Baseball Fan

I grew up in a family that appreciated sports. Some of earliest recollections of watching sports on the black-and-white television included watching the baseball game of the week. Every Saturday Dizzy Dean and Pee Wee Reese would bring a game into our home. Whether the game featured the Dodgers and the Cardinals or the Red Sox and the Yankees or some other teams, I'd watch with great interest. My dad even showed me how to keep score on a sheet of notebook paper. Not until I was in high school, did I know anything about a real scorebook.

I like baseball -- for a lot of reasons. Perhaps you can identify with some of these.

* If it's baseball season, then it's spring or summer or perhaps fall. But more than likely it's not cold. Granted, the weather may not be perfect, but good weather can't be too far away if it's baseball season.

* I like baseball because there's no clock. Your team can't run out of time. (They may run out of outs, but they can't run out of time.) The game is over when it's over. Unfortunately, some tournaments for kids and even sometimes college games use a clock. I really don't like that!

* I like baseball because there's a lot of time to think if you're watching. You can visit with your friends while watching a game.

* I like baseball because I like hot dogs and salted peanuts and sunflower seeds.

* I like baseball because it's easy to identify with the players that are really good at playing baseball. Like a lot of people, I have played in may of the positions on the field. I know what it's like to stand in the outfield, waiting for some action. Then suddenly the ball gets smacked to the outfield. I know what it's like to play second base. I can appreciate when the second baseman and the shortstop combine on a put out. I know what it's like to strike out. I know what it's like to run the bases after hitting the ball out of the park.

* I like baseball because any day at the ball park is better than a day at work.

* I like baseball because you can even play it in your yard at home. You might have to make certain accommodations, such as tighter bases or using a whiffle ball, but you can play it at home.

I could go on for longer, but you'd grow tired of it. If you're like some of my friends, they only tolerate baseball until football season. So I'm ending my list of reasons I like baseball.