The Last Time

Enjoy! I don't miss cleaning the uniforms with quarters in the hotel, that's for sure.  He looks so much cleaner in college/summer ball.

You still can greet him after the game, buy him fast food, and talk about life, even in college.

My eyes start to tear up just reading the title - then reading your words - I can't even.... I hope you have an AMAZING trip!!!

@OskiSD posted:

Flying to Florida tomorrow with my son for Prospect Select World. He's a senior and this fall/winter is his last travel ball hurrah.

This is the last time I'll need to fly with him, drive him, feed him, make sure he gets his sleep and his Advil and his wraps and bandages. This is the last time I'll greet him after the game and grab some crappy fast food and talk about life. The last time I'll buy cases of water and ice down the towels and change a $5 into quarters so he has a clean uniform.

I want to go back.

Was telling my wife that even though it seems like our 2023 son just started high school not too long ago, he only has summer of 2022 and fall of 2022 left for travel ball. We both said it has flown by so quickly.

For all the parents out there starting the journey, enjoy it while it lasts. Sometimes it feels like a lot between all the travel and expenses, but as that journey winds down, I wouldn't trade it for anything.

My daughter is the oldest. She played softball. When she got on the team bus for the first college away game. she texted me. She said settling into her seat for the first bus ride reminded her of all the Friday nights or early (5am) Saturday mornings we got in the car for travel tournaments.

I learned more about my kids that didn’t involve baseball/softball in the car than I did at home.  On the car rides is when they really opened up.

Dang man, enjoy the trip. Check out Melbourne Seafood Station if you are a seafood fan.

I dread that time when it comes. Just like arckeu21, we only have one summer left. My wife and I were joking about trying to find reasons to travel to Atlanta and Ft. Myers after he graduates.

Totally understand where you are coming from.  I went through it with 3 sons.   It didn't get any easier.  However, I'm here to tell you that a whole new world is about to open up for him, and your family.    My wife and I just got back from a 10-day trip to Ireland.   It was fantastic and never would have been possible if any of my son's were still playing baseball at any level.   Enjoy your last moments but there is a silver lining coming your way!

Good luck!

@RJM posted:

My daughter is the oldest. She played softball. When she got on the team bus for the first college away game. she texted me. She said settling into her seat for the first bus ride reminded her of all the Friday nights or early (5am) Saturday mornings we got in the car for travel tournaments.

I learned more about my kids that didn’t involve baseball/softball in the car than I did at home.  On the car rides is when they really opened up.

That is so true. I remember the conversations much more than the baseball

@TerribleBPthrower posted:

Dang man, enjoy the trip. Check out Melbourne Seafood Station if you are a seafood fan.

I dread that time when it comes. Just like arckeu21, we only have one summer left. My wife and I were joking about trying to find reasons to travel to Atlanta and Ft. Myers after he graduates.

We are san diegans and always in search of good seafood - thanks for the rec!

My kid is playing his only and last travel fall too. Maybe it's too early and it hasn't hit me yet. He started his final HS year today and his awful mood is a big time challenge getting me nostalgic with him. 

@BaseballMOM05 posted:

My eyes start to tear up just reading the title - then reading your words - I can't even.... I hope you have an AMAZING trip!!!

Thanks Mom!

I'm gonna encourage you hopefully.  I enjoyed the trips but as my son got older he drove himself a lot and was on team trips rather than individual trips like when he was younger.  He was blessed to play with a few teams that were fully paid so not as many father/son trips or he played in Atlanta where he drove himself to the games and I went and watched when I knew he was pitching.

