Positive Influences

Son was eight years of age and had not played any organized/youth sports yet. Did not want him to be a football player....I know...what was I thinking......but too many family members, former football players, including his Dad, with physcial problems from playing the game.....so....it seemed logical to me that if he became very good at another sport...it might keep him away from football. Baseball seemed a logical choice......I got out the yellow pages and found one, and only one facility listed, The Baseball Academy in Lancaster, CA......I called and was promptly turned down. Was told they did not take children that young for instruction....I proceeded to try and persuade them to take on my son.....but was getting no where...finally the director of the Academy, Perry Husband, asked me....why did I want to put a child so young in for lessons.....told him, very honestly, I wanted my son to be so good at baseball he would never want to step foot on a gridiron. He laughed, and finally agreed, conditionally, to take on my son. They were together until we moved 3 years later, and The Academy was admitting kids as young as 6 by that time....

It just seemed logical to me that son would be ahead of the game, at the start, and into the future, if the first time he picked up a bat, or threw a ball....he was being instructed by a professional....and there would not be bad habits to be undone later....and it worked! He doesn't play football....

Son had lots of positive influences....but always there has been a very patient and loving Dad...who made it to every practice, every lesson, and game....drove the "baseball SUV" all over kingdom come.....and has always been a wonderful role model......and loving father.....and my son would tell you that too......

Good thread Fungo....hope to read a lot more stories!

Fungo, This is a wonderful question. When I read your post, I began to think that I, maybe had more to do with my son's love of sports in general than I would think. It was me that sat and rolled a ball with him before he could walk, that threw those baseballs in the front yard, and played those basketball games. As soon as he played his first tee-ball game though I knew his sport of choice.

If I had to pick one person that probably had the biggest influence and fostering of my son's love of baseball, it would be a youth coach that coached him from 10 years old through 14 (10-12 in Pony Leauge and 13-14 in a select team). This is tough too, because my son was sooooooo blessed with wonderful men in his life - right on up through HS with terrific coaches. His youth coach, Rickey Mungle, always respected son's desire and passion. He let him play different positions and develop various skills. He also taught him lessons off the field. I can still remember him picking my son up and taking him to a HS playoff game of his future HS and son came walking in the door that night, Rickey had taken him to a sports store and bought him a new baseball cap. When my son played in the state championship game as a HS junior - I looked up to see Rickey and his wife standing up in the stands. He not only shared son's love for ball, but was (is) a compassionate and caring soul that was always thinking of his boys. My son told me when he was home for thanksgiving that he wanted to go see Rickey and Julie - he ended up not being able to make the time - but I'll place money that he'll see his old coach when he's home for Christmas to share all of his newest baseball experiences.

Mark Dickenson.

We discovered Mark in a newspaper "feature" about his new business venture, HOMERUN ALLEY.

Turned out that we were some of the first customers at his batting cage/training center.... the first 20 swings that son had at 11 years of age led to lessons in hitting and pitching(for many years).

Next came exposure to better quality equipment, then the opportunity for son's first exposure to select ball.

HOMERUN ALLEY was also son's first place of real, paying employment(picking up balls and reloading machines) as well as his opportunity to have "little brothers" through Mark's 2 sons.

Mark was so much more than just the proprietor though, he was also a positive role model that re-inforced the values that we strived to instill in our son. Mark was also the first to voice(to his father, as he introduced us to him) that my son was going to"...go a long way in baseball..".

We were fortunate to have this man who opened the doors of the baseball world for us through exposure to better competition, ex-professionals as instructors, college coaches as mentors and hope through hard work.

OPP

Boy, this is a good question! From the time he was 3, he had to go to watch his older brother play so of course he had to "practice" in the yard w/him and Dad. Then when he was 6, he was off and running on the field with his team. He had a great coach for his first yr. of coach's pitch who told each kid they wouldn't know what position they liked until they played them all and he was right 'cause back then I think they all wanted to be SS's.

