This Fastpitch Bulletin appeared 11 years ago (2013 which was the 13th year after having started posting Bulletins regularly.
Today, I fell in love with baseball again.
In 1994 I divorced myself from following major league baseball the way I had since I was about four years old.
You see, I was raised at ball yards that my father played at. I listened to games on the radio. The Boston Braves had just moved to Milwaukee. One of my uncles was a Yankee fan and turned me into one as well. I followed Hammerin' Henry Aaron and the Braves in the National League. I followed the Yankees and Mickey Mantle in the American League. My first glove was a hand-me down from my father but my first store purchased glove was a Rawlings Finest in the Field Triple Crown Model with the Mick's signature inside the pocket. Those gloves were and still are known as Signature Models. I collected baseball cards. I traded baseball cards with my buddies. We formed "bloop ball" and wiffle ball leagues in town. We actually drafted players onto our teams as we grew up. We all had wiffle ball parks in our back yards. We'dalso all get together at a vacant lot in town and play ball all day long. We used the same ball for days on end until the stitches gave way and someone had to get a new one. We used broken bats that our dads had fixed up after they were broken by the big fellas on the town team.
The MLB strike of 1994 was more than I could take. A year without a world series seemed impossible.
Oh, I've gone to major league baseball games since 1994 but not for the love of the game but for the love of being with people I enjoy spending time with. I've been to Madison Mallards games and had a great time. The game there is like it "oughta be."
But today, I fell back in love with baseball.
Today, you see, I took in a morning matinee in Madison. My wife and I watched the new baseball movie "42."
I'm hooked. Not as hooked as I was for all those years but I'm ready to get hooked again. I'll go to more games in Milwaukee. I'll get to a game in Minneapolis. I might even get to a few other MLB parks.
As much as I loved baseball during those pre-1994 days, I loved fastpitch softball even more. I appreciate the significant differences between two sports that both use bats, balls, bases, bubble gum, sunflower seeds, popcorn, Cracker Jack and more. I enjoy the quickness of a game of fastpitch when played between two great teams. I've always enjoyed watching the courage a second sacker must display in order to cover the base at one on a bunt attempt by a fleet-footed batter-runner. I've always enjoyed watching quick-footed and quick release middle infielders as they cover ground, field cleanly and throw without standing up or crow-hopping. I enjoy watching infielders who know the nuances of hip and shoulder rotation in order to get a quick release to get out a speedy slap hitter at first base. I cherish watching the players at the hot corner "picking it," throwing off balance to first and follow it up with a shoulder roll to get back to their feet. I always marveled at the fastpitch catchers who refused to wear the "tools of ignorance" while catching people who could throw a 12" softball in excess of 85 mph and then, on the next pitch, catch the batter off balance with a 62 mph change up. I relished the chance to play with and against the greatest mens' players in the game during the 60s, 70s and 80s. I've truly enjoyed coaching high school girls' fastpitch against people who I played the game against and some I actually played with.
For 35 years, I've enjoyed teaching high school girls all of that stuff I typed about above. I still like to see the surprised look on their faces when they succeed at what we are teaching and teaching hard. I enjoy talking to you, the coaches and I enjoy even more listening to you talk about the game. I enjoy hearing your stories and hearing about the amazing players you are producing. I enjoy matching wits with some of the greatest coaches in the country. I enjoy writing about, reporting on and promoting the game. It doesn't matter if it's girls, boys, men or women -- it's a great game!
I've enjoyed watching the greatest high school girls fastpitch players this state has produced since 1976. I've enjoyed taking in the WIAA state tournament every year since 1976. I've seen a lot of games, players, coaches, umpires and fans. I've met some fantastic people. I've also met some interesting characters.
Hey, I'm excited. I'm not going to let some foul winter-like weather this spring dampen my enthusiasm nor the enthusiasm of the players in our program. I'm going to do my best to give the seniors on our team the best experience I possibly can in the weeks that still remain.
I was doing all that before today, but today, I was inspired by Jackie Robinson, Number 42 of the Brooklyn Dodgers.
If you've been feeling down in the dumps due to this spring weather. Take a little time and get pumped. Let Jackie help you out. Go see "42!" and ---
Keep it Rising!
Bob
March 27, 2024 Update - Publisher's Note: If you can't find a copy of 42 and your are "down in the dumps" get online or on the TV and watch replays of the state tournament games or watch some collegiate fastpitch. You could also watch some great mens' fastpitch on YouTube.
I left the high school fastpitch coaching ranks in 2020 when COVID 19 chased me away. I still follow the game closely and still teach people the nuances about the game to those who want to learn -- and -- I keep trying to learn more about the game from others as well.
Have a great season!
Bob
