Baseball Memories
Sep 10, 2020 21:19:00 #
Another post (https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-664000-1.html) got me to reliving my childhood baseball memories, is little snippets.
I remembered being 'drafted' to the top 9-12 year old league as a 9 year old, and how much of an honor that was. Only 4 in 10 played above the dedicated 9-year league, in a division called 'farm league' and only about 1 in 20 went to the top league. I was so nervous.....
I remembered my first at-bat as a 9 year old, facing the biggest, baddest 12 year-old pitcher in the league. It was the last inning, 2 on , and 2 out, down 1 run. I made rock solid contact, but the grounder went straight to the shortstop and the final out was made at 2nd base. I was so upset I could not win or extend the game.....but my little league coach Mr. Gafford was an angel to me. He told me no one could have hit it harder and that a lot of folks would never have had the confidence as a 9 year old to even swing....
I remembered my first summer playing in the 13-15 year old league. My first at-bat this time was a pointless 1st inning double with 2 outs..... I thought. However after 2 pitches against our clean-up batter, I realized that no one was paying attention to me at second base. On my own I tried to steal third, in direct violation of Mr. Gafford's unwritten law to never chance making the third out at third base..... and the throw from the catcher sailed to left field and I popped up and trotted in for the score. The clean-up batter grounded out the next pitch and we won by a single run. My 'bad' play had paid off.
However, these memories actually welled up after my first memory, the one for which I'm making this post, the one triggered by the other post. The other baseball post linked above cited a remarkable fluke of a play in baseball that sparked this memory.
It was my last game on my 15 year old season in the 13-15 league. My team was in 2nd place and was in second if we won the last game and in second if we lost, so our coach had some fun. He took the numbers 1-9 and put them in a cap. The 15 and 14 year old players numbered exactly 9, and we were deemed the starters for this last game. Each child drew a number to set the batting order, which was fun, but our coach went us one better, and we re-drew for positions. I was usually the first baseman, but drew 3rd base, another familiar position for me. Our catcher, who had been a catcher for 7 years drew shortstop, and a lifelong outfielder drew #1, pitcher.
After a first inning single and walk to open the game, our usual catcher was holding the runner at second base when the non-pitcher failed to look back and simply threw to the plate, stranding the shortstop WAY out of position. Then it happened. The batter DRILLED a liner straight up the middle, just to the right of the pitcher's head, arriving at second base about chest height, directly into the glove of the usual catcher, who caught it (1) stepped on second (2) and whipped it to first base (3) for the triple play.
Many of the league coaches had been coaching for a decade or more, and after the story made the rounds, no one could remember another triple play being turned, and certainly not by guys in random positions. It was the most fun game I can remember losing. LOL
It's nice to have a few smiles after a a few months of every sporting event reminding me of only bad news, bad narratives, and bad motives.... I hope some of you have some stories like this to share. Any sport, and place any age would be a fun one.
And just now I remembered another. If the thread has interest, I'll share the tale of exactly HOW I broke my best friend's foot at second base, and why I have a plausible deniability in the whole thing.
I remembered being 'drafted' to the top 9-12 year old league as a 9 year old, and how much of an honor that was. Only 4 in 10 played above the dedicated 9-year league, in a division called 'farm league' and only about 1 in 20 went to the top league. I was so nervous.....
I remembered my first at-bat as a 9 year old, facing the biggest, baddest 12 year-old pitcher in the league. It was the last inning, 2 on , and 2 out, down 1 run. I made rock solid contact, but the grounder went straight to the shortstop and the final out was made at 2nd base. I was so upset I could not win or extend the game.....but my little league coach Mr. Gafford was an angel to me. He told me no one could have hit it harder and that a lot of folks would never have had the confidence as a 9 year old to even swing....
I remembered my first summer playing in the 13-15 year old league. My first at-bat this time was a pointless 1st inning double with 2 outs..... I thought. However after 2 pitches against our clean-up batter, I realized that no one was paying attention to me at second base. On my own I tried to steal third, in direct violation of Mr. Gafford's unwritten law to never chance making the third out at third base..... and the throw from the catcher sailed to left field and I popped up and trotted in for the score. The clean-up batter grounded out the next pitch and we won by a single run. My 'bad' play had paid off.