I think a big influence was the 2 summers I decided to get a 14 and then 15 yr. old boy to babysit them. He needed a job, belonged to the same pool and we knew the family. He also was the oldest of 4 boys so I knew he could handle kids. His mom was also around to help him if he needed it. He was a really cool kid, athletic and a fun guy. I let him have some of his friends come over from time to time and they still say it was the best time they ever had being babysat. They would go to the pool, play ball or walk around the neighborhood just bouncing a basketball and stopping to shoot a hoop whenever they saw a hoop in someone's driveway. The babysitter and his buddies used to get together at the pool and play baseball and when they needed someone extra, they'd call my youngest and ask him and his older brother if they wanted to play. I thought they were nuts since they were about 8-10 yrs. older but off they'd go and later I found out that they asked because they weren't afraid of the older ones and could handle themselves. My kids still consider him and his friends, who are now about 29, to be cool and have many fond memories of those times. I think for my youngest, it provided him with the opinion that he could hang with the big guys and gave him confidence in his abilities as a ball player.

Just as a side note, hadn't seen the babysitter for a couple years and ran into his mom who told me we would be invited to his wedding because he considered us part of his family. He told me at the wedding that it was still the best job he ever had. I was happy to see that he felt the same way we did.

Great question and stories thus far!

I have started to notice something about myself. It seems if you post from personal experience long enough, you find your self retelling stories from time to time So apologies to my friends in the oh/ky/pa forum if you have seen parts of this story before:

When I was a kid, you played 15 or 16 youth league games per summer and that was it. When it came time for my sons to play, we signed them up for the local youth league like my parents had with us and thought this is how you get your kids involved in baseball. I liked attending their games but had to manage a very demanding job plus I was attending college at night. I would often miss games and for that I have some regret.

One day, my youngest son came running up to me very excited when he was eight years old. He said “Dad, there is a coach asking me to try out for the traveling tournament team.” My first thoughts were, no way - I can’t even make the house league games let alone help him travel to games. I did not give an immediate yes because of my reluctance. I was afraid we would not be able to live up to the travel commitments of the team. One of my things (core principals) is if you commit to something you better see it through. He was relentless with me in a good way. Every time I would throw up a road block on why it wouldn’t work he would come back with a solution. I finally agreed to let him try.

Apparently, this coach who asked him to try out saw something in him above and beyond being a very good youth league player. This coach was a big, tough, intimidating individual who was a D1 college player and who also had a son on the traveling team. His claim to fame was he played on the same college team with Mike Schmidt. My son ended up making the team as their starting third baseman. What seemed odd to me was they were going to use him as a pitcher as well when he had not pitched before. This was also a team of 8 and 9 year olds and he was the smallest/youngest player on the team.

Fairly early on, it became apparent that my son belonged on this team based on his defensive skills and his hitting. His competitiveness was apparent at a very early age. What astonished me was how they used him as a pitcher. This coach would always bring him in the game when the situation was the most dire - many times in base loaded situations or often times in game saving situations. My son was cool as a cucumber in these situations. This coach saw something that no one else saw which was that my son could compete when the pressure was on without getting rattled. This has been a hallmark of his baseball career to this day and it all goes back to this one coach.

What a fun thread! I can think of several different positive influences on my son's baseball "career".

First might be the fact that mom and dad both love the game. My husband brought him his first tiny leather Wilson glove while he was still in the hospital, and put it in the bassinet. Son used that glove for several years starting at about age 3, playing catch with dad or just tossing the ball in the air and catching it, when no one was available.

Second was probably the coaches he had on a 10-yr-old team, Tim and Brian (sadly, Brian died a couple of years ago in a scuba diving accident). These dads asked a college coach to help them pick out the pitchers with "potential" and give them some pitching instruction. But the best thing about those coach/dads was that they let the boys learn and didn't worry too much about winning. They were playing up in an older league, and they told the pitchers that as long as they wanted to stay on the mound and didn't have a sore arm, they would not pull them for giving up hits, runs, or even walks. From that summer my son learned to believe that he would always get the next batter out, no matter what the last batter did.

