There’s No Crying in Baseball…
Not when you’re immersed in the joyfulness of a little league game on a summer’s evening
A summer evening…the crack/ping of a ball off a metal bat, the bleachers filled with cheering spectators, the warm breeze providing a bit of relief from the almost-setting sun. There is nothing like it. A little league baseball game. It’s the best of the best in this world, as far as I’m concerned.
Our family recently attended the first baseball game of the season played by my ten-year-old grandson. He loves baseball, but this was the first time he had played “professionally.” At our house, if there is a Chicago Cubs baseball game being played, it’s on the TV. And if it happens to be on some weird channel that Major League Baseball insists on once in a while, the game is playing on the radio. I am a die-hard Cubs fan, and I’ve drug the rest of the family along with me. Good seasons or not-so-good seasons, we’re in it. Yes, I realize they are mostly… uhhh…challenging …. But, hey! there’s always next year!
So when the grandkids are at our house and the game is on, we all watch it together. While my grandson loves it and provides us with a continual play-by-play monologue, his sister prefers to do something else as the game moves forward. But she does want to be alerted when the commercials are on. She “loves the ads!” We all have our passions. Because of all this baseball exposure, we’ve been inspired to play a lot of baseball at the park behind our house. Granted, we’re usually a team of four, but we make it work. So there has been batting practice, games of catch, and fielding techniques explored. But there was never an actual team to play on. Until this year.
After a bit of searching, a league of just the right skill level was found and registration was completed. And then off he went to a few days of practice, then to his first game. We were all so excited, as was he, but he also had a few nerves fluttering around, this being his first real game and all. But not to worry… he did great! He likes playing short-stop best and has caught a few pop flies during practice. But his big moment came about half-way through the actual game when he slid into home plate, scoring the first run for his team! That is a moment I think he will always remember. I know I will.
While keeping an eye on the game, and being the people-watcher that I am, my gaze began to wander around the bleacher sections. And as I looked around me, I discovered that we were part of quite a diverse and friendly crowd. There were people there from many different ethnic groups and different parts of the city. And we ranged from grandparents to little 2-year-old twin girls defying any attempts by their parents to contain their busy-ness. Heck, we even had a Great Dane there. And I realized that everyone was being supportive of the team, encouraging all the players even though we may not have gotten to know them yet. But we will. And those of us in the cheering section will become better acquainted as we sit in the stands each week and share brief little conversations and always-expert observations about the game. We will become our own team in the stands supporting our team of players.
And this deeply touched my heart as I took it all in while continuing to cheer on our little baseball players. I thought: Isn’t this what it’s all about? Coming together to support each other? Saying “You can do it,” even if I don’t know you personally? Encouraging one another? Knowing that even though each one of us is different from anyone else, that we, together, are a team?
That particular day had been a trying one for me, and I knew attending that game would be just what I needed. Watching those young baseball players doing their best and the crowd supporting them restored my faith in people. The familiarity and comfort of a baseball field and the beauty of a summer evening in Iowa. Our family walking off together after the game, listening to our little player as he gave us the play-by-play of his first real baseball team experience.
At that moment, there was no crying in baseball, or anything else. Just joy in who we are and where we were. My greatest hope is that you are able to find the same comfort wherever you are. And, maybe, if you get the chance, go ahead and stop by a little league game. I believe it’s the best of the best in this world.
I also write a Substack column entitled Grandma’s Recipe Box, a place where we can all share treasured family recipes and the stories behind them. I believe these recipes help make us who we are and bring back memories like nothing else can. I publish my family recipes but also invite readers to join in and share theirs. Who knows? Your recipe gem may become a treasure for another family, or you may find one that becomes your own family heirloom. To join in and submit a recipe, just email me at: ourgrandmasrecipebox@gmail.com
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Let’s play two!
Love this!