when did you discover the HSBW?

Wow - every post in this thread is awesome!

I discovered the site after my son had signed. I was curious about the future as SDBB suggests. What were the odds and so forth... Not so good I have learned I couldn't believe there were actual scouts who shared knowledge on here like bbscout or college and high school coaches willing to share their knowledge.

It has become my main social activity. I have discovered that I enjoy hanging out with baseball people and find they are most like me. I don't care what your background is other than your love of baseball. Some of the wisest people can be found here on the hsbbweb. Thanks Bob and of course Julie... she works extremely hard behind the scenes...

I have also found that everyone has something special to contribute in their own unique ways. There are some who annoy me at times and then will turn around and post something so sensitive it will bring a tear to your eye.

I try to share what has worked for me in the past and often it has nothing to do with baseball. I come from an ethnic family who migrated here from Russia and other parts just before the Bolshevic Revolution. They brought with them a blue-collar work ethic and I have found these hard-working principles continue to apply toward success - no matter what the endeavor.

I think it was spring of 2002, just sat and viewed for a while then signed up.
I for one have gotten a tremendous education here. I can remember printing up the "timeline" numerous times and read it like "Gospel".

For anyone who visits this site, you can't help be enjoy yourself as you learn. There is so much knowledge that is being passed down adn newbies step up they prove their value. No one here is to smart to learn and no one should feel that they have nothing to contibute.

Thank You to all my "friends" here.

I'm guessing I've been on here for 5 or 6 years, but according to my time sheets, it's been 15 years (The attorneys on here will get it).

There is no better source of baseball knowledge than this site, and it has been a pleasure to meet several folks in person. This site has held my hand in the recruiting of two sons, a redshirt season, a reaaaaaal inactive season, a transfer and all that entails, ups and downs of GPA's, girl friends, and a thankfully brief bout with the dreaded dip. I have likely printed out at least 20 threads for my sons to read at various times and left the pages where they'd see them, which is real effective communication method at times when dealing with somebody who already knows it all. We now have two sons playing together on the same college team and will sit back and enjoy that for a couple years, and then pray the oldest finds a job.

Before the word "google" was in the Wedster dictionary, I was paddling through the web in 2002 looking for recruiting information and stumbled on this site. What I found most interesting was that it was a group of people that not only wanted to share their experiences, but also were looking for other people that shared their sons committment for the game. What is unique is that it is a smart group that will go outside the box to share their opinions and at the same time will accept anothers, or defend their own.

The perfect world would have all of us sitting together in one section watching a weekend of games, and all of our ballplayers sitting in the next section, and a tailgate before and after.

Like several others, I discovered the site sometime in late 2001 or early 2002 ... but well after I should have and didn't get to benefit from all the knowledge and wisdom and information before our son was getting ready to look into college ball. But fortunately it worked out for him (we apparently did some things right despite not finding the site but it probably would have been a lot easier with a link to the HSBBWeb) and I continue to enjoy following so many of our fellow members' sons as they take the ride that means playing at the next level (whatever that level may be).

May God bless everybody this coming year with health (especially for our sons on the field ), prosperity (which can mean many things, not just $$$), and success at all levels. Please be safe this holiday season and enjoy the wonderment that comes from being parents.

Mary Ann

P S And Julie ... thank you for all your hard work and your wonderful friendship. I love you.

I think I found HSWBB about 4 years ago when I was looking for good baseball related websites to link to our travel teams webpage. My first introduction to HSWBB was to the outstanding articles that were posted on the home page.

After a couple of years I finally realized there was a HSWBB message board (I'm a little slow sometimes), after that my baseball world changed forever. I am sometimes embarrassed at how much time I spend on here. The reason… great information, great insight (and some not so...) but most importantly, great people!

I will be forever grateful to what Bob and Julie have given us. Thanks to all of those that contribute to make this the best message board on the internet.

I can't remember what year it was, but the thing I liked at first were the guys from Tn.I am including Alabama as a suburb of TN. They were funny and knowledgeable.I learned a lot about the ins and outs of preparing for college from many people.

I had an old computer that was real slow and I also just had dial up which drove me crazy. TR had his chat room and we would get on there each week and tell lies, which was fun. The only problem was the computer would lock up or you would get bumped off the chat room and then you could not get back on. Things are much smoother with a new puter and high speed internet, but the old days were a lot of fun.

I forgot something.

I forgot to mention OPP (OnePlayersPop). OPP doesn't post much anymore, but you can find him hanging out sometimes in chat.