There is also something different about the college experience.  I drove up for most of the midweek games, 3 1/2 hours each way, even though he did not play many because he was pitching on the weekends.  We went to dinner and talked after the games.  The SEC weekends were exciting and got to experience him being a part of the real deal against incredible competition.  We went to dinner almost every Friday and Saturday night and other family were there when he was home.  But I will never forget the week in Hoover, the regional, and super regionals, and the time in Omaha spent with him each night after the games.  Just hearing how he felt and what it was like to experience baseball from his viewpoint.  I reckon my encouragement is if he is playing college ball there is still 4 more years to go.  Hopefully your son allows you to be a part of it like ours has.  I have seen some of his teammates who shunned their parents during the journey and that is a shame.  Enjoy this part of the ride but know the ride can continue.

Whether it’s moving on to college baseball (and softball in our family) or graduating and moving on into jobs and families your kids never stop doing incredible things.

When I went through these progressions in life I didn’t think they were big deals. It was what I was supposed to be doing. But watching your kids do it is amazing.

People sometimes ask if I could turn back time what age would I return to. I surprise them by telling them forty. I was comfortable professionally and financially. By appearances we had the All American family. My oldest was seven starting her sports journey.

My youngest was two and driving me crazy while trying to coach my seven year old. I had one eye on the game and one on him.

@2022NYC posted:

My kid is playing his only and last travel fall too. Maybe it's too early and it hasn't hit me yet. He started his final HS year today and his awful mood is a big time challenge getting me nostalgic with him.

It's a natural way of making us not feel so bad when they leave.

Last spring on a week day I had debated on whether to try to cut out of work early and go to my son's college game about an hour away. I went to nearly every game, but that day the weather was not great and with him being a relief pitcher I wasn't sure if he'd play, so I was not sure about going. Turned out I went and he finished the game. I had no idea that day, but that was our last time. I am not sure if it is better or worse to not know when it is the last time, but I sure am glad I went. The season shut down soon after that. So if there is ever any doubt, go. With COVID and with ambitious school and work goals, even though he has eligibility it was decided he would not play again. 

@High Change Ups Go A Long Way posted:

Last spring on a week day I had debated on whether to try to cut out of work early and go to my son's college game about an hour away. I went to nearly every game, but that day the weather was not great and with him being a relief pitcher I wasn't sure if he'd play, so I was not sure about going. Turned out I went and he finished the game. I had no idea that day, but that was our last time. I am not sure if it is better or worse to not know when it is the last time, but I sure am glad I went. The season shut down soon after that. So if there is ever any doubt, go. With COVID and with ambitious school and work goals, even though he has eligibility it was decided he would not play again.

I'm sitting in the parking lot waiting for my son's team to take the field. And I'm not embarrassed one bit that your post just made me tear up. Thanks for sharing this

All this is great...sucks to get old and just like Oski there have been moments reading here and also watching my kid do what he loves. It has been a rough go for 2 years for him with Covid-crap and then injury wise but he continues to grind and I love his work ethic and his great attitude.

I have loved every minute of the journey with both of my kids (daughter a sophomore that plays D1 hockey). Connecting, coaching, laughing, throwing BP, traveling, etc are all major gifts to me. I know after having an awesome dad who did the same things for me that both my daughter and my son will look back someday and remember it fondly. We are so fortunate to be here and have this with our kids (and have a place to talk about this stuff!).

Life is a transition, enjoy each phase:

- TBall to Minors: I miss the chaos of it all, kids running everywhere...

- Minors to Majors: I miss the after game snack excitement,  who cares who won...

- Majors to Jr's, minor travel: Because he throws 68 MPH from 46ft your son is not going to be a MLB star...

- HS: Did he make the team?, Why is he not on Varsity?, why is Big Johnny playing ahead of him, etc, etc, etc...

- Serious Travel: Where are the fields, where is the hotel, how much does this hotel cost? printing out MapQuest maps, where is the liquor store...

- College: I planned for the college expenses but this travelling around the country is delaying my retirement...

- Post college: Dad where are we going fishing this summer?

PS: I'll take the fishing...

Thanks to all for your kind and reassuring words. It was a wonderful trip and I'll take all of the advice to heart. BOF, my son and I love to fly fish together and that's very much on the agenda for the rest of my life.