THE WEATHER IS PLEASANT
Birds are singing, the skies are blue and the air seems fresher. The major league has opened its season.
I never played organized baseball, only backyard and schoolyard baseball. But I have always been a fan.
Here are some of my memories:
- I found some old newspapers in the barn of my maternal great-grandparents. Turning to the sports pages, I wanted to see how the Yankees had done. The box score showed that Babe Ruth was 0 for 4, a bit of a disappointment. Also, Wally Pipp was playing first base for the Yankees. This had to be before June 15, 1923, when Lou Gehrig joined the team. The typography was quite muted, which indicated to me that maybe history added glamour to baseball. So it seemed.
- When I was about 12 years old I sent a letter to the Brooklyn Dodgers, asking for autographs. Later, I was pleased to receive real (not printed) signatures of the entire team – Duke Snider, Jackie Robinson, Gil Hodges, Roy Campanella, Peewee Reese and all the rest. My cost was whatever a postage stamp sold for at the time.
- In junior high school, our teachers would play World Series broadcasts on a radio. Baseball was that important then.
Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth are shown below. Lou Gehrig was the “Pride of the Yankees” and Babe Ruth was “the Bambino”, the “Sultan of Swat”.
In 1932, Babe Ruth made $80,000. When told that this was more than President Calvin Coolidge made, he said “I had a better year”.
THE CULTURE OF BASEBALL
In the 1860s, baseball became our “national pastime” in the United States. This popularity continued until the 1960s, when pro football and pro basketball became more interesting. The slow pace of baseball seemed to better fit the slow pace of life in general in earlier years.
Baseball seemed very tedious in comparison to faster sports. Still, Chevrolet in 1975 had a popular commercial which sang of “Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet”. Before then, Simon and Garfunkel asked in Mrs. Robinson, “Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio? Our nation turns its lonely eyes to you”.
Now, in 2023, baseball has decided to install some new rules to hopefully eliminate the aspect of tedium. Here are the new rules:
- Pitch timer – pitchers must be in their motion within 15 seconds or within 20 seconds with a runner on base. Also, pitchers have 30 seconds to start their motion between batters. Pitchers can step off the rubber only twice during a batter’s plate appearance. The pitch clock resets if a base runner advances.
- Hitters – must be in the batter’s box with at least 8 seconds left on the pitch clock. They are limited to one timeout per plate appearance.
- Shift restrictions – two infielders must be positioned on either side of second base when a pitch is made. All four infielders must have their feet within the inner boundary of the infield as a pitcher is on the rubber. The penalty for lack of compliance is a called ball. The goal is to set a premium on athleticism.
- Larger bases – first, second and third base will now be 18″ squares, not 15 “. This is to decrease base running injuries and to add excitement.
- Automatic runners on second base – teams at bat will begin each inning after the ninth with the placement of a runner on second base
- Position players used as pitchers – position players may only pitch if the game is in extra innings and if that team is trailing by at least 8 runs at any point or winning by at least 10 runs in the ninth inning
DICK’S SPORTING GOODS
DSG is the best source I know for both individual and team sports. They have the best inventory and, in my opinion, the best prices and service.
For baseball equipment, please click on the link below (or the one at the side of my website) and you will see at the home page the question “What are you looking for?”. Then click on “Sports” and you will see “Baseball” as one of the choices.
When you click on “Baseball”, you will see these categories:
- Bats
- Gloves and mitts
- Apparel and uniforms
- Baseball cleats
- Training aids and equipment
- Batting gloves
- Batting helmets
- Baseballs
- Bags and back packs
- Protective gear
Here is the link. You can also enter the site at any time by clicking on my permanent link at the side of my website. This link is updated automatically and is always there to provide current information and discounts.
DSG also has another category for baseball fans. At the home page, you may select “Fan Shop” and then be able to choose hats, jerseys, t-shirts or other items to promote and express loyalty to your favorite teams. I personally like the Atlanta Braves.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I have been intrigued by another aspect of baseball. It can be difficult to attain positive results. Let me explain:
A hitter who bats .300 or better is very likely to be an all star. Yet he is making 7 outs in every 10 plate appearances. The last player to hit over .400 was Ted Williams, who hit .406 in 1941, 82 years ago. Yet, even Ted was making an out almost 60% of the time.
Would a basketball player be an all star if he or she made 30% of shots taken? Would a football quarterback win acclaim by completing 30% of his passes? I doubt it.
This tells me that baseball may be a difficult sport emotionally. More kudos for those who go through the system and stay with it long enough to make it a career.
Please leave me any comments or questions in the “Comments” section below. Or email me, richard@myworkoutathome.com.
Let’s get outside and enjoy the weather!
