What has baseball done for you?

Great topic especially during the cold days of winter.

Baseball has lead me to my life now. If it wasn't for baseball I wouldn't have a college degree or masters degree or the job I have now.

Growing up I used to wake up in the morning and throw a ball against a wall of our house. I did it all day long and mom would make me take a shower before I came inside the house. That sometimes meant I took three showers a day.

Started high school and we were a football school. If you wanted to be cool and popular you played football. If you were athletic you played football. Basketball and baseball were things to do. I wasn't the best student and had grade troubles. It wasn't because I couldn't handle it academically it was because I was lazy and immature. I was the class clown and the teachers liked me but I struggled. In fact I almost didn't graduate high school. Out of 68 in my graduating class I finished 51 - so I tell people I was almost valedictorian of the bottom 10.

Where I grew up there wasn't summer baseball - so we played high school ball and didn't do anything else until the next season. I got lucky and found a league across the state line and played one summer. I didn't know a single soul on my team or my league but I didn't care. I got picked for a team and they put me at firstbase. In high school I was a catcher and wanted to catch but I was still coming off a knee injury that made me miss almost my entire Junior season.

I made the all star team as a firstbaseman and had to get to know a whole new group of people (only three of us on my team made the all star team). This made me think I could probably play a little.

Fast forward to college and I walk on at a small NAIA school. Only reason I did was because I was standing in line at the bookstore and this guy looked at me and asked where I went to high school. I told him and he remembered playing against me. He thought I was there to play baseball and I told him I wasn't so he talked me into trying out. I made the team.

Because I had to stay eligible to play baseball is what got me through school - high school and college. I started coaching at a local high school during my second year of college and fell in love with it. I always thought I would end up coaching but never knew how to do it. A former college team mate was the head coach and he asked me to help and I did.

I couldn't go to school, play and coach at the same time so I gave up playing after two years on the team in college. I hated it but it was the best decision I could have made.

Having to stay eligible and starting my coaching career is what got my college education. I always had a good work ethic on the field - football and baseball both - but I lacked it in the classroom. Once I got near the end of my playing days and I saw I oculd coach it got me focused and on the right track.

After I "retired" from playing to coach my grades went up. I graduated from college with a 2.5 GPA and graduated from my masters program with a 3.1 - high school GPA was 2.1.

As a coach I have met a TON of great people and some are now my best friends in the world. I never would have met them or did the things I have done without baseball.

There have been some bad things but I wouldn't change a thing. I have enjoyed the ride so far and can't wait to keep on riding.

This thread popped a fond memory in my head... changing the question just a little...what does baseball mean to you...
When my son was in HS, one of the annual choir trips took us to Washington D.C. We arrived late so he could play his Friday night baseball game but got there in time to visit the opening of the Baseball Exhibit at the Smithsonian Institute.

They were filming people explaining what baseball meant to them with the video record becoming a part of the Smithsonian archives. I had to bribe my son to do it (he didn't want to wait in line)...cost me a Monopoly Baseball Edition from the gift shop...but I remember very well what he said...

"I've loved baseball for as far back as I can remember. I can't even imagine my life without baseball in it. It would be so....BORING. There is no better place to be in the world than on a baseball field."

I don't think his opinion has changed even a little since that time.

What baseball has done for me....
-Allowed me to develop the discipline that I have applied to many other areas of life
-Surrounded me with many positive, goal-oriented people
-Helped get me away from people who were negative influences on my life
-Given me the opportunity to call meet many amazing people and enable me to call them friends
-Helped me know what it is like to truly be "on fire" for something
-Lowered my grades
-Give me the knowledge to pass on to enable other players to chase their dreams

It's provided me with a very convenient way to spend a lot of time with my son.

I hit my first amateur HR at age 8, and final one(unless I get recruited again and agree) at age 45. It is whats in between that counts.

Sharing a common passion of baseball with my Dad, and now sharing it with my sons. It is almost like baseball is part of our genetic fabric.

I am one of the few that believe the skills required to play are gifts. There is a "naturalness" to it all.

As a boy, it meant waiting for Dad to get home to pitch to me. As a Dad, it means getting home from work to pitch to my sons. Counting the days and hours to their next game. Sleepness nights on a Friday when I had a Saturday DH in the 39 over Hobbs League.

Designing and ordering uniforms, collecting gloves and bats, hangin in the dugout with other old timers on weekends and having my then 12 year old son watching, now a D1 player and way, way better than I was.

Watching the progress of my 10 year old, embarking on his 3rd (by his choice) travel season, and his excitement and anticipation of team practice and games. Baseball is a game for little boys, and big boys who maintain the reason why they play. Because it is fun.

What has baseball done for me?

It keeps the magic going.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZY8pePT0TA&feature=related

** and the knack for the longball**

Baseball has forced me to hire a landscaper. Otherwise I have to look at the weeds until next week, oh what the heck what's one more week, next week, gee the yard looks like hell.

Coming out of college I sold my passion to compete and win to prospective employers.

Baseball has made me feel like a young boy again.

thegame2003,

right on.

this topic hits me in moments like now sitting on my computer, baseball is my fav sport, fav past time, its what is always on my mind, and it is my future profession, it is my life. can't amagine life without it.

It goes without saying... WARNING

...but I'll say it anyway. Baseball has given me a lot more friends through this website. Thanks to you all.


