A friend of mine posted a note on his blog about the upcoming youth baseball season in Findlay. It gave me a chuckle. Like the youth soccer program, the baseball program was something we did when I was a kid. All my friends were in it so I did it too. It was also a good low cost way to have fun in the poor economic times my family lived in.
I played in the junior league for my first time out at organized baseball. I had a new mitt not even broken in when I went to the try outs. Being a youth league the try out was a mere formality as if you showed any skill they put you on a team.
When I was 13 I moved up to the Major Youth League. I was drafted into the GM Red Sox. Many on the team were classmates and friends I had known since elementary school. Our coach was the Phys Ed teacher at Glenwood Jr. High – Mr. Nichols. I played outfield and batted 9th and even then I stunk. My fielding was good. I could throw the ball to the infield but I couldn’t hit for crap. During my two seasons I had two base hits. Now why wasn’t I on the All-Star team at the end of the season…..
The funniest bit happened the year i found out I needed glasses.
Mr. Nichols was trying to help me in my batting. During practice he called me over and held a ball in his hand.
“Hit this out of my hand,” he said.
“What?”
“Hit the ball out of my hand.”
So I took my stance and swung away, smashing the bat into his hand. I heard some curse words I never heard before. What he forgot to tell me was not to take a full power swing but to go slow and so he could see my swing. Instead I nearly broke his hand and I wanted to fall over dead right there.
Ahhh, memories.
As Mark says in his blog post:
I would hope that you will encourage your kids, grand kids, nieces & nephews to join in the fun that is Findlay Youth Baseball. And, it isn’t just for kids. Adults can volunteer to help out as well. Umpiring, coaching or keeping a score book for the team of your little ball player are ways you can positively impact the life of a youngster. I promise you that it is very rewarding.
Yes, indeed.
ah, aren't memories great?