Hi All,
I think I've discovered why I truly love baseball so much. Well, there are a couple of reasons, but the most profound may not even have to directly relate to baseball.
I've recently returned home from college on winter break and, like many players, have been working out in order to get ready for the spring season. Today I had the opportunity to workout with my friend from high school at one of the baseball facilities in town. Seeing as we had not seen much of each other since school started (he goes to the hometown college, which happens to be my university's biggest rival), it was nice to see him again. Anyways, amongst the playing catch, rounds of front toss and bp, we found ourselves conversing on life topics. We shared information about our collegiate experiences thus far. We both rambled and shared laughs throughout our time, all the while working hard at our craft.
This is where the profound statement starts. Baseball is a game of communication and connection. We reunited through a singular passion--baseball. Through this passion, we were able to find a medium in which to share our stories and lessons of college.
I find that baseball is such a great game because it is a waiting game. There is never constant "action" in basketball or football. The seconds in between pitches and innings allow for conversation among spectators and for a connection to take place. Maybe it's the first time for a father and son at a ballpark together. Just as the home team's best hitter comes to the plate with his team down, you can almost imagine the father turning to his son and saying, "He's not looked very good at the plate today, but he'll come through here". And then, almost prophetically the player does. This conversation becomes a vivid memory in the son's mind, which he may cherish forever.
I've come to the conclusion that baseball is great because we can build true relationships with others and come to make some of the best friends through our experiences. These experiences revolve around baseball, but the game itself becomes a medium through which we can connect with others and grow in our relationships. This, to me, is the true beauty of the game.
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