" or move forward. This their decision!

"History does repeat itself"
Questions: How many players would trade their cell phone for a .400 average?

Bob
southpaw_dadsouthpaw_dad100+ posts
Great Thread & Topic ...

The question of what makes the best of the best who they are has long been a passion of mine. Over the past 25+ years I have come to conclude that those who reach the pinnacle in every walk of life tend to share some common bonds:

They have an all absorbing passion for what they do, whether that be business, baseball, building, or bicycle repair.

They have a burning desire to be the best. They don't just want to be the best. They don't just hope to be the best. They don't simply have a goal to be the best. They have a burning desire that knaws in their belly day and night to become the very best.

They persist until they succeed. EVERYONE faces adversity. Adversity is the test one must pass in order to move to the next level of success. The top achievers face the test, endure the test, pass the test, and learn lessons they use to help them reach the peak.

I recently surfaced one of my all-time favoriate quotes to share with SP_son. Sadly, I do not see this one quoted as often as I used to ...

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan "press on" has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”
-- Calvin Coolidge
PD PA Dino500+ posts
quote:
“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”


This was posted prominently at my desk at work and inspired me to overcome obstacles placed in my way on a daily basis by both well meaning and not so well meaning people. Persistence seasoned with personal pride will win out in the end. The way to eat an elephant is simply take one bite at a time.
southpaw_dadsouthpaw_dad100+ posts
Agreed Bum! All great success stories start with an unwavering passion and a burning desire to realize a dream. Persistence is the attribute that compels and propels a person to "press on" and overcome the inevitable adversities that stand between them and the object of their passion ... in any walk of life.

I have always tried to encourage SP_son to dream big, and to believe that anything he can dream, he can do ... if he wants it badly enough to do the work to make it happen.

I do believe it is a sad commentary on our culture that -- in general -- we have become a society that embraces mediocrity and the least common denominator, rather than celebrating those who have achieved greatness, and the path they took along the way.

CD -- As to your original question, between SP_son and a few of his close friends/teammates, I have had the pleasure of watching these guys employ the mentality and work ethic of Stonewall to their baseball, and they have ALL achieved more than most would have expected of them.
southpaw_dadsouthpaw_dad100+ posts
Practice is the easy part Smile

We're talking about players who go out and train with the track team so they can learn to run faster. Who run until they puke, catch a short rest, and start running again. We're talking about the kid who finds and follows a sport specific lifting program every day after school during the "off season" whether or not any of his friends and teammates do it with him.

We're talking about players who will drive 2 hours each way so they can spend 1 hour training with a top instructor, and then take ownership for working every day on the skills and drills in which they have been coached. We're talking about the player who takes a pass on hanging out at the mall, or going to a party, because he would rather do his homework, training & skills practice ... because that is what will get him where HE wants to go.

Then, we're talking about the kid who is the first to practice, and the last to leave. The kid who gives the best he has every rep of every day, because he loves what he is doing, and he passionately wants to become the best he can become. He shows up in a clean uni, shirt tucked in, cap on straight, all the gear he'll need, because he respects the game, his team, and himself.

We're talking about the kid who seeks out the best competition he can find, because he would rather risk losing to the best, than look great beating the weak. We're talking about the kid who when he suffers a set back, or when others don't believe in him, he presses on, and pushes through because he has learned that temporary defeat is a key part of achieving success; and he believes in himslef, and his dreams, and he isn't going to stop until he has given everything inside of him to transform his dreams into reality.

That's the type of player I'm talking about. I, for one, think that one of the most valuable things we can do for our kids as parents and coaches is to teach every kid to pursue whatever it is they are passionate about with this same level of passion and drive. Whether or not they grab the gold ring (no brass here), is less important than learning to give 100% of themselves towards the achievement of a worthwhile goal.

My 2 cents.
xbaseballkidx11xbaseballkidx1110+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by southpaw_dad:
Practice is the easy part Smile

We're talking about players who go out and train with the track team so they can learn to run faster. Who run until they puke, catch a short rest, and start running again. We're talking about the kid who finds and follows a sport specific lifting program every day after school during the "off season" whether or not any of his friends and teammates do it with him.

We're talking about players who will drive 2 hours each way so they can spend 1 hour training with a top instructor, and then take ownership for working every day on the skills and drills in which they have been coached. We're talking about the player who takes a pass on hanging out at the mall, or going to a party, because he would rather do his homework, training & skills practice ... because that is what will get him where HE wants to go.

Then, we're talking about the kid who is the first to practice, and the last to leave. The kid who gives the best he has every rep of every day, because he loves what he is doing, and he passionately wants to become the best he can become. He shows up in a clean uni, shirt tucked in, cap on straight, all the gear he'll need, because he respects the game, his team, and himself.

We're talking about the kid who seeks out the best competition he can find, because he would rather risk losing to the best, than look great beating the weak. We're talking about the kid who when he suffers a set back, or when others don't believe in him, he presses on, and pushes through because he has learned that temporary defeat is a key part of achieving success; and he believes in himslef, and his dreams, and he isn't going to stop until he has given everything inside of him to transform his dreams into reality.

That's the type of player I'm talking about. I, for one, think that one of the most valuable things we can do for our kids as parents and coaches is to teach every kid to pursue whatever it is they are passionate about with this same level of passion and drive. Whether or not they grab the gold ring (no brass here), is less important than learning to give 100% of themselves towards the achievement of a worthwhile goal.

My 2 cents.


One of the best posts I have ever seen. I am the hardest worker on my team and I only do some of this. This is an incredible thread and an inspiring one as well.
southpaw_dadsouthpaw_dad100+ posts
Thanks CD ... I hope your young Stonewall is doing well chasing his dreams.


You know ... This thread reminded me of a story Steve Cosgrove of the Boys of Baseball NTT tells youngsters at his baseball schools. He tells them the story of Ray Fosse.

Today, Ray Fosse is remembered for being the guy Pete Rose bowled over in the 1970 All-Star Game, forever altering his career. What people don't remember is that back in 1965, Ray Fosse was drafted in the 1st round, ahead of Johnny Bench, as one of the top prospects in the country.

Coach Coz is from Illimois, and he knew Fosse's reputation in High School. Yes, he was a big, strong, physically gifted player. But he was also the hardest working kid on the team. He was the first kid to the field and the last kid to leave. Yes, he was the star and the Captain; but he approached that role with a differnet attitude than many.

As the story goes, along with carrying all of his own gear (as a Catcher), Ray would take care of all of the team gear. It was HIS team. Instead of assuming that his talent and position entitled him to preferential treatment, he took the stance that he needed to give the most of himself to the team, and lead by example.

Is it any wonder that at the age of 23 he was catching in the MLB All-Star Game? Is it any wonder that -- although he was never the same player physically -- that he conitnued to compete at the Major League level for another 10 seasons?

Today, Ray Fosse is remembered for being the guy who stood like a stone wall in the path of the hard charging Pete Rose. The story of how he got there is the one I wish we would hear told more often.

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