In honor of this week’s Major League Baseball All-Star Game, and with your kind permission, I’d like to repeat a column I wrote some time ago about why I enjoy the game. Because, as many others have said before, there is wisdom we can learn from baseball that translates directly into a well-lived life.
For one thing, I love the more-realistic expectations of baseball, especially compared to other sports. The best hitter who ever lived (Ted Williams), in the best season he ever had (1941), had a batting average of .406. That means that six times out of ten when he came up to bat, he FAILED to hit the ball. Can you imagine a successful wide receiver who dropped six passes out of every ten thrown to him, or a basketball player who missed six out of every ten shots he took? Not likely. The truth is, many of us fail more often than we succeed. Success in life is measured, though, not by how many times we fail, but by how many times we get back up and keep trying. Or, as my youngest daughter has been known to say, fall down six times, get up seven.
Another thing about baseball – you have to focus on the situation at hand. You can only play one game at a time. Learn to stay in the moment, and don’t worry too much about the past or the future. When you make an error, shake it off, and be ready for the next ball hit to you.
I love the teamwork of a well-disciplined ball club. I mean, certainly I understand that teamwork is a part of football, basketball, etc. They are, after all, called TEAM sports. And of course I realize that no running back is going to do very well without a good line blocking for him. But to me, there is unmatched beauty and elegance in watching an infield execute a beautiful – even graceful – 5-4-3 double play (the ball is hit to the third baseman, who throws it to second for one out, who then relays it to first for another out). These guys have practiced so long and so effectively together, they make it look easy and effortless. And I assure you, it is not.
Even something seemingly simple like a fielder hitting the cutoff man, who fires to the catcher, to cut down a runner trying to score – such things take mind-numbing hours of work and skill to accomplish.
You have to trust your teammates. A pitcher has to trust the fielders behind him, to provide good defense. Fielders have to trust that pitchers will make quality pitches. So also in life. Surround yourself with Godly companions and support each other.
Baseball is the only sport where the DEFENSE has the ball. It’s up to the offense – the team that is batting – to make something good happen.
Some other principles from baseball that apply to life:
- Realize that sometimes, the ball just takes a bad hop on you.
- There’s a time for preparation, and a time for performance.
- Speaking of time – Baseball has no clock. You play until you’re done. Sometimes, you play extra innings.
- Even the best players will sometimes have an off day. And even the most average player will sometimes have the game of his life.
- In a regular season, every team is going to win 54 games; every team is going to lose 54 games. It’s what you do with the other 54 games that counts.
- Blown calls and bad trades are part of baseball. Deal with it.
- Sometimes you have to take one for the team.
- Play with passion. Don’t be afraid to dive for the ball. It’s okay to get dirt on your uniform.
- There’s a time to bunt, and a time to swing for the fences. Each is valuable in its place.
- Make the most of the opportunities that you have. Don’t waste good chances; you don’t know how many you’ll get.
- The bigger the situation, the more you need to relax. Too much tension is never good.
- You can’t steal first.
- You win some; you lose some; some get rained out.
- Above all else – the main thing is always to get safely home.
Now – Play Ball!
Sharing a Sip with Dusty Garison 