Does your baseball player have a tattoo?
What are are they now and at what age did they get it?
And, what are your thoughts on it?
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Definitely a Francis question! I knew it before opening.😀
This is just a personal opinion. From my perspective, fortunately my kids have made it to their thirties in agreement. Art belongs on the wall.
It might be a geographical and regional thing in addition to a generational thing?
I'm in NJ and I work in a professional office. But, I would estimate that at least 50% of those who work in my office under 30, male and female, have at least one tattoo (that you can see). That would not have been the case 30 years ago in an office.
FWIW, for a very, very, long time, it was illegal in NYC. But, now, in NJ, it's like every town has multiple places to get it done.
We also know many that got tattoos in HS too, in the last few years.
For the record, I'm 61 and do not have one. And, I think it's really something that one shouldn't do without deep thought.
There's a dead stand up comedian who had a great line on it: "Girls with tattoos are great. Any girl who's willing to do something with her body that she's going to regret 10 years later is a girl that I want to meet."
Honestly, I think this is something each person needs to decide for themselves when they reach 18 years old and can pay for it. None of my son's had tattoos playing baseball.
In my mind this is clearly a generational thing today. Tattoos go way back to pre-historic times. According to this National Geographic show I watched, tattoos in America were a way of communicating military travel and experiences across the globe. https://www.pbs.org/skinstories/history/beyond.html They weren't all that common when I was younger except with former military people.
Today is a different matter entirely, and it seems more of my son's friends (male or female) have a tattoo than don't have a tattoo whether they've been in the military or not. I've never been a fan, but that's me. Personal tastes and differences is what makes the world go around.
I have evolved, as have society's mores.
My son has none (maybe because he's terrified of needles).
My daughter is the tattooed lady. She's a principal at a VC (in her late 20s) - and she's strategically placed the tattoos so when she deals with old codgers (like her dad used to be), she can wear clothing which reveal none of them.
I've evolved from "what the heck, only low class women do that" to "explain what that one means to you."
It's her freedom; it's her body; it's her canvass.
The tattoos didn't change her personality, her ambitions, her successes or failures, her morals, or her soul. And, apparently didn't impact her amazing career arc.
My son was playing 13U flag football and was playing against a 14U kid with a good amount of ink on his arm! This was prior to the pandemic and it did raise some eyebrows with parents but now you see it more in HS aged kids in sports. For the record my oldest now almost 19, had gotten one at 17 on his thigh. He kept it from us for over a year and it did not go over very well with us and him. Our HS junior is planning on getting one when he turns 18.
Kid on my son's summer ball team (2022 grad) got a tattoo of the mascot of the school he was going to be a walk on at. Guess how that turned out....
Most of the HS kids on the baseball team had them in honor of their deceased dads. (We seem to have too many dads dying young. Two cancer and one COVID-19.) And, I don't think anyone can blame or question a kid doing it.
In college, they all seem to get them regardless of their backgrounds, personality or values. I think it's also the same in the minors.
The kids at work, I just don't get - especially the neck tattoos. There's no hiding that and, I'm sorry, but it's going to look ridiculous when you are 60, IMHO.
But, back to baseball, they all seem to do it now. It's clearly more than half.
@Francis7 posted:Most of the HS kids on the baseball team had them in honor of their deceased dads. (We seem to have too many dads dying young. Two cancer and one COVID-19.) And, I don't think anyone can blame or question a kid doing it.
In college, they all seem to get them regardless of their backgrounds, personality or values. I think it's also the same in the minors.
The kids at work, I just don't get - especially the neck tattoos. There's no hiding that and, I'm sorry, but it's going to look ridiculous when you are 60, IMHO.
But, back to baseball, they all seem to do it now. It's clearly more than half.
How often did you think about turning 60 when you were in your 20’s? Turning 60 never crossed my mind until I turned 50.
Actually, I thought about turning 60 once. When my wife and I discussed having kids I told her to have them whenever she wanted. But I wanted the youngest to be 22 and graduating by the time I turn 60.
Three kids 24-21. No ink so far...
As a "research experiment" to pass the time while taking my hour long walk every day on the beach down the street from our house, I started trying to keep track of various tattoo related permutations... Age groups, where, how many, does the SO have one, does the group have one, etc. - let your imaginations rule ;-)... In any case, it passed the time for months without much solid evidence of any pattern. Some really cool artwork and well, it's on a beach, so hard to hide. You may think I'd only find it on a specific age group or sex, but no all ages had them and all sexes. Sometimes the SO didn't have them, but more often than not they did. In groups of friends it was mixed. To a degree the younger looking crowd had less than perhaps I expected.
