When I think of the precariousness of life, I sometimes view it through one simple question that carries the emotional weight of a lifetime: How many Opening Days do I have left? The truth is I don’t know. None of us do. With the stirrings of baseball back on the field in the midst of what we fervently pray is a diminishing pandemic, a rush of hope springs forth. We yearn for a full sense of normalcy, while small steps towards that goal encourage us.
Mr. Rather it is so interesting you would share this now. I grew up a life long, die hard baseball fan in a family of sports fanatics. As a kid I loved falling asleep to baseball games...there is just something so soothing to me about them. However, as I grew up and saw no women playing, it became harder and harder for me to enjoy the game. Now, as a gay mom of three girls I battle with the peace and normalcy baseball brings, and the comforts of childhood, along with its history of prejudice. Along with racism and sexism, baseball also has a history of homophobia and anti semitism. Don't all sports? I guess so. Maybe it just stings particularly sharply when it's the sport that brought you so much peace as a kid. My daughters and I have been home doing remote learning for over a year, and I just recently added all the sports channels so we could watch baseball. I longed, as you said Mr. Rather, for some symbols of normalcy. My girls love watching baseball. They also consistently ask me why no women are playing and why they can't play baseball too. Right now, the best way I have found to deal with this is to address the sexism we see in front of us. But it also makes me sad, and makes me wish my girls and I could embrace the full comforts of a game the way I am assuming fathers and sons can. Baseball holds such promise for being "America's game" yet it really isn't. Or maybe, with its struggles for inclusivity, it is.
I grew up as a huge baseball fan, and at age 70 im still a fan! In my later (retirement) years I worked for the SF GIANTS, from 2005 until COVID19 cancelled the 2020 season. Even though the 2021 season has started I'm not sure when or if I will return to Oracle Park. Since March 2020 I've been delivering hot lunches every Tuesday and Thursday, and produce boxes every 2nd and 4th Saturdays as part of a Faith Based Coalition. It's a blessing and honour to volunteer to help Seniors and Families! I love and enjoyed reading about your love of Baseball! GOD bless you Mr. Rather and the Steady Team👏🏾👏🏾
Wonderful article, Dan. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on baseball, past and present. Your piece made me realize how lucky I've been to have gone to some baseball games with my dad in the past. And we've connected even more so in recent years over our lifelong love (& on/off disappointment) for our home team, the Mets. (sigh...) And still, am so looking forward to being in the stands again, cheering and/or booing, laughing at the innovative chants of the 7 Line, hoping no one spills beer on my back... just, all of it. Now going to print out and share your article with my dad. Be well. Enjoy the games and have a great summer!
I loved this article, Dan. Thanks for sharing. Moms and their children have a special relationship with baseball, too. I always look forward to Sundays when I can "catch" a game with my grown sons, whether while watching TV or at a sunny and magical stadium. Baseball and families have deep connections. I am a Met fan since 1968 so I also liked that in your article you had a picture of Mr. and Mrs. Met. I named my son, Keith, after baseball great and NY Met 1st baseman, Keith Hernandez.
Thanks for sharing and bringing back so many memories. As a child I remember sitting in our living room with my parents and grandparents and watching baseball on our black and white Philco TV. To be certain we heard everything, the radio was also turned on to the game, windows open, front door open (with screens in place) and small fans moving the warm, humid air around. Our team, then and now, was the Phillies.
Thanks for sharing your reflections on baseball, Dan. Yes, it's been a part of our family's life for decades also. Not only watching the games (little league to majors), but also playing the game at family picnics, or out at the lake. Such a fun way to get a group together, from young to "older" out on the field. There's something special about having a mitt on your hand, and hoping for a great catch! :) PS: SF Giants fan here....!!
My fondest memory was sitting in the stands watching the Milwaukee Braves with my dad! To this day I always have to have a bag of peanuts to watch the game! But now they are unsalted and healthier in this day and age! Thank you for this wonderful essay!
Dan, when I think of baseball, I think of my father. He died when I was four. When I was about 10, I found the guest book from his funeral. Whitey Ford attended with Rocky Graziano. Apparently my father, a semi-pro wrestler for a while, I was told, knew both of them.
We miss baseball. It was the one connection I had with my late father. Having no sons, he nurtured me in the sport and I played softball for many years. My husband and I had our bucket list trip to Fenway a few years ago to watch our beloved Red Sox play the Yankees. The fresh air, smells, excitement in the air and sharing the love of the game with thousands of other fans. Let’s all get vaccinated so we can get back to all of our love of life!
Baseball hasn't been "our national pastime" since Super Bowl I. Opening Day of the baseball season reminds us to study whatever bread crumbs Mel Kiper, Jr., is sharing with us, because the NFL Draft is just around the proverbial corner. (Commissioner Rozelle used to call it the "Player Selection Meeting," which didn't fit on apparel as "The Draft" does.)
The picture of Jack Roosevelt Robinson stealing home includes a clear-enough look at the Dodger teammate then in the batter's box. Wanna take a guess? Did you know Jackie coached a season of college basketball here in Texas, prior to Mr. Rickey's signing of him to the Dodgers? Do you know the name of the school?
Thank you, Dan for your wonderfully written baseball tribute. I started rooting for the Cleveland Indians during the ‘48 WS vs the Boston Braves (talk about a gypsy team, Boston, Milwaukee and now Atlanta). I was 9 years old, born and bred in Iowa and the Indians became my team because of Bob Feller, a fellow Iowan. It has been almost 73 years since they won the WS but I still cheer for them. Even have a grandson in Minneapolis, who also is an Indians fan.
I am 81 now and don’t think about opening day anymore. I look forward to the next Men’s Soccer World Cup. It is now my past time.
I would not have survived this hate crime without dogged persistence.