In high school, the most positive influence on his baseball skills was former Twins and As catcher, Terry Steinbach, who gave him private hitting and pitching lessons. My son was a skinny late bloomer who did not have overpowering velocity, but Terry taught him how to throw effective pitches with deception. He also turned him into a much better hitter, but that doesn't really matter now in college!

Finally, the most positive baseball influence on my son for the past two years is Steve Rice. Steve is a baseball dad who posts here from time to time, and has taken my son under his wing and mentored him in the one skill he was lacking, throwing hard. It's amazing the hundreds of hours Steve has spent helping my son out of the goodness of his heart, and it is also amazing the difference it has made in his pitching ability and potential, and in his enjoyment of college baseball because he now has the skill level to compete. We truly can never thank Steve enough for his positive influence.

The common thread: Parents and coaches who love the game and give their time and knowledge to help these kids enjoy the greatest game ever played.

Is it March yet?

Im a baseball coach. He rode the bus , was the bat boy , rode the tractor as I cut the field and drug the infield etc. When he was 7 or 8 he started dragging the field after every game and practice. Of course he was a pain in the neck at practice always wondering when he was going to get to hit. And shagging during bp getting in everyones way trying to make every play. I knew I had my hands full when he was in the 5th grade. We were on the road one Saturday and of course he is in the dug out. We are up big and one of the kids asks me if he can hit the next time lefthanded. Before I can say anything Jeff says "Why dont you get and average from the right side before you start trying to hit from the left side". Of course the whole team starts laughing and the player is really Pissed. I had to have a few talks with with him over the years about stuff like that. But obviously me being a coach had alot to do with him wanting to be a player at such a young age. Being around the game his whole life and just being at the ballpark all the time.

Like Coach May, I was coaching as my kids grew up. As an NAIA baseball coach, both of my kids (son now 20, daughter 16) grew up in the dugout, bullpen, fieldhouse, on campus, on the road recruiting, etc. My son went on every southern trip with the team from first grade though eighth grade (then again his senior year of HS), on the bus and in the hotels, in the dugout, at team meetings, etc. He learned about baseball strategy just from being there, learned about hitting from our players and coaches, learned about pitching from hanging out in the bullpen with pitchers and catchers, took infield on a regular basis with our team (indoors and out) for years. Both of my kids watched HS and summer games and tournaments almost daily for several years. They were influenced by the baseball culture, by me, by my players and their parents, by other coaches on our campus, and by the many other baseball people they got to know through the years. My former players and their parents still ask about my kids and follow their progress.

I love this thread!.....

My son and I have had baseball to share since the day he was born....Of course he didnt know it then....

My dad was a great player and I was not...but I love the game...one of my first dates with my wife was a Pirates/Astros game....

When my son came along, my wife and I were young and struggling to make it in new careers so I worked days and she worked nights to make ends meet....It meant that I would be primary care giver to my infant son from 4PM - 2AM...

Those early years (ages 2-5) we watched baseball on TV, we went to WVU to watch games...just Me, my boy and a diaper bag...we watched local kids practice at the local youth fields while he chased after wiffle balls....

I just dont think he had a chance of loving any other sport as much as he does baseball..... When he was 5 he started playing "organized" baseball which is far from being an accurate description.....and I became a coach, league officer and returned to umpiring.....

He grew up at the field, cutting grass, dragging the infield, stocking the concessions stands....even coaching the younger kids....

He had an outstanding youth coach (Doug Cole) who inspired him to excell...

He went under the instruction of 2 fine instructors...Frank Merigliano and Dominic Merigliano of the Bianco School of Baseball. Dominic gave him lessons on baseball, life, honor, diginity and respect for himself, others and the game...

Now he plays college ball and umpires with me.....and helps his HS coaches do clinics for youth players......



So many influences........

