Good ‘Ol Days of Fun

As the 2025 Little League World Series became one for the books, I scrambled to find my scrapbooks from the “Good ‘ol Fun Days”, when my son enjoyed little league All Star play. Though it was serious ball, it was fun, and his future ability to play guided his physical push as a twelve-year-old. Oh, how times have changed. I remember back then my determination was to keep baseball fun, meaningful and healthy for my child; and so, more than two decades ago, my heart penned “From A Dugout View” for my sole (and soul) son.

From a dugout view, let’s gaze into some overlooked windows of BASEBALL.

BASEball – BASE is a solid foundation upon which to build. Could it be that the triumph in BASEball is not in swinging for the stars but in “BASE”ing your dreams on the power and strength held within your own hands???

PLAY ball – Every game begins with the dictate: PLAY ball!!! Aren’t we being told that dreams shouldn’t be a task labored with a mind set on “won” but rather a fun adventure of “one’s” heart???

SACRIFICE – Where else in life is it so natural, and so applauded, to sacrifice for another??? Much honor is gained when a person gives his all so not himself, but a fellow teammate, can fulfill a dream.

1 For 3 – The arrogant calculate that success equals batting a thousand. BASEBALL’s scorebook is humble and measures more than a number. BASEBALL statistics compute when you hold the average of hitting the sweet spot just one out of every three times at bat; then, truly, you possess the priceless wealth of the diamond.

HOME – In BASEBALL, victory comes not from reaching a far distant galaxy but from coming HOME. HOME is where one’s heart, soul, values and dreams are born. The greatest ALL STARS understand the path to every field of dreams begins, and ends, at HOME.

And finally, the SOUL of BASEBALL translates: Even with a full count and two out in the bottom of the ninth, step up to the plate, believe in yourself, and never ever let any pitch convince you that you can’t succeed.

So ends the first inning of dugout view BASEBALL. The rest of the game is up to YOU…