JH,

It's nice to see you back on the HSBBW. I enjoy your posts and wish you a successful senior season. Keep us posted.

Baseball's been very very good to me.


(and lawyers too)
---------------

For one 89-year-old man, a lifetime of collecting baseball cards delivered a solid return this past weekend: $1.5 million dollars and counting. Lionel Carter of Evanston, Ill., sold a portion of his 50,000-card collection at auction.

Among the lots: the 1951 rookie card for Mickey Mantle.

"I would still rather have the cards than money," Carter said.

---------------------
Honus Wagner 1911 baseball card sold for $451,000 at Sotheby's in 1991.
(I wonder where my bride put both of them?)

Baseball has created a life-time of memories for me and my dad...
....and now, me and my son.

Baseball is not a way of life to me IT IS LIFE. Everyday im thinking of what em i going to do in this situation? If it comes to me, where am i going? I am a all year round player, Highschool, Summer metro and tournament team and Fallball so im on the diamond almost year round and if im not on the field im practicing on the weekends with summer team. But baseball has giving me to Vistit places(from tournaments and league games) that i would of never went to on my own, Made tons of new freinds that appreicate the game i do and taught me that responsiblity along the way. Only thing i dont like its that i live in MD,which is rather cold state and i drag not being able to go on the field because when im inside watching tv i know in cali or florida kisds are out hitting extra bp and geting throwing in, but im just gonna take it what it gives to me and do my own thing.

lol, i also find my self drawing our lineup and postions in class for highschool and Tournament team,seeing how things are looking on paper lol

But baseball has done me good, Offcourse the ups and downs but overall Nice life.


PS-Im one of those kids who doesnt go out and party on weekends, get hammered and hook up with every girl in my school. Having a gf is fine as long as it doesnt distract u away from the game.


my 2 cents,enjoy.

infidel- Never left...just got a little lonely in the winter I guess

Hope all is well with you and your son and he is enjoying senior year...time is flying by we're already almost done

What it has done is introduce me to players/families such as JH.

What is has done is give me a direction at a late stage in my life so that I don't need to sit and watch soap operas!

What it has done is give me a multitude of acquaintances both in ther virtual and real world!

What it has done is allow me to have a passion for something that is a GREAT ADDICTION ! In this day and age of bad addictions this is a great thing

God bless Baseball and the good people in it!!! Yes there are some bummers.

It has let me smile everyday. Brought me closer and closer to the family I have started, and kept me close to the family that has passed on. My grandfather was "THE" baseball guy, telling me stories from when he played in the late 20s early 30s. Sometimes he got paid $75.00 to take the train and play in N.Y. state and in PA. Great stories!!!

I heard those stories over and over catching my imagination, so that it was like I was there. I often wondered how close my vision of it all really was.

It has given me those great memories of family and also of friends I have made along the way. From the days when I played and it still goes on today as son travels the same path. What a great cycle.

Baseball has made me a nervous wreck, but I love it

Baseball has made me realize that no matter how much pressure I thought little league and tournament teams were, it was nothing compared to high school, but I love it.

Baseball has taught me that some parents go way beyond MADNESS and CHEATING to make their son look good. I don’t love that, but it has made ME a better person. We all need to pray for those people.

Baseball has made me so proud of my son, for working so hard, on the field and in the classroom so he can maybe have a chance of fulfilling his dream of playing college ball.

Baseball has given me the opportunity to fall in love with all of my son’s team mates and their families from every team he has ever played on.

Baseball has taught me that there is no other game compared to this one. I realized this when I was walking into my son’s first football game as starting quarterback and punter and I was wishing it was baseball season.


The task ahead of you is never as great as the power of God behind you.

What has baseball done for me? I'll try not to sound too emotional or like I'm writing a junior high English paper...

Baseball has given me the chance to bond with my father, my brothers, and both of my grandfathers who died when I was very young. I don't remember much about my grandfathers except that they loved baseball...one loved the White Sox, the other the Cubs...Baseball has been my connection to them. I hope that they watched every game I ever played in and have coached, with smiles on their faces.

There were many great road trips with my dad the first two summers after high school when I was playing summer ball in the area. I grew up watching my brothers play, and since they were always playing while I was growing up, it was fun when they got the opportunity to watch me play in college.

Baseball made me interested in college and really made me want to be there. Without baseball I don't know if I would have had the desire to stay for four years. I wouldn't have learned so much about the game, either.

This game gave me the opportunity to meet one of the most influential people in my life while working for an independent team while in college. Although I only spent about a month with him, the discussions we had when he was not in the game have helped shaped me as a person, even after his sudden death in a plane crash about two years ago.

Baseball gave me the opportunity to travel. First within the United States, then to Central America to play ball. I learned lessons that I don't know if I can even put into words that any of you would understand. Most of those lessons making me feel so lucky to have all that I do and humbling me in ways I never thought possible.

Baseball has given me a job. I went to college to be a teacher...yeah...that's worked out well since now I'm coaching full time. I get paid to coach this amazing game. Unreal.

Baseball has helped my discipline, desire, passion, and work ethic. All of which will stay with me as I move on in life.

Baseball has given me friends across the country that I would have never had if not for this game. Not just friends that are skin deep, but brothers, who when I see after two years the stories of events from 4 or 5 years ago seem like yesterday.

There are more things that baseball has done for me. More than I can even think of I'm sure. Hopefully at the end of the day, though, I can say that I've done something for this game since it has done so much for me.