However, these memories actually welled up after my first memory, the one for which I'm making this post, the one triggered by the other post. The other baseball post linked above cited a remarkable fluke of a play in baseball that sparked this memory.
It was my last game on my 15 year old season in the 13-15 league. My team was in 2nd place and was in second if we won the last game and in second if we lost, so our coach had some fun. He took the numbers 1-9 and put them in a cap. The 15 and 14 year old players numbered exactly 9, and we were deemed the starters for this last game. Each child drew a number to set the batting order, which was fun, but our coach went us one better, and we re-drew for positions. I was usually the first baseman, but drew 3rd base, another familiar position for me. Our catcher, who had been a catcher for 7 years drew shortstop, and a lifelong outfielder drew #1, pitcher.
After a first inning single and walk to open the game, our usual catcher was holding the runner at second base when the non-pitcher failed to look back and simply threw to the plate, stranding the shortstop WAY out of position. Then it happened. The batter DRILLED a liner straight up the middle, just to the right of the pitcher's head, arriving at second base about chest height, directly into the glove of the usual catcher, who caught it (1) stepped on second (2) and whipped it to first base (3) for the triple play.
Many of the league coaches had been coaching for a decade or more, and after the story made the rounds, no one could remember another triple play being turned, and certainly not by guys in random positions. It was the most fun game I can remember losing. LOL
It's nice to have a few smiles after a a few months of every sporting event reminding me of only bad news, bad narratives, and bad motives.... I hope some of you have some stories like this to share. Any sport, and place any age would be a fun one.
And just now I remembered another. If the thread has interest, I'll share the tale of exactly HOW I broke my best friend's foot at second base, and why I have a plausible deniability in the whole thing.
Sep 10, 2020 22:25:36 #
A great story I'm sure you have told your kids many times and even your grandkids. Would love to read some more. Mahalo for sharing a little of your sporting life.
Sep 11, 2020 07:19:15 #
Sep 11, 2020 08:08:55 #
Sep 11, 2020 08:24:21 #
jrcarpe
Loc: Jacksonville,AR
Man what wonderful memories. I remember the teeny league then little league then Babe Ruth league and finally American Legion baseball with my son.Would not trade those memories for silver or gold.
Sep 11, 2020 11:27:21 #
Loved baseball growing up. Played farm league one game; drafted to little league , then pony league. A lot of sandlot baseball. Watched it every chance I had. Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams, Stan the Man, etc.
Then the games started lasting longer with the pitcher & catcher trying to figure out which pitch would be best. Lost interest. Just now, at 76, beginning to watch it on occasion.
Then the games started lasting longer with the pitcher & catcher trying to figure out which pitch would be best. Lost interest. Just now, at 76, beginning to watch it on occasion.
Sep 11, 2020 13:12:12 #
Most of my youth games were played on open fields so home runs basically resulted from balls hit between outfielders that just kept rolling and the batter could make it home before the fielders could catch up to the ball. The one time we played on a fenced in field...chain link about 15-20 feet high...I hit my best shot ever and the fence turned what would have been a home run on an open field into a double as the ball hit the upper part of the fence and dropped into the left fielder’s glove. If the fence wasn’t there he never would have caught up to the ball in time to make a day play🥴
Sep 11, 2020 16:15:54 #
Craig Meyer
Loc: Sparks, NV
Dannj wrote:
Most of my youth games were played on open fields ... (show quote)
.....and you'd still be running.
This thread shows that the reason Baseball is the National Pastime is there is far more to the experience of playing than just the at bats, defensive plays and the score. The memories stay vivid, evolve similar to fishing stores, with both activities delivering similar satisfaction. AND, there isn't a "CLOCK" in fishing, either.
Sep 11, 2020 16:40:06 #
Craig Meyer wrote:
.....and you'd still be running.
This thread shows that the reason Baseball is the National Pastime is there is far more to the experience of playing than just the at bats, defensive plays and the score. The memories stay vivid, evolve similar to fishing stores, with both activities delivering similar satisfaction. AND, there isn't a "CLOCK" in fishing, either.
This thread shows that the reason Baseball is the National Pastime is there is far more to the experience of playing than just the at bats, defensive plays and the score. The memories stay vivid, evolve similar to fishing stores, with both activities delivering similar satisfaction. AND, there isn't a "CLOCK" in fishing, either.
