Baseball fans liked Ernie Banks

Baseball players are accountable for the success and failure of their team. The responsibility rest on their shoulders.

Are baseball fans entertained? Everyday thousands of fans fill a ball park with eyes glued on the game while chewing popcorn, hot dogs, and drinking soda pop. It sounds like an escape from the real world.

Perform well or move on continually haunts people all over the world and doesn't go away. Let your friends know who you are. Shine your gifts and talents.

Ernie Banks was a great shortstop for the Chicago Cubs. He gobbled up speeding fast balls on the infield grass. Initiated double-play balls. Led the team in home runs. There wasn't anything Mr. Cub couldn't do.

Another player recently cheered fans with his speed in the outfield and running the bases. He challenged his opponents with a strong throwing arm. Last week he hit his first grand slam home run and since the All-Star break has improved his hitting skills. Congratulations Harrison Bader, St. Louis Cardinal center fielder.

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Practice Makes Perfect

What did you want to be where you grew up? Have you arrived or are you still searching?

When my teacher first asked me that question lots of thoughts started to race through my mind. Fireman, mailman, truck driver, nurse, you name it and it was mine. But in reality life is a lot different than I thought it would be.

I wanted to be a baseball player. Watching those guys play ball in Cub uniforms got me interested. The problem was I wasn't a good player.

When we started using a little white ball with stitches rather than a twelve inch soft ball it was hard to hit. Timing was important. Connecting with that thing required me to swing when it was an arm's length in front of home plate. I learned the hard way that practice makes perfect.

With the right tools we can do anything. So I frequently went to the batting cages. Strong arms and frustrating moments helped me to become a better player. It felt good to finally connect with the ball.

We weren't professionals, just a bunch of average kids on the block in blue jeans, sport shirt, and tennis shoes having fun on an empty lot. We challenged each other. When was the last time you had fun on an empty lot with friends???

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A Rude Awakening

 

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary a 'rude awakening' is a surprising and unpleasant discovery. There are many surprises that we can identify with.

One example of a surprise is: The man thinks he can get by without doing any work, but he is in for a rude awakening. Don't we all wish we could do without having to work for it?

Baseball players is another good example: They never know where the ball is going to travel once they hit it.

Remember Ty Cobb in The Natural with Robert Redford? Toward the end of the movie he started hitting the lights on top of the ball park. Who would of guessed otherwise?

Recently the St. Louis Cardinals were playing the Colorado Rockies in Coors Field. The bases were loaded with Red Birds and two out when Harrison Bader came to bat. On one pitch he connected with the ball and the rest was history. Grand slam. 

When the ball leaves a bat no one knows for sure how it will respond. For that reason fielders have to stay alert just like all of us do in real life. 

On a more humorous note: Recently my friend had cataract surgery. Now, many years later, he knows what his wife looks like and the faces of his buddies in small group. We all laughed as a little humor goes a long way.

So how do you handle rude awakenings? They are a part of life and something we can't get away from. Preparation is the best solution.

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What Happened to the Cardinals?

 

Baseball champions are made not born. Baseball might be in their DNA, but it still requires hard work and development. 

Ever since I was a kid many years ago I always enjoyed watching a good baseball game. The wheel was already invented when I was born.

A couple of my favorite teams are the Chicago Cubs and St Louis Cardinals. However, as the game progressed I was upset with the Red Birds.

After one inning of play the Cubs were off to a 3-0 lead. By the third inning it was 3-2 and than disaster struck.

By the 8th inning it was 10-2. After giving up seven walks and some good hits to bring them home, the final score was 10-5 Cubs. Cardinal bats needed some help.

The Cardinals were struggling and needed some practice in the batting cages. Perhaps more help from the bull pen. 

Meanwhile the Milwaukee Brewers are hot while maintaining first place in their division. But watch out because the Cincinnati Red Legs aren't too far behind. 

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Why is Baseball America's Favorite Pastime?

 

Today was June 21st, the first day of summer and the longest day of the year. Hurray! And the kids love it. Now they can go outside and play baseball. 

 

In blue jeans, sport shirt, and tennis shoes, the boys lined up to choose sides. Then they scattered on the field to warm up. Tossing the little white ball with stitches around was fun.Picking it out of a baseball glove and throwing it to a friend created lots of action. 

 

We called it the peanut gallery. Along the third and first base foul lines were seats for all the moms and other baseball fans. The parents pride and joy was on those teams and no one ever shied away from voicing their opinion.

 

"Tony should pitch...why is Larry not playing...Mike was safe at first...the ump needs glasses...and on and on it goes." Anger in the galleries swelled. Who was managing the team? More frustration for the couch on both sides.

 

But baseball is America's favorite pastime. A wholesome sport if people don't complain so much. Better than a lot of other things like stealing and getting into drugs. Would you like your son or daughter mingling with the wrong crowd? 

 

Why is baseball the national pastime? Good question. Because baseball has had a very active role in the shape of this nation. From the Civil War to Civil Rights and all people in between and beyond, the game of baseball supports and reflects many aspects of American life, from culture to economics and technological advances. Wow!

 

So next time you have a chance take your family out and enjoy a baseball game. And while your there, get yourself a hot dog and some soda pop.

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Can You Place the Ball?

 

Can a baseball hitter place the ball wherever he desires during a game?  Left or right field corner, home run, or fool a fielder appears to be impossible. 

It would be a dull game if batter's determined every play. No excitement. What fun is that? 

Look! Up in the sky! It's a plane! It's a bird! It's a baseball and who knows where it will land. 

Last week I was watching the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. The Pirate hitter just hit a towering fly ball over the third base foul line. 

Arenado, Cardinal third baseman, started racing on the foul line when it appeared the ball will land just inches inside the line in fair play. Looking up with his back facing home plate he extended his arm and caught the ball. The fans went crazy. Such is life at the ball park.

I like sitting with 34,000 baseball fans watching all the play-by-play action. Eating hot dogs and drinking soda pop couldn't be any better.

When was the last time you went to a baseball game with friends and family? Perhaps this 4th of July weekend is a good time to do just that. 

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