A bit of nostalgia

[lihpster]

Went to the park to play some disc golf today. After I was done stinking up the course, I saw that there was a Little League game being played. So, I sat and watched the last few innings of ball. Saw some good hits and one well-turned double play and even a rundown. Everybody played in their normal positions instead of shifting all over the field. There was no check of the pitcher for sticky substances, nor was there a pitch clock. There were no fistfights between parents, and nobody yelled cuss words at the ump. There were smiles on people's faces and both teams praised the other after the game. And they lined up and bumped fists at home plate. Reminded me of baseball as a game, not a business. Was really nice to see.

 

[Rudi]

Amazing! Esp. in PO. Some hope for the future.

 

[anoblefox]

We look forward every year to watch women's college softball being played right now. I am done with major league baseball.

 

[Geeorge]

I like watching kids play with no agenda like the over paid pro's

 

[DeplorabusUnum]

Nice hot day in Oregon to enjoy a baseball game. We went up to Wilsonville to watch our granddaughter's lacrosse game. One field over was a youth baseball game. Looked like maybe fifth/sixth graders. It was hard for me not to watch the baseball game instead. Took me back a little over 5 decades to a really fun period in life when time seemed to stand still for days on end.

 

[lihpster]

As a kid, I always remember that baseball was the thing. Little League, Boy's Club ball or just straight up sandlot at the middle school, that's what we played. We broke windows, tested grass stain removers, ate a lot of after game pizza or ice cream and made alot of memories. I remember my uncle paid for cable to watch 2 things on TV. Bowling, when he could find it, and WGN and the Cubs games. Other than that, he might watch the news. And this was a man who straightened used nails and grew his own fruits and vegetables. Baseball was America's pastime, and we enjoyed it thoroughly. I played up thru age 14. I might have been good if I could see, but I didn't get my glasses until right before high school and once I could actually see the girls, they became a whole lot more interesting.

 

[Narragansett]

I generally watch a few games a year on fields that I played on 60 years ago. That is nostalgia on steroids.

 

[twodog max]

Growing up in the late 50's and early 60's baseball was the thing. We played it a lot organized and sandlot. I loved it. I think I got that from both grandpa's that loved the game.
I played from teeny league up to college level until more pressing life's demands caused that period of life to end. If I weren't to old with worn out joints I would play today.
Summers were filled with practice and games and having the season end was such a letdown. We were not in an endless session of tournaments and traveling team garbage of today. We played on one team for better or worse and took our lumps and our joys as part of it.
What a great time of life with no motive except fun.

 

[jeffrefrig]

I'm not sure, but when "Broadway" Joe Namath, the pride of Beaver Falls, PA, signed that contract for a million bucks, that was the stepping stone for what has now become demise of fun for a lot of pro sports. All about the money now, as is most everything.

 

[wuluf]

We live across the stream from a city ball park. Sounds of kids playing ball all summer. I've even grown to like the "tink" of the aluminum bats. Done with pro ball..

Sent from my SM-G981U using Tapatalk

 

[Rustyt1953]

From "tee ball" to the LLWS to the MLB I love watching baseball.

What the pros make in salary doesn't affect one moment of my life or viewing pleasure.

"Play ball!"

 

[Chuck24]

Spent 25 years umpiring girls fast pitch softball. Got to see kids go from t ball through college. Traveled up and down the East coast for travel ball and national championships. Had a lot of fun and made some extra money. I really miss it.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Two things near the top of my bucket list that will never get checked off are attending a LLWS and CWS. The sights, sounds and especially the myriad aromas of a ball park stay with you forever.

Abner was onto something.

 

[lihpster]

Another thing I remember is the little quirks some ballfields had. One that my brothers played on in the mid '70s had active railroad tracks through the outfield. When a train came the game was paused. Another one had a creek that ran alongside the first base line, about 15 yards apart. The creek had thick blackberry briars on both sides of it. If someone hit a foul ball into the briars, the snack shack would give you a sno-cone if you dug it out and brought it to them. I remember kids, 5 feet deep in the briars, fighting each other for the ball. I may even have won a couple of those fights.

 

[Rustyt1953]

In HS our practice diamond had RR tracks with a tall hedge running behind the RF fence. Whenever someone parked a dinger over the hedge the retriever would invariabley encounter a smashed loaf of pink bread with holes poked in the sealed end and empty cans of Sterno. Makin' "squeeze" they were.

 

[coltle6920]

Obviously there was no alcohol allowed but there are still many instances of youth sports being soiled by idiot (mostly fathers) parents.

 

[Rustyt1953]

I followed my girls through their youth leagues and HS soccer. I followed Logan through his little league and youth league baseball. The moms were far more insulting and unruly than the dads.