For those of you who do not know, OPP is Zach Duke's dad. I have learned a lot from OPP. OPP is the same OPP he was when I first read about Zach, way back before he became a major league player. I have learned a lot from him, not just about baseball, but important things about life and how he raised a baseball son. I enjoy how he interacts with the players that come into chat and the new folks who drop in. We could all learn a lot from him. I know someone who knows Zach well, and I can tell you his folks have done a fine job.
For me, it's parents like him that I think have made this place special, for me.

Thank you Tom.

Seems like a lifetime ago.

I found this site several years back and have been addicted ever since. I have to say I’m amazed by the previous posts. It sounds like many of the folks who have gone before me were as clueless as I am now yet have so much knowlege now. We all do have a couple of things in common though – a love of baseball and a desire to give our sons every (good and reasonable) opportunity we can.

For the parents of the older guys out there – I don’t know how you do it. When my kids go off to college I think I will go with them – can’t imagine not having them around. I can’t imagine not being there for sons games. As you all have counseled each of us, enjoy every minute before they are off.

My best wishes for a great Christmas to all and a special prayer to all our ballplayers that they have a great year!

I hope one day I can be of assistance to the next set of new posters.

I found this site in 2001 from searching the internet for a topic I no longer remember. It has been a wonderful site. Son was starting his freshman year of HS, playing national travel ball, and beginning to get some attention. I came looking for advice and empathy from folks who understood the roller coaster ride. We learned so much and were able to keep a lid on the stress levels by knowing that we were not alone in our recruiting experiences. I stayed very active all through high school and into college, providing information where I could and sharing experiences. Son is now in his sophomore year of college and still playing the game he loves. My current schedule doesn't allow me to visit as often as I'd like lately, but each time it is like coming home. This is still a wonderful and unique site and I hope it continues for a very long time. Happy Holidays!

TPM, you beat me to the punch...
Tom was also a great resource for select ball for the 14U-18U groups, taught me about pro tryouts, defined the scouting "ladder" (birdog vs. assoc. scout vs. area scout).
I read this a few minutes ago & decided to add the link...
OPP, your "herd" has escaped & must be headed up I-35.

http://www.comcast.net/news/science/index.jsp?cat=SCIEN...&cvqh=itn_Armadillos

I found this site a long time ago, sometime in the 90s. It has been informative and great and now repetitive, which believe it or not sometimes is more interesting. I remember many posters who no longer are around and I wonder sometimes what become of them. One in particular, the Principal, had a nephew that played at Liberty. One day the Principal disappeared and we discovered he had died. It was very sad. Other posters have shared great times and tragedies and it has evolved into a community that is constantly stable, changing and dynamic all at the same time. What a great place for baseball and so much more.

FBM,

You are a sweetheart as always - you really made my day. Merry Christmas to you and your family, and especially I hope that you will be feeling well enough to celebrate our Savior's birth with your family.

Time for me to go and help Santa now!

Julie

1998 and only observed just this week made a first time post

Less than a year ago another parent made a passing comment about info she'd picked up on HSBBW. I went home and found it, began reading, and did a little happy-dance! Son is a freshman with college aspirations, and the info I've already picked up has made the path much clearer. The folks I've "met" here are ones I'd be happy and eager to meet IRL (often that's not true on web forums.) I've been excited to point other serious ball families in this direction--share the wealth!

Thanks for everything, so far, HSBBW friends! You are the BEST.

Merry Christmas to all you wonderful baseball people. I rarely post because I know so little about baseball I prefer to learn from all the experts here, but this is the time of year to give thanks for everything in life that makes us happy. I discovered this site as my son was entering his freshman year at a new high school, we knew very few people, just a core group of baseball players( and didn't even know them well). I printed the timeline, got fascinated reading the archives, and spent alot of time that summer reprinting an entire BIG binder of incredible info. I have learned so much reading this site and it has helped guide our family through the maze of baseball and academics. Son is now a junior and I am on here, sometimes several times a day, still learning. This next year we hope to ride the roller coaster of recruiting and will continue to learn from all the experienced posters here. Thank you all so much for sharing your experiences and expertise. Thank you Bob and Julie for creating and maintaining such a wonderful source of inspiration and information with this site. Thanks to all the posters I have sent pm's to, they respond with such helpful info and attitudes. I am amazed how nice all of you baseball people are!

Thanks,

CaBB

Found the site through a PG link in Spring of 2003. At the time my son was in 8th grade (Now a JR).

This site has been INVALUABLE to us!
Thanks to all of you who regularly contribute.
Merry Christmas!

I was very fortunate to have known Bob before the site arrived----it has just gotten better and better with each day

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...Funny...I figured The HSBBW found me when the time was right...

It was Karmic...

...and things have been been pretty Nirvanic ever since...

While we're here...Thanks to all since, for your help and for your patience!

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