Growing up we told the kids they were free to get tattoos, but if they were living under our roof still I would pay to have them removed. Not 100% truthful, but it definitely gave them all pause to consider. Our two oldest AFAIK do not have them (nor do their spouses), while our youngest (the rebel) has a couple. He's proud of them, but ironically not a needle fan.
I suggested to my son if and when he's thinking about getting a tattoo to decide exactly what he wants and where. Then wait a year. If he still wants it, pull the trigger. No one in my family has any ink.
My first tattoo was a few weeks after we lost our newborn son. Nothing had ever seemed important enough for forever. It’s still the only one I have 20 years later. At 18, my daughter also got one in his honor, and 2 years later my son turned 18 and got one in his honor as well. My son now has 5 at 22 years old. Probably not stopping soon. He was always a very straight laced kid, followed the rules never got in trouble. I think this is a little bit of his way to rebel. He has also got a couple that are meaningful to him. One is for me, and no matter how I feel about him getting more tattoos, I have to feel a little honored.
@baseballhs I am so very sorry for your loss and I love how your family has honored him. My Mom got her first tatoo on her 70th birthday to honor my grandmother!
I get bored of things very easily. And, my opinions on things often change in time. For that reason, I can't think of anything that I would want on my body forever.
Now, my kids are my kids and thats forever. So, maybe I could see something that acknowledges how much I feel about being a dad?
But, that said, I'm soon to be 61. And, at this point, my body is not exactly a pretty canvas. I am pretty sure there's not a part of me that the general public wants to see. (Even I don't want to see it in the mirror.) So, I don't see myself getting something for anything because it's like graffiti on a condemned building. It might be art but it's on an eyesore.
@baseballhs posted:My first tattoo was a few weeks after we lost our newborn son. Nothing had ever seemed important enough for forever. It’s still the only one I have 20 years later. At 18, my daughter also got one in his honor, and 2 years later my son turned 18 and got one in his honor as well. My son now has 5 at 22 years old. Probably not stopping soon. He was always a very straight laced kid, followed the rules never got in trouble. I think this is a little bit of his way to rebel. He has also got a couple that are meaningful to him. One is for me, and no matter how I feel about him getting more tattoos, I have to feel a little honored.
This is amazingly beautiful. I asked my son what tattoo he would get and he said, "Do you want to see it?" Then he sent me a picture of my father's birthday in roman numerals. They have a very close relationship. Then my son said, "Grandpa is The One!"
Odd to explain, but there’s something kind of therapeutic about getting something that you know you will carry always, and it will remind you of them anytime you see it.
Old school here. I wish it wasn't so popular. It's normal to see a high school baseball player with a tattoo nowadays- so normal that my teen acts like I'm super out of touch when I tell him he has to wait. 18 isn't a magic number in our house unless you want to be an adult in every way, paying rent, phone, groceries, insurance, etc. But I know they are their own individuals and if they choose to get one when they're older, I won't make a fuss. Not worth an argument and hurt feelings. It's a personal preference but I can't help but think that some might look back and wish they hadn't gotten so many.
@Francis7 posted:I get bored of things very easily. And, my opinions on things often change in time. For that reason, I can't think of anything that I would want on my body forever.
Now, my kids are my kids and thats forever. So, maybe I could see something that acknowledges how much I feel about being a dad?
But, that said, I'm soon to be 61. And, at this point, my body is not exactly a pretty canvas. I am pretty sure there's not a part of me that the general public wants to see. (Even I don't want to see it in the mirror.) So, I don't see myself getting something for anything because it's like graffiti on a condemned building. It might be art but it's on an eyesore.
LOL! I sometimes tease Francis for his starter posts. But the last paragraph makes this thread worth it.
My daughter has gotten a couple, my son doesn't have any. I did tell them both if they wanted a tattoo they could do it when they were adults and could pay for it themselves, but I wished they wouldn't. Daughter has one smaller one and one larger. Both can be hidden by clothing pretty easily. Still wish they wouldn't, but. . .
A few years ago were talking with a friend's teenage daughter, and the topic of getting tattoos came up. She promptly said "You don't put bumper stickers on a Ferrari". I loved the comment, but we recently saw the early twenty's version of the young lady, and she now has a couple bumper stickers - things change...