Absolutely! Just posting that memory brought back so many others of my games, my sons games, major league games I've been to, etc., and hardly any of them have to do with scores or wins and losses. They're all about the "moment"!
Sep 11, 2020 18:13:42 #
My second story involved my best friend John, on the opposing team, a good friend on my team, and two unlucky breaks. It was not a particularly momentous game in terms of the standings or even of a rivalry, but we were not playing to lose. Neither team.
There were two outs and I'm at bat with my teammate on first. I was defending the plate with 2 strikes on me (and a season long streak of not striking out on the line) so I had to offer at the pitch on the outside edge. I made way more contact than I expected and it felt solid. The resulting liner was maybe 50% of my ability to power through a swing, but it carved a nasty arc, swinging between the first baseman (my best friend) and second baseman, landing just a few yards into the outfield grass and swinging into the chain link in foul ground maybe halfway out to the foul pole.
I immediately decided this was a standing double and that if there were any issues with fielding it, this was going to be a 2 out RBI triple. I swung my head as I rounded first to check the third base coach, to see if he was going to send my teammate for home. To my dismay, the coach was not making a signal of any kind.
As it happens, my teammate has slipped/tripped over the second base bag and was just crawling back to second. I was a dead duck, stranded 45 feet from either bag. As I tried to scramble back to first, it was apparent John had the issue in full control and was calling for the ball to be sent to him at first base. As the ball returned I reversed course and effectively forced my teammate to make a run to third. Probably, it's a testament to good coaching on both sides that I managed to elude a tag for three passes of the ball, and that in the end I had to make a diving face first slide for first, being tagged out by my best friend, but pinning his foot to the bag with my shoulder in the process.
I didn't know then he was hurt, and he played out the game, but he was absent from 1st period Band class the next morning, and by the time he thumped into 4th period English, he was casted up and in a modified walking boot, proudly showing off the x-ray of his broken 5th metatarsal bone. I felt SO bad but even John had to blame the whole incident on my teammate rather than me. Funny, if not FUN, memory for me. I think I'll give John a call......
There were two outs and I'm at bat with my teammate on first. I was defending the plate with 2 strikes on me (and a season long streak of not striking out on the line) so I had to offer at the pitch on the outside edge. I made way more contact than I expected and it felt solid. The resulting liner was maybe 50% of my ability to power through a swing, but it carved a nasty arc, swinging between the first baseman (my best friend) and second baseman, landing just a few yards into the outfield grass and swinging into the chain link in foul ground maybe halfway out to the foul pole.
I immediately decided this was a standing double and that if there were any issues with fielding it, this was going to be a 2 out RBI triple. I swung my head as I rounded first to check the third base coach, to see if he was going to send my teammate for home. To my dismay, the coach was not making a signal of any kind.
As it happens, my teammate has slipped/tripped over the second base bag and was just crawling back to second. I was a dead duck, stranded 45 feet from either bag. As I tried to scramble back to first, it was apparent John had the issue in full control and was calling for the ball to be sent to him at first base. As the ball returned I reversed course and effectively forced my teammate to make a run to third. Probably, it's a testament to good coaching on both sides that I managed to elude a tag for three passes of the ball, and that in the end I had to make a diving face first slide for first, being tagged out by my best friend, but pinning his foot to the bag with my shoulder in the process.
I didn't know then he was hurt, and he played out the game, but he was absent from 1st period Band class the next morning, and by the time he thumped into 4th period English, he was casted up and in a modified walking boot, proudly showing off the x-ray of his broken 5th metatarsal bone. I felt SO bad but even John had to blame the whole incident on my teammate rather than me. Funny, if not FUN, memory for me. I think I'll give John a call......
Sep 12, 2020 00:33:20 #
Great memories, Tex-s. There is a group on Facebook about growing up in my hometown. When it first started, somebody started a post and asked what were the best things about growing up there. I can't tell you how many guys mentioned the baseball program. I played in it for years, but it made me proud, because my Dad supervised the program for 13 and under. This covered 11 and under, 13 and under, and eventually T-Ball. All these leagues played in the morning. 15 and under, 18 and under and adult played in the evening and at night and were run by Dad's boss, George Gary. Dad and Mr. Gary ran the program for decades. It was highly competitive baseball.
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