With sociology as my minor, I also love looking at the social aspects of the game. What is going on in baseball, really reflects what's happening in the times outside the stadium. For example, I watched "42" today, the story of Jackie Robinson. While there was hatred for the man, simply because of the color of his skin, his team banded together, stood up for him as a player, and a man. Eventually, so did the rest of the country. You could make the argument that Robinson helped pave the way for the civil rights movement.
Baseball also teaches you about life. There are hundreds of metaphors and literal lessons that can be learned. Everything I do seems to come back, or has the ability to come back around to the game. Here are some of the lessons I take from it, that someday, I'll pass onto my kids:
1. Play as a team. In the Army, I find this is a challenge for so many. Like baseball, there are times when it's on an individual to step up to the plate and hit that home run...or make a sacrifice. Then there's a time when you're in the field and you HAVE to work together. If you don't, you're going to have errors.
2. Keep your eye on the ball. Any goal we set for ourselves is attainable. If it wasn't it wouldn't even be a thought in our mind. However, what people forget, is to reach that goal, you need to keep focusing on it. You have to want it so bad, that when you make contact, you hit it out of the park! You not only achieve your goal, you NAIL it! The best part? As soon as you hit that home run, you get another chance next inning to do it again! Never stop dreaming of hitting that ball. However, we will strike out sometimes, it's part of the game and it's part of life. It's when you strike out and refuse to go up again, that you fail. Did you know Babe Ruth is #95 in all time strikeouts, with 1,330 times? It's true, but he never quit.
3. Get your foot off the bag. So many times you see players getting a huge lead off. This is always a risky move, because you're just never sure what that pitcher is thinking. However, sometimes in life you have to take risks, you have to go for that lead. Sometimes taking that risk is what will win the game. Be smart about it, but don't ever be afraid.
4. Get dirty. As much as I love seeing the crisp, clean uniforms, when you see dirt and grass stains all over those uniforms, you KNOW that player gave their all. They put their heart and soul into every catch out in left! Don't be afraid to put your blood, sweat and tears into something you're passionate about. If you give it your all everytime, you're going to be great.
5. If you're going to go down, go down swinging. You're going to strike out, deal with it. We fail sometimes, it's called life. However, if you're going to strike out, don't do it by simply letting the ball fly past you. Try for it, and try hard! Do something! Don't just stand there!
6. Life isn't always fair. I cannot tell you how many times I've been at a game when an umpire is calling strikes when it's clearly outside, or called someone safe when obviously they were out. Yes, life isn't fair, deal with it and move on. Most times, they player will get up, and move on. When it's your team, it seems like all the bad calls are on your. However, as it is with life, it always evens itself out. Again, life isn't fair. It's going to through you curve balls and strikes, but in the end, it will balance itself out.
7. Hard work is just as important as talent. Some just have natural talent for the sport, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have to work or that the person who doesn’t have as much natural talent won’t be more of an asset to the team. Hard work is more important if you ask me. If you want something you have to work for it. Sometimes you have to stop and ask, "how bad do you want it, and how hard are you willing to work for it?" If you want something bad enough, you'll work everyday for it. In the end, the hard work will pay off.
8. The art of losing. I admit it, I’m a little on the competitive side. Everything I do is a competition and I don’t like being second place. However, losing isn’t always a bad thing. It teaches you how not to be a sore loser. It teaches you to be humble. There is always a winner and a loser and if you’re smart, you’ll find the lessons in losing. What went wrong? What could be better? What do you need to work on? If you can get real with yourself and learn from those mistakes, you’ll only come back stronger!
9. Sometimes it's all about the sacrifice. Sure, we all want that Grand Slam and to see our team mates come running out of the dugout to great us and the fans stand up and cheer, but sometimes what the team needs is a sacrifice. He wants you to bunt knowing that you will most likely get out but that runner on third needs to come home. It’s not always about us and what we want, sometimes we need to sacrifice for the good of others or our team. Life is about sacrifice.
10. Finally, have fun. Whatever you do in life you have to love it. Passion is what makes life worth living. Baseball, like life, is a game. Through it all you’ll have good times and tough times but you must have fun and love what you do or it’s not worth it. Find what you are passionate about and go after it. Life is too short to not enjoy every moment.
Every year I look forward to spring training, because I know SOON, I'll be able to be back at that park, the breeze in my hair, hotdog in hand and lucky hat on my head, cheer for my MN Twins
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