Sometimes the world of baseball can be really cool.

Cool stuff.Great player, awesome he is a role model off the field as well.

Great story to start my Friday, thanks. I have always preached to my son to have time for kids. It doesn't take much to say hi, how you doing , nice play, anything, a kid will love it. He is now in his first year of minor league ball and he continues to live by this, and he always makes time for any kid who wants to talk, or maybe just a wave. Kids are what they once were, so take a minute to make a memory, it can last a lifetime.

That is a great story.  My son - even though he is 10 - relates more to the older players than he ever will with me.  The older players can have such an impact on younger kids - it is amazing.  The thing is when your kid gets older he can be a role model for another young kid.  And the game is passed on - not by parents - but by kids.

Great story.  Role models are important.

My sons org takes a practice or two early in the season and mixes a young group of players with the kids 2 and 3 years older.  They run drills together, infield, hit, the usual practice routine.  The older kids may get slowed down for a practice, but it means a ton to the younger kids.  It's part of their indoctrination to the right way to play baseball.

What a nice story!  Thanks for making my day!

Heck my son had his first ever strait A's school year last year because he now wants to go to Vanderbilt and as he says "Dansby told me I have to have really good grades to go there".

Great story.    Got a sort of similar benefit yesterday when my 2017 agreed to play down on a 15U legion team as a favor to his HS coach. He caught a ride with the 15U head coach, who is a redshirt sophomore at the local JC, which has a strong baseball program.  Kid reported that they spent the whole ride talking about baseball, playing at the JC, and how much the JC player regrets not working harder on his grades when he was in high school so he could have gotten looks from 4-year schools.  That seemed to get my kid's attention. 

That is a great story.  Mine is currently playing at a tournament in Nashville and they played at Vanderbilt yesterday afternoon.  He was there waiting for his gametime when the team arrived back at the stadium on campus.  He said it was great.

Great storyline. Love the feel good stories!

LOVE THIS!!!

I've shared this poem before and honestly I don't know who wrote it. But it's one of those things I try to live my life with this in mind...

quote:

Little Eyes Upon You
There are little eyes upon you
and they’re watching night and day.
There are little ears that quickly
take in every word you say.
There are little hands all eager
to do anything you do;
And a little boy who’s dreaming
of the day he’ll be like you.
You’re the little boy’s idol,
you’re the wisest of the wise.
In his little mind about you
no suspicions ever rise.
He believes in you devoutly,
holds all you say and do;
He will say and do, in your way
when he’s grown up just like you.
There’s a wide-eyed little boy
who believes you’re always right;
and his eyes are always opened,
and he watches day and night.
You are setting an example
every day in all you do;
For the little boy who’s waiting
to grow up to be like you.

Also, I had a similar opportunity today actually. I'm currently in Indianapolis for the National Athletic Trainers' Association Convention. I sat down and talked with an Athletic Trainer who is very well known in the profession and is in the NATA Hall of Fame. We talked for over an hour and let me tell you I didn't speak unless he asked me a question. Today I was that "little boy." 

Bulldog,

That IS a powerful poem!  I truly wish I would have read it when I was a young father.  I wish every young father could read it!  I think many would change the way they do things once they read the poem.  That is how powerful that message is IMO.

We have all been that "little boy" at one time.