On a kid's point of view, I think I can honestly say I had no influence whatsoever. My dad did help a bit, but he never molded me or pressured me to practice. When I was a kid we used to play in our front yard with a stuffed ball (too many windows around), and the last couple years he'd hit some fly balls and do BP with tennis balls (still too many windows around). I'm very grateful for that, even though the only way to get him out was to drag him by the ear.
However his most influential words was when I was about 11 or 12 years old, he told me "you better start looking at another career, cause I don't think you're gonna make it, you're not even that good".
My parents being strict and religious,they'd barely let me watch any shows on TV or play videogames, plus I had no friends, so out of complete boredom I'd practice by myself in my backyard or in the garage. So with all honesty my influence was complete boredom, to get outside and do something.
Having been to allowed to go out and make friends, I would have had someone who motivated me, who I could practice more with. I think if my parents had influenced me I would have wanted to practice more, and I would have gotten further.
The coaches I had weren't really motivational, they just taught the game.
And what bugs me about all of this is that I know I could have gotten a scholarship or be in the Minors by now. Here I am in a college without a team, still trying to get into the university here that has one of the best ball teams around.
I'm not even sure what keeps me going. I just have this internal drive that won't let me give up. Seems like I'm my only motivator, the only one who molded my baseball life.

Fungo,

Do you mean the ace bandage that wrapped his right arm to his side trying to dictate left arm dominance when he drank his bottle as a baby was maybe to much influence?


Didn't work

My girl has been raised on a playing field and in a gym. She has taken BP on the surface of Busch Stadium and has worn my state championship medals. I think I've had some influence. However, to be honest, she has played for a set of coaches since she was 8 that have made softball fun, exciting and her first love. In turn, she loves those guys and in particular her head softball coach. She has had so many offers to play for those "power teams" out of St. Louis since she is a pitcher and can throw real hard. HE has been one of the best things to ever happen to our family. I'm Type A. She is Type A. I'm constantly wanting to practice. So does she. He is laid back. He laughs when she wants to cry. He makes her laugh. He could care less if she wins. He is the same now as he was when she was 7 and looking for a pitcher. My Daughter Loves Coach Kent. I really can't see her playing for any other team or coach.

We always remember the coaches and teachers who work one on one with our kids and have great influence on them. That is awesome. I would like to point out someone who had a more subtle, but just as distinct an impact on my son.

When my son was still pretty young this new company opened up shop. They started out small and even had local leagues to help them cover costs as they set out to earn their reputation.

We met one of the founders, a guy who was not only an enthusiastic baseball man, but a man of vision. The folks he brought to work with him were also very knowledgeable about baseball.

WOW, what an opportunity to have a young, eager baseball player around folks like this. Not just the coaches, but the whole place just oozed of baseball knowledge, enthusiasm and just plain love of the game.

Folks can knock learning by osmosis all they want, but I am a believer. Some folks can teach you mechanics, and do an awesome job. Only a few truly understand and display that gut deep love of the game.

I can only say we are sure glad they picked our home town (at the time) of Cedar Rapids to start up business. In case you haven't figured it out the company was called Perfect Game, and the gentleman I am speaking of is Jerry Ford.

AParent,

The check is in the mail!

That was really nice of you to say those things. Tell Robin hello... What a kid... What a player!!!! I bet he's a great dad too.

In my eldest son's case - Grandad was a very big influence. As were many of his coaches.
As important were the negative influences. He was pretty much resented across the board from the time he was about 14 until the time he left for college. Taunted and abused throughout his county and region consistently - we have no idea how or why it started - but that is life.
He learned how to deal with that stuff early - and I think it shaped his approach to the game more than anything else.

The younger guy - Grandad again - and fantastic coaches - but none of the negative stuff. Very different - and alot easier on Mom and Dad.
LOL

Greatest, most positive influence on my son...oh, that I really could take credit...well maybe a bit for teaching him how to pitch, but that's not what has help form him into the thoughtful and decent human being he has become.

