When Baseball is Over

[Sonny]

I wanted to let you know of a conversation that I had with a parent of a Div 2 player (Valdosta State University) here in my hometown. While watching the team play, he mentioned to me that this would be his son's last season of baseball...he is a senior. He further mentioned that his son knew that his talent would not carry him beyond this level. Through many previous discussions that we've had over the last two seasons, I've come to realize that this parent's life has revolved around his son's baseball; rec. ball, travel ball, all-star, American legion, etc... Then I asked, "So what will YOU do when baseball is over?" There was silence. It was as if he'd never even contemplated that thought. Eventually, he stammered and hesitated while trying to put together an answer. It was obvious to me that I'd struck a chord and that he was pretty emotional about the prospect of his son not playing ball anymore. I found myself deeply saddened by his inability to put together a coherent answer and I tried to put myself in his position. My son is traveling down the same path, and I realize that someday I will have to consider this question too.

Just thought I'd share this experience. Comments?

[wogdoggy]

thats life, things change, things end,AND were getting older too. Thats Unfortunate when you base your whole life and free time and personality around one thing that you know will eventually end.

[Jake Patterson]

Sonny, Been there as a parent.

There are 30 major league teams at 25 men per team. That equals 750 players. According to the NFHS there were 660,000 high school players in the USA last year, this doesn't include the international players. When adding them into the mix it's easy to see that the chance of a HS player making the majors is 1 in 1000.

I also remember reading somwhere that the Little League (12 y/o's) to high school ratio is about 5 to 1 (Sounds generous to me). That would mean nearly 3 million 12 y/o LL players for 750 Major spots. That's 1 in 4000.....

Point is.... no matter how bad we want it as parents or how bad our sons want it as players we all need to prepare for life after baseball.

[handyman11]

Or life after softball ...after 10 years, three girls , and 12 travel teams , I'm starting to think what life will be like after the next 2 years , when my youngest is done .... the kids always seem to adjust fine , but the parents who I've met whose girls are all done tell me they really miss it ....

What Jake Patterson says above about the major leagues is so true , and also applies to Girls High School softball, where with the advent of so many Travel teams , many girls at the 9th grade level are varsity ready , and better than some older girls , meaning that there may be 5-6 freshman/sophomores on the High School varsity team ......with 12-13 spots on the roster , at the larger schools around here ( 2-3 thousand kids ) , that means alot of Little League Softball All-stars get a rude awakening , and a life lesson pretty early ... ....

[swingbuster]

"So what will YOU do when baseball is over?"

Better make sure you prepare your son for what he will do. I see some local kids hang out in a small college programs and lose valuable time stuck in adolescence and doing poorly in school. It can actually delay maturity is some areas get them way behind their peer group.

I see some thrive in these settings and network themselves through contacts, enjoy the game and the experience and still get a great education.

Worth thinking about................

[Sonny]

Swingbuster,

I agree with what you've said. I realize that my son's abilities may not take him as far as he dreams. I guess it is true that those are my dreams, as well. However, we do our best to ensure that both he and my older son are grounded in many different areas of life. Their education is absolutely the number one priority. With my older son (13 yo), good grades come with ease and he is a regular member of the honor roll. While the schoolwork doesn't come as natural to my ball player (10 yo), he understands that his performance in school is linked to his ball playing. Thankfully, he too has applied himself to his studies and is an honor roll student to this point in his life. I attribute the lessons of hard work and discipline that he has learned on the ball field to his success in the classroom.

As for me, I'll always enjoy the time that I have with my kids and I hope that our memories are lasting. When the time comes for 'life without baseball', I can only hope and pray that we all understand that there is so much more to life and much more living to do.

[Bluesteve32]

Some, if they are physically able, ought to officiate those sports they have watched their kids play for decades. Afterall, they are more expert than those officials they have chased to the car after a "blown" call.

Excuse the tongue and cheek, but officiating is a great way to remain in a sport after your playing career is over. Since some parents might have that time, local leagues most likely need officials as well, and since you are experienced, helping out on boards, even coaching or officiating might be quite rewarding, too.

Also some of you ex-coaches may want to consider officiating after or between coaching gigs. A great way to learn the game from a different angle, too. While we are on the subject, some coaches in one sport may want to officiate another sport in their off-season. A football coach may be a good basketball ref or baseball umpire and a basketball coach could do baseball or football. Did I say basketball coach? Sorry, that would not work.

[Sonny]

[QUOTE=Bluesteve32]Some, if they are physically able, ought to officiate those sports they have watched their kids play for decades. Afterall, they are more expert than those officials they have chased to the car after a "blown" call.

Excuse the tongue and cheek, but officiating is a great way to remain in a sport after your playing career is over. Since some parents might have that time, local leagues most likely need officials as well, and since you are experienced, helping out on boards, even coaching or officiating might be quite rewarding, too.

Excellent point! Bluesteve

[Williamsburg2599]

I think the babe put it best when he said "All ballplayers should quit when it starts to feel as if all the baselines run uphill."

[Williamsburg2599]

ive seen the point career so far,besides just playing because i love baseball, is to keep baseball alive and make it to the next level.Im never gonna give up on reaching the pros,even know i do relize that its not going to happen.

[Jake Patterson]

...i love baseball...Im never gonna give up on reaching the pros,even know i do relize that its not going to happen.

Hey KC - Checked out your profile... It says you run the score board and do stats. There's lots of ways to make it to the pros. I'm not certain what Major League statisticians make but I'm sure its pretty good. Someone's got to be doing it...

Hang in there - there's more than one way to skin the cat.

[Williamsburg2599]

Hey KC - Checked out your profile... It says you run the score board and do stats. There's lots of ways to make it to the pros. I'm not certain what Major League statisticians make but I'm sure its pretty good. Someone's got to be doing it...

Hang in there - there's more than one way to skin the cat.

hmm never thought of that... that would be an amazing job though.... thanks.