It’s opening day – a day that reminds us anything is possible…a photo from my son dropped into a text earlier this week…the vibrant green of the diamond and outfield, the sparkling blue sky against the rising stands of a major league ball park. On the heels of one of the most electrifying and emotional world baseball classics ever, it’s time to embrace the game, the season, the possibilities. To echo one of the best baseball movie lines ever: “how can you not be romantic about baseball?” (Billy Beane (Brad Pitt)– MoneyBall.)
But this post is about the very heart of what baseball is – a game that brings out the child in all of us. Childlike hope, wonder, possibility and optimism. This photo says it all…
A few weeks ago, my husband and I were at a spring training game in Florida. There was a young family sitting behind us decked out in the home team’s gear and colors. Mom had glitter on her face, young daughter had stars all over her team jersey, and their son wore a cap and jersey, wore glasses reminiscent of Squints in The Sandlot. In around the 6th inning (our son had not entered the game yet) after a foul ball in our area got us all chatting, they asked if we were from the team’s home town. We said no, we are from Colorado and here to watch our son. They looked at eachother (“Colorado” gave it a way) – is your son Jack? (Cue my baseball mom smile) – “well yes.”
With that they turned to their son who had a ball in in his glove – he pulled it out to reveal and autograph. Dad said “is that your son’s autograph?” Ha! “Absolutely!” Their young son beamed. Dad said “Jack had that great hit last night in the 8th inning, 2 run RBI – and after the game he signed this ball for Jake!” The look on Jake’s face…it was all I could do not to burst into tears.
Just this – this look, this boy, this moment is everything baseball has to offer us all. Hope, joy, curiosity, wonder, ecstasy, even the disappointments, the home runs, the strike outs, the razzle dazzle defensive plays, the cheers, the jeers, the tears (Hello Venezuala!) This: the chance to BEGIN AGAIN. Here’s to Jake, here’s to the simplicity, the child like wonder: of the joy a name on a baseball can bring. May we all embrace the chance to begin again – a new season, a new start – even just the possibility of a new game tomorrow – anything is possible.
Tales From The Bleachers 