It measures just 9 inches in circumference. Weighs only about 5 ounces and is made of cork, wound with wool and yarn covered with two layers of cowhide, and stitched by hand precisely 108 times. The stitching, if stretched out, would extend 88 feet in length.
That is the physical description of a baseball.
What a baseball means to me is entirely different. Back on January 8th I described how I became a Met fan and fell in love with the game itself. But baseball, the game, in my estimation, is the greatest game ever created.
You can have lengthy discussions about the origins of the game. Is it derived from rounders? Was it invented by Abner Doubleday? It is a question that has never been of much consternation to me. The fact of the matter is that it was invented in the first place and I have enjoyed it with a little boy's enthusiasm since I was about 8 years old.
I collected baseball cards, many of which were sold before they reached their peak values. I religiously watched NBC's Game of the Week with Tony Kubek and Curt Gowdy and later Joe Garagiola and Vin Scully. And I was lucky to have grown up in southwestern Connecticut where I could see not only my Mets but also that team from the Bronx. Many were the days when I would catch one game on WOR-9 and then catch the other team on WPIX-11, or vice versa. Ironiclally, the Mets can sometimes be seen currently on WPIX-11. I got to see players from each league before interleague play began and cringed with watching the advent of the designated hitter in 1973, which was originally a 3-year experiment, now entering its 41st season. But that's a post for another time. But I watched as often as I could.
Back when games started at 8 p.m. (it's true, kiddies) I would often catch the start of a game from the west coast which started at 11 p.m. eastern time. That's being a fan.
The game itself has changed very little. The ballparks in which they are played have, but the game remains the same. 3 strikes you're out. 4 balls is a walk. 90 feet between bases, all at right angles. Outfield dimensions vary from stadium to stadium, and are far too close for my taste on most fields.
Players come and players go. Some players follow in the footsteps of their fathers or brothers or uncles at the major league level. There are ruts in the smooth road from time to time. Labor disputes. Collusion. Steroid use. Corked bats. Drug use. But the game soldiers on.
"The one constant through all the years has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. Its been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This game, it's a part of our past. It reminds us of all that once was good, and it could be again." This quote was spoken by James Earl Jones' character, Horace Mann, in the motion picture, "Field of Dreams". But it has a lot of truth to it.
Through all the trials and tribulations of my life there has been baseball. It has been the one constant that has been there for as long as I can remember. When I put on my uniform next Wednesday morning it will be an emotional event. I'm sure that my mom will be along with me and smiling broadly as I hit the field with the enthusiasm of a youngster.
My new cleats have arrived and my new glove is in day 3 of its break-in period and it should be in game condition by next week.
That is the physical description of a baseball.
What a baseball means to me is entirely different. Back on January 8th I described how I became a Met fan and fell in love with the game itself. But baseball, the game, in my estimation, is the greatest game ever created.
You can have lengthy discussions about the origins of the game. Is it derived from rounders? Was it invented by Abner Doubleday? It is a question that has never been of much consternation to me. The fact of the matter is that it was invented in the first place and I have enjoyed it with a little boy's enthusiasm since I was about 8 years old.
I collected baseball cards, many of which were sold before they reached their peak values. I religiously watched NBC's Game of the Week with Tony Kubek and Curt Gowdy and later Joe Garagiola and Vin Scully. And I was lucky to have grown up in southwestern Connecticut where I could see not only my Mets but also that team from the Bronx. Many were the days when I would catch one game on WOR-9 and then catch the other team on WPIX-11, or vice versa. Ironiclally, the Mets can sometimes be seen currently on WPIX-11. I got to see players from each league before interleague play began and cringed with watching the advent of the designated hitter in 1973, which was originally a 3-year experiment, now entering its 41st season. But that's a post for another time. But I watched as often as I could.
Back when games started at 8 p.m. (it's true, kiddies) I would often catch the start of a game from the west coast which started at 11 p.m. eastern time. That's being a fan.
The game itself has changed very little. The ballparks in which they are played have, but the game remains the same. 3 strikes you're out. 4 balls is a walk. 90 feet between bases, all at right angles. Outfield dimensions vary from stadium to stadium, and are far too close for my taste on most fields.
Players come and players go. Some players follow in the footsteps of their fathers or brothers or uncles at the major league level. There are ruts in the smooth road from time to time. Labor disputes. Collusion. Steroid use. Corked bats. Drug use. But the game soldiers on.
"The one constant through all the years has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. Its been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This game, it's a part of our past. It reminds us of all that once was good, and it could be again." This quote was spoken by James Earl Jones' character, Horace Mann, in the motion picture, "Field of Dreams". But it has a lot of truth to it.
Through all the trials and tribulations of my life there has been baseball. It has been the one constant that has been there for as long as I can remember. When I put on my uniform next Wednesday morning it will be an emotional event. I'm sure that my mom will be along with me and smiling broadly as I hit the field with the enthusiasm of a youngster.
My new cleats have arrived and my new glove is in day 3 of its break-in period and it should be in game condition by next week.
Some other former Mets I am looking forward to meeting would be:
Wally Backman, second baseman for the '86 World Champs. Batted behind Lenny Dykstra, who unfortunately has gone awry of the law in recent years and will be a guest of the state in whatever state finally gets a conviction.
Ed Charles, third baseman for the '69 World Champions. He retired after that season. Why not leave on top, right?
Rodney McCray, who was an outfielder in the '90's. He is best known for running through a fence in a minor league game. A video clip that ranks with one of the more unbelievable I have ever seen. You should check it out on YouTube if you have the chance.
Lenny Harris, who holds the major league record for the most career pinch hits in history. That fact is amazing in the sense that he virtually made a career out of being on the bench and then being summoned to hit at a moment's notice. That's pretty awesome in my book.
John Stearns, who was the starting catcher for a number of seasons. I really want to ask him if the story of him running down the Atlanta Braves' mascot Chief Nok-a-homa (sound it out, it'll make more sense) after he completed his pre-game dance around the pitcher's mound and was on a dead sprint towards his teepee out in the left field corner near the bullpen is true or not.. My money is on "yes".
Ron Swoboda, right fielder on the '69 Miracle Mets team. Made an amazing catch in game 4 of that series against the Orioles. He also scored the winning run in game 5, which was the last game of the series.
Tim Teufel, infielder on the '86 World Series Champs. Currently the third base coach. I want to pick his brain to become a better third base coach on my own over-35 team. I've never had that opportunity and I am looking forward to it. No one else may want to talk to him about that particular aspect of the game, so he may be surprised, but I hope he can give me something I can use this season.
Mookie Wilson, center fielder on the '86 World Champs. He was the batter who hit the ball which eluded Bill Buckner in game 6 of the World Series. Formerly first base coach a couple of years ago and he seems like a great deal of fun to be around.
Dwight Gooden, pitcher on the '86 World Champions team. I get very upset when I think of the potential which Dwight and Darryl Strawberry had for the Mets and never realized due to their lifestyles. If they had stayed clean the number of world championships for this team would probably be 3 or 4. I'm sure that all will be forgiven when I get to meet him. I've never been very good at holding a grudge.
That's a short list, but I will be thrilled to meet all of those players whom I watched on tv and in person and will now have the chance to see them up close and in person.
The countdown continues.
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