I Miss Baseball

America’s pastime. No, baseball hasn’t gone anywhere. It’s still there, in big cities and small towns. It’s me that’s strayed. As my NA friends often say, we have to live life on life’s terms. Mine has been a busy clusterf*ck over the past year, and it’s got me feeling some kind of way. I’m reminiscing about years gone by, and my thoughts just keep turning to baseball.

When I was young, summer nights were often spent on the porch swing with my Pappap. He had on old radio that he’d sit on the table next to the swing, and we’d listen to the Pirates games. I’d stay on the porch with him as long as my mom would allow. Sometimes I’d catch lightning bugs, or decorate our sidewalk with chalk flowers, but the game was always on. I remember the excitement of a home run or a double play, and the frustration of giving up the lead in the 9th inning. Before I even knew what was happening, my love of the game was taking shape.

As a little girl, I didn’t play baseball, but my favorite shoes were a pair of baseball cleats. There are countless pictures of me in those shoes. I’m not even sure what I had them, though if I had to guess, I’d say it was because I’ve been picking out my own clothes and shoes since before I could walk. I’m sure at some point I just insisted that I needed them!

I spent a good bit of time at the ball fields growing up. I had a cousin who played baseball, and I loved going to his games. My sister and another cousin played softball, so there was always a chance to be in the bleachers. I learned how to keep score and often ran backyard practice sessions with anyone who’d put on a glove. My first mitt was a Rawlings, and I broke it in like a champ. I never really wanted to play video games, but I was always ready to head outside to play catch.

Long before I got married and had kids, I’d dreamed of being a baseball mom. I imagined myself driving my son to practice and cheering from the sidelines on game day. Little did I know that I’d be so much more involved! I got lucky. I had two kids who played baseball. My son started playing as soon as he started school, and my daughter followed just a year later. After watching him play that first year, she didn’t want to sit in the bleachers anymore. That girl wanted to play in the dirt, and it turns out she was an amazing second baseman!

That first year that both kids played, I agreed to be the team mom. It was a job I took very seriously. I made sure that every kid on that team knew I was there for them. Back before iPhones, and even before iPods, I made mixtapes (CDs, actually) and included every player’s favorite song along with some baseball classics. I ran the concession stand and sold 50/50 tickets. I was the team scorekeeper. By the next season, I was the league secretary. Baseball dominated our evenings and weekends, and I loved every minute of it!

For the next few years, baseball was a year-round part of life. There was no offseason as an office of the league. Meetings, fundraisers, ordering uniforms, holding signups, there was always something baseball related to do. It was hectic, and often frustrating, but also one of the best times of my life. I’m forever grateful to my awesome kids for making that dream of mine come true.

When youth baseball wasn’t taking priority, we’d go to 🖤Wild Things❤️ games. We’re very fortunate to live in a town with fun, family friendly professional baseball. My kids were ten when we decided that we needed to be season ticket holders. We picked out our seats in Section 101, front row between first base and the bullpen. The memories, the friendships, the times I spent with my kids were worth every penny spent on tickets, concessions, and merchandise. That stadium became our summer home for the next few years.

We got to know the players and coaches. I used to tell people that my kids were famous because it seemed like everyone in the stadium knew who they were. I can’t count the number of times they were chosen to be the honorary bat kid or participate in some on field shenanigans between innings. My daughter even took a microphone to a game once to emulate the Emcee. He only felt a little threatened at losing his job to a twelve year old! 🤣

We took road trips to surprise our team at away games. We went to Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, and even got to walk out onto historic Bosse Field in Evansville, Indiana after our team won the Wild Card game there. We had front row seats to the first ever Perfect Game in the Frontier League! It sure was nerve wracking for everyone in the stadium that night, but we were all a part of history in the making.

And the cherry on top of this baseball sundae?? My daughter married a pitcher!! They have a daughter, my Tiny Bestie💕, and I absolutely cannot wait to take her to baseball games!

Life has been crazy lately, and I haven’t been to nearly as many games as I’d like. I can’t find my equipment bag with my gloves and bats, but there’s at least twenty or more baseballs sitting in my home office just begging to be thrown. I’m gonna have to go buy a new glove. Maybe I’ll spring for a new pair of cleats too. I miss baseball in my life, and I need to find my way back.

And yes, I am still a Pirates fan. Always have been, always will be 💛🖤⚾️

Oh, if you happen to be a pitcher reading this, don’t forget to breathe through your eyelids. You can thank Annie for that one!!