The person most responsible for who he is and how he conducts himself, and how much he emulates that person with his socialability, his ability to make fun of himself, and the ability to light up a room with his smile, because he has hers...is his mother.

In the movie "It's A Wonderful Life" with James Stewart, Henry Travers says, "the true measure of a man is not how rich he is, but how many friends he has". That's my son...he is like George Bailey, a friend to everyone.

AParent,

It is interesting that you mention PG and Jerry.

I have to relate this brief - and probably meaningless - story LOL

Several years ago - PG had begun its rating process for NY (and Northeast). (I am not sure if they were as developed as they are now in that area of the country).

Anyway - given the amount of games I had seen throughout the region over many years - I took great exception to their initial list. I made my posts - sarcastically as always LOL.

Jerry's response wasnt negative. Most folks responses would have been IMO.
His response was simply - thanks for letting us know, we will check them out.
A real professional. I think most people would have read my posts and then told me to take a long walk off a short pier. LOL

PG did check them out - and they sure as heck didnt need my help. But they did what they said they were going to do. More than I can say for most people I know in this high school/college game.

PG - Real professionals - who have had a great influence on thousands of young players. Make no mistake about that.

I have 4 brothers, all 5 of us love baseball. My son was the first grandson, and all of my brothers immediately told me to tape his right arm to his chest to "make him" a lefty.

Didn't work.

I coached my son until he turned 9, and I knew then, he was something special. We put him on a select team where he could get an education from people that have been there. When he was 12-13, he played for Bobby Short. A born teacher, Bobby took my son under his wing and taught him the "why's" of the game. Made him a thinking man's ballplayer.

When he turned 14, he played for Lynn Vanlandingham, he taught my son the intracacies of baseball. When he was 15, my son again played for Lynn and Mike Marshall, ex LA Dodger. Mike taught him that you could be "middle aged" and still love the game. That it wasn't just a game, but a way of life.

The mechanics were left up to Ex Major Leaguer Ray Burris and ex minor leaguer Shane Davenport of RBASI (http://www.rayburris.com). My son has been taking lessons from them since he was 9. When he goes in these days, he usually drives himself. I can still remember him crying in the car at 9 because I told him I was going to drop him off and go run some errands while he took his lesson.

Great memories.

Of course there were/are many and I'd like to think Mom and Dad were positive for our sons...most especially Mom. But a couple of others come to mind.

First would be when our son was 9 years old. Threw the ball harder than anyone around, but all over the place. Walk, walk, walk, hit batter. Finally one day my wife said, "I've had enough of this!...some kids get piano lessons, my boy is gonna get a pitching lesson." Off she went to work, got some guy out there that I barely knew about...Dave. Dave began to work with him and within 2 lessons he began to look like a baseball card with his mechanics. Control came and so did everything else over time. Dave continued to work with him into HS and later developed another good pitcher or two from our area...several in or headed to D1 now. I saw Dave a few months ago and he told me, "I sure am glad it all worked out...to tell you the truth, I was sort of guessing with your son as to the best ways...he was my first student with real potential and I was just telling him what made the most sense to me...he was my experiment." Dave is a very successful pitching coach in our area now and somehow I don't think he "guesses" anymore.

The second guy was our son's Fall travel team coach when he was 15. This guy, Tony, was a former high D1 infielder with a load of energy. He taught that whole team how to play ball the "right" way and in particular gave my son some mentoring advice that he takes with him on the field today. This was the big pivot point for our son...this guy new how to communicate with teenage young men and how to teach both the physical and mental game of baseball. Nearly 25 guys off that team went on to play college ball...I believe in large part due to Tony. I still keep in touch with him today as he is a genuinely good person with a kind heart.

And since we're acknowledging some positive influences from posters here...I echo the thoughts on PGStaff for our son. They helped "find" him, educate me and encourage us all. And another poster here, "calbb," in real life Rob Bruno, the head of NorCal Baseball gave my son some incredible opportunites in the second half of HS...not sure he would have made it where he is without Rob behind him.