What Baseball Means To Me

I was born into a baseball family. My dad says that when I was two weeks old, he sat me on his lap, and that is when I watched my very first Philadelphia Phillies game. Then came the learning of how to catch and throw a ball. And shortly after that, learning how to swing a bat and hit the ball. When my brother was born, my family taught him just like they had taught me. I guess you could say that baseball is a generational tradition that is passed down in my family. My grandfather taught my mom and uncle about the game when they were younger and they then passed their knowledge down to us kids. My mom was born on June 21st, 1964, the day that Phillies pitcher Jim Bunning threw a perfect game. My mom says that that’s one of the reasons why she loves baseball so much. Every year, my grandfather would tell her the story of how Jim Bunning made baseball history on that day; on Father’s day; on the exact day my mom was born.

I never knew the reason behind why my family was so passionate about the game of baseball, until I began to ask them simple questions like, “What is your earliest baseball memory?” and “Who is your favorite baseball player of all time?” It was funny, and rewarding, to hear all of their different answers because everyone’s answers seemed to be based upon generation. For example, my grandfather said his favorite baseball player was Whitey Ashburn and my brother and cousin both said their favorite player is Jimmy Rollins. When I asked my brother why he had chosen “J-roll” as his favorite baseball player he told me that Jimmy had been a part of the Phillies organization for as long as he could remember. I hadn’t realized that Jimmy had been a part of the Phillies ever since my brother first began to understand the game of baseball. My mom, dad, and uncle chose players such as Tug McGraw, Dave Cash, and Mike Schmitt as their favorites because they are Phillies legends. My grandmother and I on the other hand, chose the players Darren Dalton and John Kruk. We didn’t really choose them because of their skills on the field, but rather, well, let’s just say other reasons. My grandmother had the biggest crush on Darren Dalton and I just loved running around the house screaming “John KRUK, John KRUK!”

When I began to ask all of them what the best memory baseball has given them is or was, they all seemed to say they same thing. Seeing the Phillies win the 2008 World Series. When I asked each of them why that particular moment was so special to them, they all said it was because it was something that we got to experience together as a family. All of us might not have been together physically during that exact moment, but in spirit, and in multiple phone calls, it was something that none of us will ever forget. The men in my family, and me, went to the parade a couple of days after the big win. My grandmother says that this is her favorite memory of baseball; seeing us go down to the city together, all dressed in Phillies red. “Enjoying the game as a family, and seeing how much my family loves the game,” she says. “That’s my best memory of baseball, seeing our love for the game being passed down generation to generation.”

I don’t know why, or how for that matter, my family became as superstitious as we are today. Whether it be the socks we wear to a sports game, or the positions of our seating arrangements for a game we are watching. The fact of the matter is that my family is highly superstitious. During the beginning of the 2008 World Series, my family and I all sat down in our family room, Phillies gear on, drinks by our side, and chips and salsa out on the tray tables in front of us. My mom and our dog sat comfortably on the love seat; my brother and I on the couch. My dad sat at the desk chair. For some reason I could not sit still that night. I’m not sure if it was because I was just anxious to watch the game, or just because I had to sit next to my brother. So I decided to sit on the floor. From that moment on, the Phillies began to take the lead, and ended up winning the game. The next night, my dad made us all sit in our same exact seats and my mom made us all wear the same exact outfits we had worn the previous night. In my family, there are no taking chances of losing while being superstitious. Needless to say, I sat on the floor for the entirety of the 2008 World Series.

I will never forget that exact moment when the Phillies won the World Series. When Brad Lidge pitched the final strike and then threw his glove up high in the air. As that glove was tossed up, my family and I jumped up with it. As the glove came down, it landed on top of the players piling on top of one another; hugging and high fiving. My family and I did the same. My dad and my brother were running around the room as my mom and I were crying in happiness (tears of joy of course, which would be another generational trait passed on in our family. Thanks a lot Pop!). Our team had just won the championship and for the first time in our lives, my brother and I got to experience the feeling of victory. We got to share that victory with not only our immediate family, but our family within the city of Philadelphia. For me, it was a great moment, and beginning to the year to come. It was the fall of my senior year in high school; the final chapter of my high school career. What better way for the hometown baseball team to finish out the season then to win it all by taking the title of World Series Champions.

Phillies baseball isn’t the only type of baseball my family knows. Even the movies I grew up to were baseball related. I can’t tell you the number of times my brother and I asked for our parents to put on “Angels in the Outfield.” As we got older, we were introduced to “The Sandlot” and “A League of Their Own.” And don’t forget “Major League!” There was something special about watching these movies that made us feel an even greater connection to the game we loved. In “The Sandlot,” there is a picture shown at the beginning and end of the movie. The picture is of the boys during the summer in which they beat their town’s snotty little league team. The boys are aligned shoulder to shoulder, gloves in hand, and all wearing their favorite baseball outfits. All of them have bright beaming smiles on their faces. Just like “The Sandlot,” my family has a similar picture. My grandmother took it of us right before we drove down to the city for the parade. All of us are standing together, shoulder to shoulder, wearing our favorite Phillies gear, celebrating our city’s victory and sharing our love for the game of baseball together. So when you ask us whether or not we think our Phillies will win the World Series again, we will always smile and say, “It could happen.”

Baseball

Growing up, the very first sport that my family introduced me to was baseball. But not just any baseball, I'm talking about Philadelphia Phillies baseball. My dad says that when I was two weeks old, he sat me on his lap and I watched my first Phillies game. Then came the learning of how to catch and throw a ball. And shortly after that, learning how to swing and hit the ball. When my brother was born, my family taught him just like they had taught me. It seems like most American families tend to do the same as my family did with my brother and I.

Many people say that baseball is the traditional American sport. And I would have to agree. There is no experience in the world quite like seeing your very first ball game in a major league stadium. The feeling of excitement as you walk through a crowd of people, all dressed to support the home team, can be very overwhelming. Walking up those big stadium steps, heading towards your seats...hot dog in hand of course... and finally viewing the field for the very first time is pretty surreal.

I don't exactly remember my very first Phillies game. My parents took my brother and I to so many games that I can't really remember my first. We have created so many memories for ourselves going to the ballpark over the years, especially going to Veterans Stadium, when it was still around. Like the time when my mom and brother were on the jumbo tron. Or the fourth of July where we got to watch fireworks on the field. Or even the time where a Chicago Cubs outfielder threw my brother a ball during batting practice. I'd have to say that my all time favorite memory from Veterans Stadium was getting to meet John Kruk.

When I was really little (and yes I'm talking about when I was younger and not referencing my small size), the one Phillies player who's name always stood out to me was first baseman John Kruk. My family still teases me to this day about me going around the house chanting "John KRUK, John KRUK" whenever being asked who my favorite baseball player was. The last game I ever saw at Veterans Stadium happened to be a fan appreciation game, and we had heard that a couple of former Phillies players were walking around the stadium. As soon as we walked up the stairs into the stadium, we saw a crowd of people circled around someone. It was the "Kruker" signing autographs. Meeting my favorite childhood baseball player is something that I will never forget.

Whether it's watching your favorite baseball team on TV, being at the game, or even having a catch in the back yard with your dad, baseball is something special and I do believe that baseball is the traditional American sport. So throw out the first pitch and play ball!