I was watching the movie "Bad News Bears" today (the recent adaptation starring Billy Bob Thornton) which reminded me of the spectacular times I had as a Little League and Pee Wee baseball player. I honestly do not remember how I even got into the Pee Wee League (for those that don't know, it's the league for players too young to be in Little League). During my very first year, because my hometown didn't even have a Pee Wee team, I went to play on the nearby town's team; which a lot of kids did from my town. I was one of the younger kids on the squad and I didn't play all that much, but I did get in the games from time to time. We had an awesome team that year; only lost one or two games and won the league's championship. I remember a few games where I hit an inside-the-park homerun or hit a triple. Heck, we even managed to score 40+ runs on one particular opponent. But despite all of the highs from that one season, it certainly wasn't the season I remember most while playing baseball as a youth.
During my second year in the Pee Wee league, I defected from the nearby town's team to play for my own town's squad (yes, they finally organized a team that year). Our uniforms had to have been hand-me-downs and I thought we were a pretty meager team; but we definitely did not quit. In fact, I think we had a pretty decent season, as well. I don't remember a lot of particulars about that season anymore. In fact, it's pretty forgetable to me. By no means was I the star player, but I would rate myself as somewhere in the middle. I often played outfield and more often than not, not a lot of balls came my way (one time I did catch a fly ball but got so excited at my feat that I totally botched up the throw back to the infield). I loved to bat, but was deathly afraid of being hit by the pitch. A lot of times I would step out of the batter's box, especially when facing one of the fast-throwing pitchers until I got comfortable being in the situation. There were even times when I would strike out looking; and apparently I did it one too many times before my dad bawled me out about it. So from that point on, if I struck out, I did so swinging the bat. I was supposed to play another season for my town's Pee Wee team (I committed to playing while laying down in the backseat sick of my parents car sick with the flu - not in the correct state of mind) when I changed my mind after learning I could step up and play Little League ball. Needless to say, my coaches were not very happy, but they got over it in time.
So for my third season playing baseball, I went over to play Little League ball. Once again, I defected and played for the crosstown baseball team (for which my friend also played - he, too, played on the team for which I enjoyed my very first season). I would say this was my least-favorite season of playing youth baseball. I hardly ever played, had a coach that I didn't have much respect for, and when I did play, I was sent out to play the outfield (again). Definitely nothing worth remembering anymore. If I recall correctly, we did win some games, but we also lost. We probably had a .500 record overall. No where near winning the league title, but still, it was fun.
And for my final year playing Little League ball, I once again played for the crosstown team. This was my absolute favorite year because my friend's dad was the new coach and I was the team's new regular second baseman. At that point in time, I needed glasses to play (but I never regularly wore them like I should have) and wore quite possibly the ugliest glasses ever invented. But hey, they weren't meant to show off, anyways. I remember one game where I forgot my glasses and had to play without them! It was very difficult seeing without them and one particular base hit from the opposing team came right to me! Luckily I had my glove in the hit spot and snagged the ball and threw the guy out at first. From that point on, I NEVER forgot my glasses. The sad part about that season is we lost more games than we won. In fact, I think we only won like three games out of 20. But I tell ya what, we really came together as a team at the end and that's where we did all of our winning. I think we won the final three games of our season. This was also my best season offensively as well; hitting many base hits. I never could hit the ball out of the park, but I could slap a good double down the right field line. It was a fun season and one that I enjoyed the most and remember quite fondly.
After that season, I decided to hang up the sport of baseball for good. I was too old to play another season of Little League and I just did not feel comfortable playing the next level of ball, Senior League. I know my dad was upset at my decision because he's one of those sport's fanatic kind of dad's, but he eventually got over it. Some of my friends continued on with their playing careers but at the time, I had my fill. I really thought that baseball was cramping my style at that point and I could not fully enjoy my summer vacation to its fullest. Now that I think back to those times, I do kind of regret not going on to play Senior League because I am getting older. I should've enjoyed playing baseball and lived in the moment because we certainly don't have those options anymore. At the time I figured I was doing the right thing. But I never did experience the Senior League level and at this point in time, I'll never know what it was like. But looking back on my four years of youth baseball; overall, I think it was a very enjoyable time for me. Even though I hated devoting time to practicing, it did make us do a better job in the games. We played during some very cold afternoons and some hot evenings; we even played a game during our town's homecoming celebration - complete with a PA announcer and the national anthem playing prior to the game. I certainly do have some good memories of those times and ones I hope I never forget (even though a lot of them I have forgotten). Baseball is America's pasttime and it's simply un-American not to play it at some point in life.
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