There has always been one sport that has held a special spot in my heart: baseball. I love baseball. The only time that I wished that I could have been male was when I found out that only boys play baseball and girls were stuck with softball… I really don’t like softball.
The love of baseball has transcended generations in my family. My maternal grandfather, who grew up in Brooklyn in the early 1900s, attended Brooklyn Dodgers games and was broken hearted when the team left for California. His attention then shifted to the New York Yankees. He loved baseball so much that he even played the game in college. He passed away before he had the chance to take me to my first game. However, I always think of him when I visit a ballpark.
My mom is also a baseball person. I remember a play in kindergarten where the students in my class were each assigned to a letter and some saying about that letter. Mine was the letter “O.” My line was supposed to be, “O is for the wise old owl who lives in the tree.” That’s how I practiced it in front of my evil kindergarten teacher… the woman was mean as hell to me. When I went home with my lines, my mom decided to make a slight modification. Being that my family lived outside of Baltimore at the time, (I’ve lived all over the place and returned to Maryland 9 years ago byway of the Navy) the owl flew away and my line changed to, “O is for the wise old oriole who lives in the tree.” I remember that right before I went onstage, and when it was too late for my evil teacher to put a stop to things, my mom popped up with an Orioles shirt and ball cap. I delivered my modified line to the delight of my mom and the rest of the audience. Oh, and the evil teacher disliked me even more. Oh well. I never have been able to go to a baseball game with my mom, but perhaps someday I’ll get that one to happen.
Instead, I went with my dad who doesn’t like baseball. Granted, he was nice enough to take me to a few baseball games in Kansas City, when the Orioles came to town. However, he grew up on a farm and never learned that baseball is to be worshipped and by that, one should not bring books to pass the time while one’s daughter is busy screaming her head off at the game. However, if you want to talk about computers, he’s the guy to go to. His computer conversations with adults made me want to bring my own book… or razor blade.
Anyway, the point is that I love baseball! I also have a deep appreciation for Cal Ripken, Jr. I’m still trying to figure out how I’m going to get to have him autograph a baseball for me in person. Give me time, I’ll figure something out. One of the reasons why I loved watching Cal Ripken, Jr. is because he loved the game. He played for the Orioles for his entire major league career and had a deep loyalty to the game and to his fans. He was what made baseball great and brought fans to the stands after the baseball strike that alienated many.
No matter what’s going on in the world, you can go to a baseball game and enjoy yourself. Unfortunately baseball has had a bit of trouble in the past couple years with steroid allegations left and right. Yesterday, just a little bit before spring training starts, Alex Rodriguez admitted to steroid use from 2001-2003. Today, Miguel Tejada was charged with lying to Congress about steroids. More names will probably follow.
It’s a shame that a national pastime is tainted with controversy such as this. The heavy hitters of yesterday didn’t need steroids and they don’t need them know. If a player can’t hack it, be honorable about it and do some time in the minors instead of being greedy and tainting my beloved game. It’s bad enough that ticket prices are so high at ballparks that it’s difficult for the average family to participate in a slice of Americana. Adding the steroids use to the mix is a recipe for disaster for such a wonderful sport.
I really hope that someday baseball will have a good name again and that little kids will have to opportunity to enjoy a game like I did… hopefully with parents who leave the reading material back at home.
Filed under: Droppings Tagged: | Alex Rodriguez, baseball, Cal Ripken Jr., Miguel Tejada
You are too cute for words! As a girl brought up in a household with 3 brothers and a Dad who was a coach, I could relate to so much of this post. My Dad also played semi-pro baseball before and after I was born, and coached it later (yeah, it was a long time ago!) This world of drugs around sports was never an issue back then…just good clean fun, and athletes you could be proud of. I think that the marketing of sports as a VERY huge, overinflated business is the real problem, and that has made good people do bad things.
My dad use to take us to Town Games, this is back before we had pro baseball.
He would have loved the Twins but died way too young before they came to Minnesota from Washington..my Mom was a big fan, never missed a game.
I was lucky and got to see the 7th game of the World Series in 87 and 91 when the Twins won the series.
As for Steroids, I am beginning to suspect the use goes way beyond those that have come out so far.
Growing up, if I wanted to have a conversation with my dad, I had to be able to talk sports. Every morning during middle and high school, as I ate my Cheerios, I opened the paper to the sports pages. April – October, I checked the stats boxes to see who had won, who had lost and how many games the Cubs were out of first place.
This was in NW Florida, but my dad is from northwestern Indiana, practically Illinois.
I watched baseball, I went to games, I cheered, I screamed and then there was a strike. Full grown men, playing a game, weren’t making enough money.
Ok, I lived through it, but my cheers dimmed a little.
And then there was another strike. And I don’t even watch the World Series anymore.
But Congress needs to be worried about something BESIDES steroid use in baseball.
Ah! Another baseball girl! My aunts and I had season tickets to the Rangers and would end up explaining the game to guys around us. They are the only women I know who actually understand the infield fly rule. I did my internship with the Rangers and was lucky enough to get to meet Nolan Ryan and other greats. My prize possession is a Mickey Tettleton bat complete with pine tar.
Too bad so many players these days (or should I say since the 90s?) feel the need to rely on drugs more than talent. It is a sad statement to our children.
Seriously, wtf with all of these guys doing drugs? How is this any different than snorting coke?
I never understood why we were stuck with softball, either. What the hell? I did try to start girls’ water polo and field hockey teams in high school, though.
I just love baseball. My best memory is when my Dad showed up at school looking all serious. The teacher said that he had come to get me for “something important.” He didn’t say a word to me and when I got in the car, he flashed a big smile and fanned out two tickets to the world series!! Best moment with my Dad and a great game. I love going to the ballpark.
Thanks for the post.