I have never played baseball. I have never really been an athlete; I’m more of a rambler – long walks and long conversations. 

Despite my lack of experience, I have a great love of the game. I’m not a person that can recite stats, my brain has never been wired that way. I think my admiration stems from the fact that baseball games have a mythic quality. The annals are full of stories of the underdog winning the day. Each game has a good guy and a bad guy – and who is who just depends on which team you follow.  

The historic players, despite their human flaws are spoken about with a reverence while at the same time are given colorful nicknames like: The Babe, Yogi, The Spendid Splinter, Dr. Strangeglove,  Hammerin’ Hank, and of course Shoeless Joe.

Shoeless Joe was a main character in the movie, “Field of Dreams”. The 80’s and 90’s saw a crop of great baseball movies being made and Kevin Costner was probably instrumental in helping foster my love of the game. His movie, Bull Durham is one of my all-time favorites and upon reflection, I find I have several unusual similarities with the character of Annie Savaoy (I’ll leave this as vague as possible -so you can use your imagination.)

However, watching “Field of Dreams” led me to one of my favorite writers of all time: W.P. Kinsella. I devoured his books of short stories, “The Thrill of the Grass”, “Box Socials” and “Dance Me Outside: More Tales from the Ermineskin Reserve.” He has a way of pulling together words to make his subject seem both mundane and magical at the same time.

“Baseball is the most perfect of games, solid, true, pure and precious as diamonds. If only life were so simple. Within the baselines anything can happen. Tides can reverse; oceans can open. That’s why they say, “the game is never over until the last man is out.”

W.P. Kinsella

Keep Your Eye on the Ball was drawn during a time when I needed to remind myself to focus on the things that are most important to me. If you’ve read any of my previous blog posts, you’ll know I’m steering my life toward accomplishing my list of goals. 

However, whether I want to admit it or not, there are times when I allow the day to day circumstances of my life to get in the way. I think in the olden days they would say “She suffered from a touch of melancholia.”

When I get in these moods, I have to shake it off and remind myself:

“You can’t expect to succeed if you only put in the work on the days you feel like it”

It’s funny – that voice in my head that steers me along my path – sometimes takes on the persona of a tough coach just when I need it most:

• Champions are made when no-one is watching
• Life is short. Play hard!
• No excuses, no complaining, no explanations…just execute!
• Winning is a habit. Success is a choice.
• Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.
• Championships are won at practice.
• “There’s no crying in baseball!” – Tom Hanks in the film A League of Their Own

The coaching itself is part of the beauty of the game. The words that inspire and push the players to become better are woven into its mythology. I have a friend who coaches rec ball who says:

“Baseball is a game of failure – and redemption. – You can strike out 3 times and hit a home run the 4th time to win the game.  You learn from these failures – that is what I teach my kids – a strikeout is a learning opportunity – you will get another chance.”

Baseball is different from other games – although it is played with teams – each player is engaged in a  series of isolated contests: batter vs pitcher, fielder vs ball – it’s the calculations and strategizing that go on behind the game that are practically incalculable. But, what is paramount is that the players practice off field so when they are called to play; when their moment comes they are ready. Ready to be the next underdog that beats the favorite.

Create a Habit

I think I am fortunate in a way to be a creature of habit. I like to keep to a routine – over the years I have learned to schedule in time to work on specific projects. This day to day continuity helps me hone my skills and that in turn, help me reach my goals.

“Baseball is 90% mental, the other half is physical.”

Yogi Berra

“Keep Your Eye on the Ball” is a reminder to refocus. I know what my goals are – and I need to work on those. Maybe I’m not a character in an epic story – but what I do know is that continued effort toward my personal goals will ultimately bring success. 

Sometimes life sends me a notice: get back in the game!