OT: Your Baseball Playing Days

[tbob]

I played catcher from Little League through high school, good hitter for average but little power. Good defensively but not the fleetest afoot.
American Legion used to be wonderful. When I coached and we won a State Championship in 1989 it was one of the greatest days of my life. Unfortunately kids started finding other things to do during the summer from video games to working to just hanging out and no longer wanted to put in the time necessary for all the practices and games and started playing Senior Babe Ruth instead which had few practices and fewer games. But most importantly, football became a 12 month sport down South with spring football and summer camps and basketball became a year round sport also with summer camps, AAU basketball, etc. Sadly the 3 sport athletes are only a memory as kids want to specialize in one sport.

[itjclarke]

Originally Posted by tbob

Sadly the 3 sport athletes are only a memory as kids want to specialize in one sport.

Totally agree, it is sad. I was a 3 sport athlete most of my life. It could get tiring, but each sport seemed to compliment the next. This is probably oversimplified, but how I remember it.. baseball developed the hand eye coordination, arm strength and good hands, basketball helped with body control, lateral quickness and balance, and also hands, football really made you explosive in bursts (I also developed whatever leaping ability I ever had doing football drills) and stronger. Football also seemed by far the most important from a team and character building standpoint. Bums me out to think most kids today miss out on that variety now. Just think of guys like Bo Jackson, Brian Jordon, Danny Ainge, Jackie Jensen, Dave Winfield, and of course Jackie Robinson, who all achieved so much as multi sport stars.

[David R]

I spent a few seasons in the Midwest League for the Braves - threw a 91 mph fastball and not much else but it was good enough to make the All Star Team one year.

[itjclarke]

Originally Posted by David R

I spent a few seasons in the Midwest League for the Braves - threw a 91 mph fastball and not much else but it was good enough to make the All Star Team one year.

Awesome! I wish I could feel what it is like to throw 90 just once.

[piedmont150]

True Story: 1978...

JV baseball game at Philips Exeter Academy in Exeter, NH. (I was on the visiting team) It was a very memorable game for many reasons. Open field no fence. I was a left handed hitter and cranked a long fly well over the right fielder's head and........landed it squarely on the fly into a baby carraige being pushed by an unsuspecting mother who thought she was evidently well beyond the reach of any hit balls. I motored all the way around the bases and mom was absolutely freaking out thinking her baby was going to be injured. The good news is the baby was absolutely fine and was not hurt. Funny sight seeing the right fielder trying to coerce the lady to get the ball back in play. The bad news is the umpire took my home run away and awarded me a ground rule double. I was not happy and asked the umpire to show me the rule regarding baby carraiges in the rule book.
Still going strong at 53...

[Mike (18colt)]

I wanted to be a major leaguer, play like my idol Pete Rose, but lacked talent.

The good - senior year of high school, I couldn't hit anything. Going into the final game, I had a whopping 3 bunt singles, and nothing else. I hit an opposite field home run hitting out of the 9-hole. Still have the ball 21 years later. Despite a teammate hitting 3 homers that game, the local paper took notice of my achievement.

The bad - same season, I'm on the mound. My catcher gives me the sign for "hit the batter". No problem. I intended to hit him, but grooved it over the center of the plate. The ball hasn't landed yet. The hitter was a guy named Creighton Gubanich. He hit a grand slam in his first MLB at bat, and briefly played for Boston and Oakland. Oh well, control wasn't my strong suit.

Baseball was fun despite its ups and downs. You will miss playing it someday. Softball doesn't really fill the void, but it makes you think it is filling the void. I still have time to master a knuckleball and become a reliever if age doesn't get in the way. Good luck to you.

Mike (18colt)

[bigred1]

Played high school ball with Denny Naegle, used to be something to brag about. lol. Played a little community college ball, only threw in the mid 80s, not good enough for a righty. Ten years ago played in adult league at 35, was a 28 and over league that started as 30 and over, retired after facing ex-Oriole Ken Dixon throwing to ex-Oriole John Stefero and then they lowered the age to 26 and I just couldnt keep up or catch up. Also won the opportunity to be the bat boy for the Orioles for a game in 1983. Cal Ripken jumped on Eddie Murrays back to prevent him from getting onto the field first. Rick Dempsey did not start and had a rotten attitude at the end of the bench and the nicest players, to me, were Al Bumbry and Denny Martinez. Tim