Mr. Rather it is so interesting you would share this now. I grew up a life long, die hard baseball fan in a family of sports fanatics. As a kid I loved falling asleep to baseball games...there is just something so soothing to me about them. However, as I grew up and saw no women playing, it became harder and harder for me to enjoy the game. Now, as a gay mom of three girls I battle with the peace and normalcy baseball brings, and the comforts of childhood, along with its history of prejudice. Along with racism and sexism, baseball also has a history of homophobia and anti semitism. Don't all sports? I guess so. Maybe it just stings particularly sharply when it's the sport that brought you so much peace as a kid. My daughters and I have been home doing remote learning for over a year, and I just recently added all the sports channels so we could watch baseball. I longed, as you said Mr. Rather, for some symbols of normalcy. My girls love watching baseball. They also consistently ask me why no women are playing and why they can't play baseball too. Right now, the best way I have found to deal with this is to address the sexism we see in front of us. But it also makes me sad, and makes me wish my girls and I could embrace the full comforts of a game the way I am assuming fathers and sons can. Baseball holds such promise for being "America's game" yet it really isn't. Or maybe, with its struggles for inclusivity, it is.
I grew up as a huge baseball fan, and at age 70 im still a fan! In my later (retirement) years I worked for the SF GIANTS, from 2005 until COVID19 cancelled the 2020 season. Even though the 2021 season has started I'm not sure when or if I will return to Oracle Park. Since March 2020 I've been delivering hot lunches every Tuesday and Thursday, and produce boxes every 2nd and 4th Saturdays as part of a Faith Based Coalition. It's a blessing and honour to volunteer to help Seniors and Families! I love and enjoyed reading about your love of Baseball! GOD bless you Mr. Rather and the Steady Team👏🏾👏🏾
Wonderful article, Dan. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on baseball, past and present. Your piece made me realize how lucky I've been to have gone to some baseball games with my dad in the past. And we've connected even more so in recent years over our lifelong love (& on/off disappointment) for our home team, the Mets. (sigh...) And still, am so looking forward to being in the stands again, cheering and/or booing, laughing at the innovative chants of the 7 Line, hoping no one spills beer on my back... just, all of it. Now going to print out and share your article with my dad. Be well. Enjoy the games and have a great summer!
I loved this article, Dan. Thanks for sharing. Moms and their children have a special relationship with baseball, too. I always look forward to Sundays when I can "catch" a game with my grown sons, whether while watching TV or at a sunny and magical stadium. Baseball and families have deep connections. I am a Met fan since 1968 so I also liked that in your article you had a picture of Mr. and Mrs. Met. I named my son, Keith, after baseball great and NY Met 1st baseman, Keith Hernandez.
Thanks for sharing and bringing back so many memories. As a child I remember sitting in our living room with my parents and grandparents and watching baseball on our black and white Philco TV. To be certain we heard everything, the radio was also turned on to the game, windows open, front door open (with screens in place) and small fans moving the warm, humid air around. Our team, then and now, was the Phillies.
Thanks for sharing your reflections on baseball, Dan. Yes, it's been a part of our family's life for decades also. Not only watching the games (little league to majors), but also playing the game at family picnics, or out at the lake. Such a fun way to get a group together, from young to "older" out on the field. There's something special about having a mitt on your hand, and hoping for a great catch! :) PS: SF Giants fan here....!!
My fondest memory was sitting in the stands watching the Milwaukee Braves with my dad! To this day I always have to have a bag of peanuts to watch the game! But now they are unsalted and healthier in this day and age! Thank you for this wonderful essay!
Childhood memories of summer smell like freshly mown grass and sound like a baseball game. Thank you for the reminder.
Dan, when I think of baseball, I think of my father. He died when I was four. When I was about 10, I found the guest book from his funeral. Whitey Ford attended with Rocky Graziano. Apparently my father, a semi-pro wrestler for a while, I was told, knew both of them.
Thank you so much for this essay!
We miss baseball. It was the one connection I had with my late father. Having no sons, he nurtured me in the sport and I played softball for many years. My husband and I had our bucket list trip to Fenway a few years ago to watch our beloved Red Sox play the Yankees. The fresh air, smells, excitement in the air and sharing the love of the game with thousands of other fans. Let’s all get vaccinated so we can get back to all of our love of life!
A lovely article. Brought up many wonderful memories of playing baseball with my brothers when we were children. Thank you.
Thanks, I spent the day with my 7 month old Grandson. We are not baseball fans but what you have written rings true for us as well.
Wonderful reflection on the game I too love, and the insights into life it provides. Thank you!
Two things, sir...
Baseball hasn't been "our national pastime" since Super Bowl I. Opening Day of the baseball season reminds us to study whatever bread crumbs Mel Kiper, Jr., is sharing with us, because the NFL Draft is just around the proverbial corner. (Commissioner Rozelle used to call it the "Player Selection Meeting," which didn't fit on apparel as "The Draft" does.)
The picture of Jack Roosevelt Robinson stealing home includes a clear-enough look at the Dodger teammate then in the batter's box. Wanna take a guess? Did you know Jackie coached a season of college basketball here in Texas, prior to Mr. Rickey's signing of him to the Dodgers? Do you know the name of the school?
Thank you, Dan for your wonderfully written baseball tribute. I started rooting for the Cleveland Indians during the ‘48 WS vs the Boston Braves (talk about a gypsy team, Boston, Milwaukee and now Atlanta). I was 9 years old, born and bred in Iowa and the Indians became my team because of Bob Feller, a fellow Iowan. It has been almost 73 years since they won the WS but I still cheer for them. Even have a grandson in Minneapolis, who also is an Indians fan.
I am 81 now and don’t think about opening day anymore. I look forward to the next Men’s Soccer World Cup. It is now my past time.