I grew up in walking distance to Ebbets Field, in Flatbush, Brooklyn. Us boys virtually had reserved seats in the “nosebleed” bleachers, for two-bits and another two-bits for a good hot dog and soda. And, in those days there were double-headers. We knew every player’s stats on every team. After games, sometimes pro players would come out in the streets to play stick ball with us. If you haven’t seen it, rent a copy of the classic Jackie Robinson Story for an important piece of the Dodgers’ contribution to America, and watch it with your children. Probably half the boys in my Junior High class played hooky to go to the auction of memorabilia when our beloved “Bums” left Brooklyn for L.A., none of us having enough to get anything except a lifelong feeling of loss.
If you really want to watch some great baseball, forget the major leagues. Watch the Little League World Series on ESPN. My 9-year old son eagerly plays Little League, and I never miss a game or practice. I’m so glad he’s finally of an age where he does things that I really enjoy, and that goes for the rest of the Dads. The spirit, effort and learning of the boys is terrifically inspiring to watch, as they have fun, and us older boys do too.
My local team from Chula Vista is racking up the runs. The Texans are pretty good. The teams from Japan, Taipai and Curacao are awesome. It’s really some of the most exciting baseball you can have the pleasure to watch.
For the first time since I was a boy, I find myself humming “Take me out to the ball game.” You owe it to yourself. It is a field of dreams. Here’s a good column about Little League. Thankfully, I’ve never seen the “dark side,” and it is very rare. This comment sums up the value from the perspective of a devoted Little League coach, and they all are selflessly devoted to the boys’ athletic and moral improvement: “Only a select few will ever get the chance to play in the late-summer classic, but thousands of youngsters can benefit from the life lessons that Little League baseball can teach: teamwork, personal discipline, fair play and - most important - dealing with defeat.”
Forget the drugs and booze excesses, the multi-million $ absurdities of MLB, where it costs us $100 to go to a game and be mostly bored and gored. This is more typical of Little League:
After San Antonio's 10-1 win over Peabody, Mass., late Friday, second baseman Nicholas Smisek awakened at midnight.
“I woke up throwing up,” he said.
The source of his problem according to teammates: five postgame hamburgers.
After Smisek showered for an hour, manager Mike Shull put him back to bed.
“He fell asleep,” Shull said. “It was kind of like having a newborn.”
By Saturday, Smisek insisted he'd be fine for yesterday's game against Russellville, Ky.
“As he had an IV in his arm, he told me he was playing,” Shull said. “I said, 'We'll talk about that tomorrow.' ”
In his only at-bat yesterday against Russellville, Ky., Smisek stepped up with the bases loaded and smacked a grand slam down the left-field line, giving San Antonio an 8-0 lead. The Texans went on to win 12-0.
Smisek's breakfast yesterday was a bit lighter than five burgers.
“Toast and bananas,” Smisek said.
Gotta love it!
