Where is My Baseball Glove?

 

No it's not missing in action. Besides military service men and women whom we all miss dearly, it is something important to me. Even more important than gold and silver.

Nothing thrills me more than a baseball game with friends on a corner lot. Those were the good old days. Wearing blue jeans, sport shirt, and tennis shoes, we had fun. But not all of us were on the same level playing field.

With a collection of splintered bats and tattered baseballs that saw better days, we spread some cardboard bases on the infield. Nothing was impossible for our love to play baseball in those by gone days. Even our baseball gloves had seen better days. 

But I struggled. A friend loaned me a glove that was collecting dusk in his attic. Something was always better than nothing.

It was during the war and hard to purchase a right handed glove for a southpaw. They just didn't make them in those days. Southpaws were depraved. It wasn't a level playing field. 

Fortunately for us over time things began to change. It was a BIG Day in my life when I got my very own brand new right handed baseball glove. You can bet your life on it that I would let no one steal it from me, so watch out. The pride and joy of a little rascal baseball player lived on forever.

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Who is Tommy Edman?

I like to watch an exciting baseball game. Recently I watched the Chicago White Sox play the St Louis Cardinals in Chicago. It was a surprise for me to learn that Tony La Russa, former Cardinal manager, now manages the White Sox.

Even though the White Sox lost, Tommy gave them a run for their money. Two home runs was enough to win a game. And who is Tommy Edman?

Tommy is an infielder/outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. I don't think there is anything he can't do.

Speed is his middle name. He is fast on the bases and if he taps a slow roller between third base and the pitchers mound, he beats it out easily to first base. Stealing bases is a challenge for any catcher and catching fly balls in the outfield looks easy for number 19.

At bat he's a switch hitter. Depending on whose pitching, right or left hander, he stands comfortably on either side of home plate. 

Who is Tommy Edman? I think one of the best all-around-players the St Louis Cardinals are lucky to have in their roster.

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Does Life Throw You a Curve?

 

The goal of a pitcher is to prevent an opponent from getting on base with a hit or error. Even worse is scoring runs and winning ball games.

Mix them up is the key to survival. Deliver the same pitch every time like a fast ball and history will be made. A base hit, home run, or whatever, could get a win for some lucky team.

On three separate occasions three curve balls traveled toward the plate. They had a mind of their own. Speed and position depended on the guy on the mound, how he held the ball, and his throwing arm.

The choice was the batter's. Baseball skills started to race through his mind. Every pitch displayed its own brand. 

We hated to do homework in grade school. It was a dirty word. The teacher was out to punish us. Having fun was more important. But still homework was a necessary evil we were all forced to accept. 

So here it goes. Stay mentally alert. A baseball can do funny things that we may not expect.

Timing was important. I was always told never wait till the ball reaches the plate before swinging. It may be too late and you can't cry over spilled milk.

Like gathering around a flag pole at camp in the morning, get ready to exercise. Lift those knees up high and run in place. Do some knee bends. Maybe some pushups. 

Are you ready? Did you get your exercise today?

Now you're standing in the batter's box. Three curve balls come traveling toward you faster than the speed of light. How do you respond? Are you ready to make some history?

Life is the same way. Prep work reflects in your actions. Homework isn't so bad if it produces good results.

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Key to Success is Practice

 

The crowd cheered when Iron Mike walked up to the plate swinging a bat. Built like Popeye The Sailor Man he was fearless and someone who could easily change the outcome of a baseball game.

The art of hitting a baseball is a science. An exercise in life that is challenging. Fail and like anything else you do in life like something domestic, business, family, or church, the outcome may not be so pleasant. 

After Iron Mike got comfortable in the batter's box, he kept looking at the ball even though the pitcher did his best to hide it behind his back. Don't worry about the color of the pitcher's eyes or hair.

When the ball left the pitcher's mound it appeared out of nowhere. Where did it come from? How was Iron Mike suppose to hit it?

