Baseball is really a kid’s game

“Baseball is a kid’s game...grown-ups only screw it up” (Bob Lemon)

“Baseball should be the only thing on an 8-year-old boy’s mind” (Author Unknown)

Some time ago, I wrote a post about kids singing the pregame national anthem. Though largely meant to be tongue-in-cheek, I came off looking like a bit of a grump. This was especially noticed by my two-years-younger sister, a lifetime elementary music educator. Yikes. Let’s just say I was taken to task a bit.

I will admit that my strong suit in life is certainly not interacting with young children. This tends to be me in those scenarios...

In my defense, however, I’m not completely heartless around youths, especially when it comes to baseball. After all, how many times do you hear it described as a “kid’s game”?!

Here are a few moments that (hopefully) somewhat exonerate me by showing my baseball-themed childhood...

Grid View

• I was basically born in a baseball uniform.
• A wood bat naturalist kind of kid.
• Calling for the slider, but not looking too hopeful about it
• An early round of BP (with a bat that looks about as long as I am)
• From the looks of all the balls in the background, my Marty McFly futuristic kicks were not helping my swing whatsoever.
• Getting serious with an absolutely vicious cut!

For a number of years, I even tag-team coached one of my brother’s Little League teams with my Dad...

So you see, despite being rather churlish or out-of-my-element around youngsters, I may not be a total “grumpy old man” after all. That is, until the next time I’m at Target Field and a toddler is running amok in my section :(