My younger version had a lot of pious opinions that have mellowed over the years. My opinion of piercings and tattoos have certainly mellowed. I still don't think visible amateur/self tattoos, neck/head tattoos or gages are great choices but I work with a few quality individuals who went down that path. After the initial old guy "Hmmmm" they're invisible and replaced by the individual's competence.
As a photographer, I find people subjects way more interesting with body art - it's texture. That being said, I don't have any tattoos or body art, nor do my kids - but tastefully done, I wouldn't have an issue with it.
Neither of my sons have tattoos or piercings. When I asked, half of his minor league team did. Several players did in college. I don't think any did in high school, but that was a while back.
Interesting tidbit:
I was an assistant director of a preschool for many years. One child's dad was a tattoo artist. The child could draw upside down.
@keewart posted:Neither of my sons have tattoos or piercings. When I asked, half of his minor league team did. Several players did in college. I don't think any did in high school, but that was a while back.
Interesting tidbit:
I was an assistant director of a preschool for many years. One child's dad was a tattoo artist. The child could draw upside down.
It’s amazing what can be adapted to. I became adept at writing upside down drawing out business plans across the table from another person. Being ambidextrous (athletically left handed, taught to be right handed everyday wise*) I can write equally well with either hand. It’s convenient for business presentations. I stood on the side least likely to be blocking attendee’s view.
* I started school in 1960. Left handed kids were considered to be less intelligent. The problem was everything was geared to righties. My mother taped up my left hand and smacked me if I tried to do anything with my left hand. But I’m athletically left handed.
@JucoDad posted:A few years ago were talking with a friend's teenage daughter, and the topic of getting tattoos came up. She promptly said "You don't put bumper stickers on a Ferrari". I loved the comment, but we recently saw the early twenty's version of the young lady, and she now has a couple bumper stickers - things change...
My younger version had a lot of pious opinions that have mellowed over the years. My opinion of piercings and tattoos that have certainly mellowed. I still don't think visible amateur/self tattoos, neck/head tattoos or gages are great choices but I work with a few quality individuals who went down that path. After the initial old guy "Hmmmm" they're invisible and replaced by the individual's competence.
As a photographer, I find people subjects way more interesting with body art - it's texture. That being said, I don't have any tattoos or body art, nor do my kids - but tastefully done, I wouldn't have an issue with it.
Took this for a client several years ago and it was my favorite for awhile. That many tattoos isn’t for me, but I did like it for photographs. 
Attachments
Images (1)
@baseballhs posted:Took this for a client several years ago and it was my favorite for awhile. That many tattoos isn’t for me, but I did like it for photographs.
That's an amazing capture! Nice work.
My 2026 doesn’t have or want tattoos but I’d echo what many have said… 25 years ago, it was almost white collar suicide to have an exposed tattoo. Now, no one cares unless it’s a tear drop on your face.
@RJM posted:* I started school in 1960. Left handed kids were considered to be less intelligent. The problem was everything was geared to righties. My mother taped up my left hand and smacked me if I tried to do anything with my left hand. But I’m athletically left handed.
Yes, this was a thing. I remember my parents constantly taking the fork out of my brother's left hand and putting it in his right (born 1962), so I also did this with my son. (I obviously didn't know anything about baseball then).
My son became a natural switch hitter and his writing is terrible with his right hand (not that it would have been better with his left lol).
@keewart posted:Yes, this was a thing. I remember my parents constantly taking the fork out of my brother's left hand and putting it in his right (born 1962), so I also did this with my son. (I obviously didn't know anything about baseball then).
My son became a natural switch hitter and his writing is terrible with his right hand (not that it would have been better with his left lol).
Because his older sister was playing softball my son wanted to be involved. By three he wanted a glove and play catch. He had been hitting off the Little Tykes tee since eighteen months. He hadn’t shown any inclination towards one hand over the other. So I gave him his sister’s hand me down glove.
I taught him to bat left. By five it was becoming obvious he was left handed. He writes left handed. By high school he was hitting 90 on the mound right handed. But who needs a pitcher who likely would have thrown even harder left handed (sarcasm while smacking forehead)?
But throwing right and hitting left allowed him to play seven positions in college. Like me (L,L) he was a reluctant pitcher. We wanted to play every inning. Plus pitching wears a player down for hitting and running the bases.
@TexasLefty posted:My 2026 doesn’t have or want tattoos but I’d echo what many have said… 25 years ago, it was almost white collar suicide to have an exposed tattoo. Now, no one cares unless it’s a tear drop on your face.
Even teardrops may not be a career killer