Strength and muscles wasn't the problem. The batter had enough spinach in his arms to choke ten horses figuratively speaking. 

Timing was important. So he followed the gut-feelings of his heart. When the ball traveling at 85 mph was at arms length from home plate, Iron Mike let loose and swung with all his might. 

He refused to look at the ball. Listening to the loud thug sound in the catcher's glove was unheard of.

But the baseball fans gave it away. Again listening to the cheers and rumbling seats, he saw the right fielder struggling while leaping to catch a ball that bounced off the wall when he rounded first base. The rest is history. 

We often hear the phrase told in the marketplace, "business as usual." Iron Mike always thought that hitting a baseball was serious business. Don't neglect your homework.

The star baseball player laid all the facts on the table, developed a plan, and put it to work. Practice, practice, practice, was the name of the game. He loved it and so did the fans.

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What Is Your Purpose?

 

In this fast paced world we often forget about our purpose in life. Instead we stay busy trying to make money, advance our career, and live happily ever after with all the other luxuries life has to offer.

Your reason for doing something may be different than mine, but we still all have a purpose. What's yours?

The purpose list is endless. When I think about them it becomes mind-boggling. When do I stop thinking about this challenging mindset?

Baseball is a good example. I think we all can agree that the purpose of a game is to win, and winning leads to other things like becoming World Series Champions. 

Recently my grandson graduated from bootcamp in the Marines. It was a proud day. Our hats go off to all the men and women in the military who sacrifice their life to protect us and keep America strong and free. 

I have many purposes in my own life, but my most important is to maintain a good relationship with God. Reading my Bible and applying its truths tells me how to complete this journey. An act of obedience gives me real peace and confidence in everything I do. Without God I would be a miserable person. Millions of people around the world experience this same relationship with God. 

Obviously we all have a long lists of purposes. Why not make a short lists of your own and rank them as most important to least important? As you look at your lists what do you think? Are you impressed? Do you need to make some changes? My lists keeps changing all the time, hopefully for the better.

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Are You A Happy Person?

 

Are you happy? Do you like to be around other people? Is life good to you? Since I experience peace with God I can't complain.

Baseball is back. Spring training is gone and now thousands of baseball fans can go to the ball park and enjoy a game. I'm happy because baseball is my passion. Are you a baseball fan? 

Anniversaries, birthday parties, picnics, and more, it's always fun to gather with friends and family. Today we are happy and excited for our grandson. This Thursday he graduates after completing bootcamp with the United States Marines in southern California. His parents will be there while Judy and I dog sit. It's another celebration for a job well done. 

Today we live in troubled times. Our country is politically divided and filled with hate. But there is peace with God. There is nothing to fear. We can learn to endure and be happy, i.e. with God's help we can learn how to ride the storm.

Are you a happy person? Is life a constant up and down battle for you? Do you feel so low sometimes that you have to look up to tie your shoes? It shouldn't be that way. Identify your problems and seek positive   ways to deal with them. Life is better than you think. 

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Why is Hope Important?

 

There is hope for a better future. Where have you heard that one before? It's part of a solidifying force that keeps us glued together. Where would we be in life without hope?

There is hope for my soul. Born into a depraved spiritual condition, God and help from the Bible puts me back together.

There is hope for a good career. Get educated, develop skills, and the world opens up many new opportunities. Yes there is a level playing field out there. 

There is hope to have a nice family. Yes you can choose the perfect man or women in the whole world, create a christ-centered atmosphere, and live happily ever after.

There is hope in wanting to develop a baseball team. In my book Boys on the Gold Coast, Pop, a retired janitor, takes a group of boys whom got kicked off a school lot and helps them form a baseball team somewhere else. Eventually they play the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Yes all things are possible with a love motive. 

Isn't it great to live with hope in everything we do? Hope leaves us with a feeling of accomplishment that I like. I hope you feel the same way.

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