Comments on: Perspective

By: Spanky

Spanky — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 09:30:00 +0000

In 1980, I played Babe Ruth Baseball in a small town in the Pacific Northwest. Medford Oregon was a small town of about 45,000. When we won the District Tournament, it was expected and while a very exciting day…no big deal. We later won state and found ourselves on the way to the Regional Tournament in Lewiston Idaho. Even now as I look back on it and think of the no-name places we played with players you’ve never heard of, it seems more like a fictional novel than something I really experienced.

The NorthWest Regional Tournament, we played teams from Yakima, WA, Lewiston, ID, and Casper, WY…names you’ll recognize as the megalopolises they are. We were living the BIG dream now playing teams from places near and far. Excitment was building and people were starting to notice back home as this 15 year old team just continued to win.

However, after winning the regional tourney, none of us were prepared for the hoopla that awaited us at the Babe Ruth World Series in Williston ND. While not as well known at the little brother tournament…The Little League World Series…we felt we had hit the big-time. Fans from all over the US made the homage trek to this small town to watch the best from around the country. Every time we entered the stadium wearing our uniforms, kids would descend upon us to seek our autographs on hats, balls, bats, programs, pictures, paper, or whatever they had available. For an entire week, we were Rock Stars. We were living every ball players dream to be considered the best…playing the best teams…on the big stage. Kids I had never seen before that were both younger and older than I asked me about playing in the big games, patting me on the back, shaking hands, seeking for a moment with the players if only by touching our uniform. Reporters held interviews after games and we watched the late evening news to see the highlights (as ESPN was still a fledgling network).

Yes, I agree. Baseball has something magical about it. You don’t have to play in MLB to weave a thread in the fabric of the magical cape of baseball. You don’t have to be famous or from NY, LA, Atlanta, or even Seattle. It can have an impact on others in ways unimagined. Remembering that this is what baseball is about and that the latest trade, stat, or win can be irrelevant if seek to gain and retain that magical perspective. Baseball can impact our life just by touching the sleave of the game as a fan.

By: Greg08

Greg08 — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 07:19:25 +0000

Nice article.
Dirk Hayhurst has class.

By: dennismk

dennismk — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 05:33:23 +0000

Another perspective-builder with a Seattle connection.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2003868841_moyer05.html?syndication=rss

By: kdem

kdem — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 03:57:22 +0000

[deleted - your girlfriend doesn't know what she's talking about. Go read some of his other articles.]

By: thefin190

thefin190 — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 03:40:45 +0000

Amazing Article. Thanks Dave, it was a good read.

By: Karen

Karen — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 02:35:46 +0000

I know from past experience (friendship with a baseball player for many years) that unless you touch a nerve with them, somehow get through their reserve, most of their thinking is “them” (the outside world, fans, non-baseball players) and “us” (fellow baseball players, spouses and their relatives, some but not all authority figures in baseball).

Not “them” versus “us”…just an acknowledgement that the world of major league baseball is a closed society unless one of them chooses to let the door crack open a bit.

That’s what I think this story was all about. And a story like that WILL open the door a little bit. I’m glad they showed the humanity of relating to the kid and his mom.

By: MKT

MKT — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 01:57:19 +0000

As I was clicking on Dave’s link I said to myself “this better be darned good and worth reading”; it certainly was; well worthy of being linked to and of being described as a must read.

39. I have in the past received the same treatment he is referring to when I’ve had to wear my military uniform on a plane, out in town, etc. “You know I was in the navy once, blah blah” or “My best friend’s sister’s boyfriend’s brother’s girlfriend’s cousin knows this guy Sgt. Ferris who is in the Army blah blah”.

Interesting, I’ve only had one airline conversation with a military person, but it was the opposite: he went on and on. The key factor may’ve been that he’d just finished basic training and was both glad and proud to be finished. But I didn’t mind the conversation, it was interesting to hear his stories. The two most memorable details: the constant Physical Training got the recruits into such good shape that by the end, instead of viewing doing pushups or laps as a punishment, they would ask the Drill Instructor for “more PT Sir!”. And although they all practiced throwing grenades, the Drill Instructor only let the ones with the good throwing arms actually throw LIVE ones. No McLaren-esque putting of live grenades into the hands of Rick White at that boot camp!

By: Dayve

Dayve — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 01:49:48 +0000

42.

So?

By: Mendoza Line

Mendoza Line — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 01:41:14 +0000

Dave, thanks for the link. I have a seven year old who has been treated for leukemia since he was four, and recently he got to meet the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, go on the field, etc. It meant the world to him, didn’t matter to him at all that most of those players will never be major leaguers.
I guess my point is that the uniform does make all the difference.

By: Maddog

Maddog — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 01:31:09 +0000

#40 “M’s could use a player like him.”

M’s do have (and have had) players like that. Ibanez, Edgar, Moyer, Buhner amongst others…