Baseball is a metaphor for life

For the past 46 years, I have been in a "mixed" marriage. 

When I first met my husband, he was wearing a tee shirt that said "Boston Red Sox World Series Champs—1918." I showed him my Mickey Mantle scrapbook and we decided that it was love at first pitch. Right. Then came June, September and October. Baseball was up front and personal.  We had two boys, both of whom played baseball. We tried to teach them that baseball was an "in the moment" game. 1986 brought the Red Sox to the World Series and Bill Buckner went into the record books in the 6th game and the NY Mets won in the 7th game. Pain. I think it was then that my Red Sox rooter finally gave up...until 2004 when his beloved team won the World Series. 

Meanwhile, I began to understand that baseball really is a metaphor for life. It is a game that requires each player to realize that they must be present and in the moment at all times. Each play is unlike the ones before. Each player is at bat only for right then and there. 

Here are some quotes that really resonated with me, from some folks in an online forum discussion several years ago on The Bark Board at Fresno State College, about baseball being a metaphor for life:

It's not always fair, get over it...there's a bit of chance involved. Embrace the idea that not everything is in your control. Dwelling on yesterday's success or failure only distracts you from today’s purpose, so let the past go. Your most important asset is an absolutely unshakable belief in yourself. There’s no pre-determined time limit, the game’s not over until the final out, and until then ANYTHING is possible, so don’t ever give up.   

You can strike out, yet still hustle your way on base and help your team. Very small things can have a very large impact on outcomes, so pay attention to the details. Your teammates celebrate the selflessness of a sacrifice and they lift you up even when you fail. In your darkest moments, when everything seems stacked against you, the most important thing you can do is to reach out and lift up one of your teammates. You can succeed only 30% of the time and still be a hero, so don't ever be discouraged by or fear failure.  Accept failure as a natural part of striving for and succeeding at difficult and worthwhile goals.  

You think the game is all about numbers and results. But then you discover that everyone around you has a deep, unspoken, almost spiritual belief in the mysticism of the game...they all wear their hats inside out in unison to 'will' a timely success by a teammate, or huddle together at one end of the dugout away from a teammate who's having a perfect game.  If someone hits you on purpose, disrespects you or the game, you can rest assured your teammates will soon deliver a 'reminder' to that someone that their actions DO have direct consequences. If you get into a fight with your opponent, you will be instantly surrounded and protected by ALL your teammates and coaches, regardless of whether they like you or not. 

And after you’re gone from the game, the examples you set—how hard work and unwavering commitment can overcome adversity, how to inspire your teammates through enthusiasm, dedication, and humility, and how to be humble in victory—have a far more profound and lasting impact on the life of a child than how many home runs you hit or how many batters you struck out.

Thanks for all the great memories and life lessons, Major League Baseball. Now my husband and I cheer together for our local team, the San Francisco Giants!