As our calendars have flipped over to the month of May, baseball & softball are in full swing throughout the Tuscarawas Valley. Almost all of us have picked up a glove at some point in our childhood and beyond—there is a reason why it is called “America’s Past Time”. But the baseball experience can probably be described in the words of the legendary Chucky D: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”. (If you are confused, I am referring to the 1800’s author–Charles Dickens—and not the 1980’s Public Enemy rapper). Let’s explore the highs and lows of the diamond experience.
1. SPRINGTIME. Yesterday, I ran into my old friend Bob, who recently moved back from San Diego. One reason he gave for his return was that he missed the weather. Let me repeat that: HE MISSED THE WEATHER!!! Many of you cringe at that thought, but I am on Bob’s side on this argument. I love experiencing the four very different seasons that Ohio serves up. I am also a teacher, so I have a greater appreciation for the snowflakes than most adults.
Anyhow, I love spring and the rebirth of nature in all of its splendor. Each May, one tradition for my three kids and me is to point out the blooming azalea bushes as we cruise the streets of Dover.
Spring and baseball arrive hand in hand. As the weather breaks from the deadness of winter, we are usually breaking our gloves out for some catch in the back yard. Chief Wahoo starts blooming on our attire along with the tulips and daffodils in our flowerbeds. And is there any better way to savor a warm, sunny May afternoon than at a ball diamond? I live right by Dover Park, and I love how it comes alive each spring evening as baseball games beckon the masses like moths to a flame. (or maybe I should say, teenagers to a smart phone!).
But of course, springtime in Ohio is not all ‘shorts and sunshine’. I am sure more than a few parents have muttered a few unpleasantries upon receiving a text from coach to say that the game is still on. Time to bundle up and freeze though another cold, dreary 48˚ evening of baseball! The only thing missing is a side order of a steady spring drizzle! And if you want to get the professional four star spring shiver experience, you can spend about $150 to take your family to shiver through an Indians’ game alongside 30 thousand empty green seats!
2. THE CRACK OF THE BAT: Every sport has certain experiences that provide its participants with a special thrill unique to that sport. I have seen 5 year olds and 55 years react with the same smile when they pick up a basketball and ‘swish’ it through the hoop. I think everyone has their own patented dance when catching an imaginary touchdown pass in the yard.
Baseball provides its spark in a variety of ways, but for me, nothing is better than putting ‘good wood’ on the ball. (or maybe the more appropriate label is ‘better metal’). That feeling when you make perfect contact with the bat on the ball—you can actually feel the ball cave in a little—and it takes off like a rocket to the outer reaches of the outfield and beyond.
Pre-schoolers get their first taste of it with a wiffle ball and a big red bat. Many old men still continue to feed this lifetime addiction at the softball field each week. Their wives might be looking to stage an ‘intervention’ for them!
What could be the negative flip side??? How about holding a bee’s nest inside your hands? Don’t know what I am talking about? Watch a kid’s face when he gets jammed hitting a ball on one of those cold, miserable evenings mentioned above. It makes me cringe just thinking about it. The only thing worse than that feeling is that rite of passage into adulthood—getting hit by a pitch.
Many a youngster has hidden in the far corner of the batter’s box, ready to leap out of harm’s way, as an oversized 10-year old Nolan Ryan blazes 100 mph fastballs at them. I kept my ‘innocence’ all the way until 8th grade until I got drilled at the North Nimishillen Elementary ball field. Ironically, I actually kinda liked it, and usually led my team in HBP’s (hit by pitch) through high school.
3. NO WATCHES NEEDED. Baseball is unique to most other sports in that it has no time clock. You can never run out of time, only outs. No need to go into a two- minute offense or start ‘chucking up’ three-point shots. All you need are some rally caps along with any combination of a wild opposing pitcher, timely hitting, and a gift or two from the umpires. And since there is no clock, baseball has a leisurely pace to it provides a soothing contrast to the rat race of every day life.
Of course, with no clock, games can take FOREVER!!! I have heard that the military and police blast Brittany Spears music to drive an enemy out of their position. I am guessing that only the most evil of villains have toyed with the idea of torturing their enemies by making them sit through a 3-hour ‘walk-fest’ of a 9 year-old baseball game that many of us have survived. (shivering through the rain, no doubt!). And other sports with clocks allow coaches to liberally substitute bench players in and try kids at new positions. It’s a little trickier to do in baseball. That whole rally cap thing can be a curse to any lead!
Luckily, Major League Baseball is being proactive in speeding up the game to keep the interest of the younger generations and their technologically driven short attention spans…NOT! I once timed in between pitches for an Indians game one time. It is almost 30 seconds per pitch, with about another 25 seconds added on for a foul ball. Baseball gave up its crown to the NFL in the 2st half of the last century. I am guessing you will see even more empty green seats a few decades from now.
Baseball definitely has its pros and cons (besides the MLB players, of course). I started by quoting a famous 19th century author, and I will finish with the prose of a legendary writer/musician/balding reality show star (who knows what is under his bandana), Sir Bret Michaels: “Every rose has it’s thorn!”