In the US, baseball season is in full swing. Tee Ball and Little Leagues, high school, college, rec leagues, minor and major leagues. Of all the team sports, this one is the most quintessentially “American,” with deep historical ties to the national culture (the date and details of the game’s origins are highly disputed, so we won’t go into that). Many films have been made where baseball plays a central role in the development of the plot. Among my favorites are The Natural and Field of Dreams. CLICK HERE to see a list of them. There are several that I had never heard of.
Baseball has been a rich part of our family traditions. My children’s dad, his brother, and their cousins grew up going to major league games with their grandpa. When his cousin’s twins arrived unexpectedly early, some of the relatives were at a game. There were no cell phones back then, and her husband tried (in vain) to contact the ballpark and have an announcement placed on the big screen for them.
One of our first dates was to an Oakland A’s game. I was clueless and thought the game would go for seven innings. Not only did it last nine, but it went into overtime for a total of fourteen innings! It was a night game in June, and being a Midwest girl, new to northern California, I didn’t dress properly. It was a summer evening. Shorts and a T-shirt would be fine, right? The cold, stiff wind off San Francisco Bay turned me into a block of ice.
As newlyweds, we lived in Southern California and spent many nights at Chavez Ravine cheering on the LA Dodgers and munching on Dodger dogs. When we couldn’t go, we listened/watched every game on radio/TV. At the conclusion of each season, we counted down the days in three phases: 1) pitchers and catchers report; 2) spring training; 3) Opening Day.
All three of our sons came home from the hospital in a little Dodger uniform. We dragged our firstborn to “Picture Day” at Dodger Stadium when he was three weeks old and took video and pictures of Tommy LaSorda, the longtime team manager, holding him.
The boys grew up playing baseball. My oldest son and his wife had their first date at a KC Royals game. She was raised near Pittsburgh and is a devoted Pirates fan and he a St. Louis Cardinals fan, where he grew up. Although they were married in a church (not on a field, which some fans do), their wedding was baseball themed. They set a goal to visit
every major league ballpark in the US and got quite a few in before they had children. Now they live in Houston and my grandkids have been attending Astros games since they were tiny. They’re older now and their parents are making plans to revive that dream and travel with the family to other parks.
My daughte
r and her husband just had their first baby. My son-in-law, a California native, loves the Angels, but they live in the Midwest, so he watches every game on TV. On opening day, he dressed his baby son in a baseball onesie and had him ready when the game came on. “First game with my little buddy,” he said proudly. It brought a tear to Nana’s eye. For his first Father’s Day next month, most of the family is gathering in Kansas City for a Royals-Angels game. I can’t wait to make another great baseball memory.
Does your family enjoy other team sports? Football, basketball, soccer? Do you have deep traditions and memories involving attending games? I would love to hear about that in the comments.
To celebrate baseball season, I’ve written a short romance called Ninth Inning Wish, about how God answers prayer. CLICK HERE to sign up for my newsletter, and I’ll send it to you! (My new website is under construction, so please excuse the dust!)
Erin has been writing faith-based romance novels for almost a decade. She is published in multiple formats and is a member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers), where she has served as a judge, category coordinator, and was a 2021 Carol Award finalist. Grounding her novels in reality, Erin crafts characters who encounter events and hardships familiar to everyone. Her inspirational writing will take the reader down paths of both joy and pain, but always highlighting God’s faithfulness.
Hi Erin from the Midwest. Our two older boys grew up in Chicago in the 1980s and are Chicago Cubs fans. Today my granddaughter’s 3rd grade class are going to the South Bend Cubs Baseball game. The class has been learning and singing the National Anthem for several months now. I hope the Cubs win. The weather is supposed to be sunny and warm. As a German American sports was not a part of my growing up. Thanks for sharing. Enjoy your day.
For me it would be cricket. my parents were older when I was born but I know dad played for the small town he lived in and was one of the older players at the time. Mum played the ladies form of the game growing up it was changed slightly but now they play the same rules etc. My brother also played. I remember listening to it on the radio and on tv. The international games and state games were on live tv and it was a huge part of summer. We didn’t go to games as we lived in the country and back then you didn’t just go to the city for a weekend. But when I was around 17 I got to go to my first game in the city and for many years would go to a few different games. I don’t go much now due to headpain and being in a crowd with all the noise etc makes it hard to handle.
In winter it was Australian Rules football but it wasn’t till I was in my teens I really followed it. Dad and my brother did but mum and I not so much and even when I did it is my team only where as Dad and my brother would watch any game on tv. My brother also played. (Not sure if dad did when he was younger but he probably did.)
I’ve been to three Atlanta Braves games in person, used to watch them all the time on tv (I actually started my parents watching them, as we only had one tv, when Rhett Butler and Dale Murphy were on the team). Now, I’ve gone back to not watching any sports. The channels I usually watch don’t show baseball, and I’m not so into it that I’m paying for to get a channel that does! The only time I watch is on Sunday nights, and then only if a game has gone into OT or something and it makes the news come on late! If that happens, depending on what quarter it’s in and the time on the clock, (mainly if it’s 4th quarter and less than 15 minutes) I’ll leave it on, if it’s long, I’ll change channels!
My dad liked sports but only watched it on TV. My mom didn’t care for it. My husband didn’t like sports at all, so we never went to any games. My son, his wife, and their children go to hockey games when our team is playing here. They always invite me, and I meet them there.
The Cubs have a long, rich legacy. In some ways I have enjoyed the minor league games more than the major ones. What a great experience for your granddaughter! Thank you for stopping by.
It sounds like cricket holds a lot of pleasant memories for you. I’m glad! I too do not like crowds (and heat) but there is a lot to be gained by attending games in person. Thanks for commenting!
I recognize the names of both those Braves players. I don’t watch them on TV either, and certainly wouldn’t pay for it, but I’m looking forward to going to a game in person and enjoying it with my family. Thanks for stopping by!
I didn’t mention hockey games. I went to only one in person many years ago, the St. Louis Blues. I was amazed at how noisy it was and the on-ice fights. That seemed to be an expected part of the entertainment. I’m glad you can make memories with your son and his family. Baseball is more my speed…slow and quiet, LOL. Thanks for commenting!
I love how baseball has been such a part of your family’s life over the years. I’ve only ever seen it on films, I don’t think it’s played here in the UK.
My dad was a big cricket fan so I grew up going to county cricket matches – I was never that interested so would bring a book to read lol. My husband is a big football fan (soccer) and has followed his team since he was a teenager, I laughed when I read about your babies wearing baseball uniforms as all of ours had little football kits.
Aww, that’s cute that your babies had football “kits.” I think cricket is played with a bat also, right? I also laughed when you said you would read a book at the cricket matches. I would almost rather read a book than anything. Thanks for stopping by!
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Thanks for stopping by!
When I lived in Iowa, my church used to have church socials at the Iowa Cubs games. I remember one went into extra innings (I don’t remember how long), and I thought it would never end! My mom and I went for the social camaraderie, not the sport. Lol. Fond memories to look back on.
I have also been to several iCubs games and honestly, I preferred the more laid-back atmosphere over the major league ballparks. The social camaraderie is definitely a part of it! Thanks for sharing!