Sunday, June 17, 2007

Baseball - Father's Day

I was planning to write a blog about my dad for father’s day, and as all my writings do, it rambled on and took on a life of its own. I do not apologize for that. Those who read my words regularly have grown to expect me to stray and stay off topic. That is more a product of my ADD and OCD quirks than by design. If you saw my weekend housecleaning begin in the kitchen and up at Hooters, you would understand. I will immediately lose any readers who know nothing about baseball. I will divide this into two separate blogs as I know from my own experience that long blogs don’t get read.

I have always been a baseball fan. I came by it naturally, as my dad loved the one game a week that was televised when I was growing up in northern Idaho. Since, in the late 1950’s, the New York Yankees were a dynasty, the “game of the week” usually featured them. Later in his life, dad became an Atlanta Braves fan. This was equally due to WTBS televising all of the Braves games and the fact that dad grew up in Georgia. He was also a loyal Georgia Tech fan, though I don’t believe he ever had laid eyes on the Atlanta campus. Even though WGN broadcast all the Chicago Cubs games, dad never became interested in that hapless franchise. Who could blame him? Dad never got a chance to play sports as his dad considered such things frivolous and dad was forced to quit school quite young to go to work. He used to play catch with me but by about the age of 10 I threw too hard for him to catch me. That, in itself, made him proud.
My sons became New York Yankee fans by a lifetime of intense brainwashing. So much so, that my oldest son, Rick Jr. named his daughter Maris. I was delighted with that. My daughter’s son, Carson, will become a Yankee fan once I have him fully programmed. Maybe I will nickname him Mickey, Hanna-Barbera probably has a copyright on Yogi..

My love for baseball increased during my youth, as I showed an aptitude for it. But as I pitched my way to some local acclaim, dad seldom watched me play. He felt that he was bad luck as the few times he was in the stands I performed poorly. He would listen wide-eyed as I came home and gave play-by-play accounts of no-hitters. I always knew he was proud of me and only when I had kids of my own playing sports did I realize how painful it must have been for him to stay away from my games. Outside of military service commitments, I don’t think I ever missed any of my children’s sporting events. Sometimes, when all three were playing at different levels, the logistics got very difficult. Watching those games will always provide some of my fondest memories. I coached their teams for several years and those experiences will result in future blogs.

6 comments:

Pinehurst in my Dreams said...

Good stuff. It's the stuff of families. Passing your passion from one generation to the next.

My mom and her sisters became HUGH Braves fans when satellite TV started broadcasting their games. My Aunt Doris used to call Ron Cey - Ronnie-Donnie, because he looked, not just in the face, but the way he was built -- like her oldest son Don. She even wrote to him for signed pictures and had one sent to my mom.

myrtle beached whale said...

Ron Cey never played for the Braves but she probably saw him a lot when he was playing against the Braves for the Dodgers and Cubs. I remember him because he was extremely pigeon-toed which caused him to run like he had a stick in his rear-end. I don't think he stole many bases that way.

Pinehurst in my Dreams said...

You are right. It was when he was with the cubs, and I was thinking of WGN Chicago. . .wasn't I???

myrtle beached whale said...

yes, I am sure it was when he was with the sadsack Cubs. WTBS and WGN made a lot of America hugh (I think you probably meant huge) Brave and Cub fans. The Yankees have a network too, but you have to pay to get it. I guess you get what you pay for.

Carly said...

Wow! I enjoyed all the posts so much I have easily drained an hour out of my work day with no one to bill it to. :) By the way, Carson has two moles we named Hank and Aaron.
You really can't compare generations for sports. Each unenhanced generation gets better, especially as we start younger with coached athletics and with so many opportunities readily available. Look at gymnastics and swimming where new tricks are created and records are broken. the bar is constantly raised. I think the only two sports people can't get actually better because there is a set limit are bowling and golf. You can be the best golfer in the World but there is a limit at the best score you can achieve. There is a perfect golf game and a perfect score in bowling. Stats for other sports are endless and change constantly. Plus, if you look at the progression of man, they are now taller, bigger and faster, partially due to the steroids and impurities in the food we eat. Did you see 7 1/2 feet men when you were young? I think some people are believed to be great because of there impact on people. Hank Aaron of course being one of the first black guys to play in Major League Baseball and threaten a beloved record (Babe Ruth). Pete Rose is shock value but people loved to hate him. Many people don't look at the stats to determine the best, just as with famous tv/movie stars and singers. There is a little something more people see. Okay, maybe I do need a blog of my own. :) Great blogs Dad. I really loved the one about Grandpa and how he felt about your athletics. I know he would be really happy to hear that you know how much it meant to him.

Carly said...

Wow! I enjoyed all the posts so much I have easily drained an hour out of my work day with no one to bill it to. :) By the way, Carson has two moles we named Hank and Aaron.
You really can't compare generations for sports. Each unenhanced generation gets better, especially as we start younger with coached athletics and with so many opportunities readily available. Look at gymnastics and swimming where new tricks are created and records are broken. the bar is constantly raised. I think the only two sports people can't get actually better because there is a set limit are bowling and golf. You can be the best golfer in the World but there is a limit at the best score you can achieve. There is a perfect golf game and a perfect score in bowling. Stats for other sports are endless and change constantly. Plus, if you look at the progression of man, they are now taller, bigger and faster, partially due to the steroids and impurities in the food we eat. Did you see 7 1/2 feet men when you were young? I think some people are believed to be great because of there impact on people. Hank Aaron of course being one of the first black guys to play in Major League Baseball and threaten a beloved record (Babe Ruth). Pete Rose is shock value but people loved to hate him. Many people don't look at the stats to determine the best, just as with famous tv/movie stars and singers. There is a little something more people see. Okay, maybe I do need a blog of my own. :) Great blogs Dad. I really loved the one about Grandpa and how he felt about your athletics. I know he would be really happy to hear that you know how much it meant to him.