Thinking of Baseball

After writing my last post, I started thinking of baseball in general, and my background and feelings about the game, after all, for me, baseball defines life, metaphorically. In a word, it is perfect.

I attended my first baseball game around 1954 - 1955 with my father and grandfather. We attended a San Diego Padre (of the then Pacific Coast League) game at Lane Field. Lane Field was an old fashioned minor league park that was probably 30 years old at that time. Wooden bleachers, vendors hawking dogs and peanuts, and the look, smell and feel of baseball. I was in AWE ! From that time on, most of my heroes were baseball players.

In 1958, the Dodgers moved from Brooklyn to Los Angeles. I became a Dodger fan overnight. I knew every player by name and stats, listened to the games on the radio, and watched every game broadcast on the Saturday Game of the Week. However, I still followed the home town Padres. The Padres moved from Lane Field to Westgate Park, which rekindled my minor league interest, since the park was within bicycle distance from my house. Many a summer day was spent watching the Padres, after sneaking into the park through a hole in the fence. In those days, the ushers understood the absolute need for young boys to watch the games and, unless you caused trouble, allowed some of us "regulars" to stay.

One of the greatest memories of my life was watching Warren Spahn of the Milwaukee Braves pitch in an exhibition game against the Padres. It was standing room only, and me and one of my fellow gate crashers watched the game standing , hanging in a window. It was also one of the first night games I attended. It was absolutely awesome ! This was Major League Baseball for real !

I played Little League baseball. Pitcher, catcher and short stop, but more often it was pickup games at the rec-center, or day long games of over-the-line when we couldn't get enough players for a game. Summer meant baseball, all day, every day. Simple times, simple pleasures.

In 1961, the Chargers moved from Los Angeles to San Diego. They played at Balboa Stadium, located just behind San Diego High School. We now had a Professional AFL football team. My loyalties were divided. I attended San Diego High and played football for two seasons, one JV and one Varsity, and we played in Balboa Stadium as well. It was our home field. We played in a "PRO" stadium every home game. It was like being part of their team, we were the junior Chargers. In 1963, my step-dad got stationed at Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Illinois, so we moved.

I took a hiatus from sports, both from participating and watching. I guess you could say life got in the way. You know, girls, cars, partying and generally raising hell. Although, I did sometimes check out the Cubs, White Sox , Bears and Black Hawks.

After high school and a stint in the Air Force, I moved back to San Diego. That was in 1968. I once again became a Padre fan. That was the year the Padres joined Major League Baseball. They played their first season in 1969 at San Diego Stadium, which just a mile or so from the site of Westgate Park.. Then, between 1969 and 1975, the game changed. That was the time during which the infamous "reserve clause" and "free agency" battle was waged. I think that both sides won and lost that battle. Sure, the players got payed better and the clubs became more competitive, but the GAME suffered. Baseball became a business. The fun and play of the game was lost forever. Players hopped from team to team for money. Where was the team loyalty? How could the fans truly identify with a team the seemed to constantly be changing? Different players every year. I have the greatest respect for two modern era players, Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn. Both probably could have made much more money if they went into the free agent pool, but elected to stay with their respective teams. Hats off to them.

At this point, life really did get in the way. First wife, two daughters, bought first home, generally got caught up in the rat race full time. Little time for much else. My oldest daughter, Stephanie, played softball one year, so I became a softball fan for awhile. She also played in a Powder Puff football game in high school, and kicked some serious butt. (My fault, I never really treated her like a prissy little girl)

Several years later, my oldest son, James, decided to play baseball. Actually, we decided that playing baseball would be good for him and might help him overcome some of his shyness. My youngest son, Chris, also played baseball, and one season of soccer. Watching the two of them brought it all back. In James I saw the competitive, total commitment to the sport of baseball. In Chris, I saw the game of baseball, the fun and play part. They both taught me that there is still some hope for sports and fans. During their pre middle and high school years, I coached them in Little League. I was extremely lucky to have had the opportunity to coach them both along with many other fine young men. Once they started playing school ball, I became a spectator.

I know I'm rambling, but I'm finally to the point I have been trying to make. Some of my greatest life experiences and growth have involved the game of baseball. I still believe that baseball is a game. I think that there are only two places left where that GAME is still played. College and Little League. That's why every year, I watch the College World Series and the Little League World Series. To see participants who are competing at the highest level of their sport and still having fun. Now that is priceless. Play Ball.........

Son James, Nephew Matt, and Grandson Jake...........
Second, and maybe third generation Padre fans ???