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[#1]

I really can’t remember a time in my life where baseball or softball weren’t part of my world.

Growing up in southern California, my parent’s had season tickets to watch the California Angels play. ( In know they’re the Anaheim Angels now, but I’m going with nostalgia!)

And I played on my first Bobby Sox softball team, the Dynamitts!, when I was 8.

 

My Mom was the scorekeeper for every team, my Dad coached and practiced with me…and I loved it so much, I just kept playing…kind of like Forrest Gump, who just kept running! Here I am in my high school uniform…

I was voted on the all league team my junior and senior years. I played second base and usually batted 2nd or 3rd.  Nothing made me happier than being out on that field…I really loved playing softball.  It was fun for me when I had the chance to help coach Kylie’s teams in softball too.  She didn’t stick with it, wasn’t her thing, but I have some nice memories of us together on the field.

Meanwhile, in Malvern, Pennsylvania….my husband, Doug, was quite the ball player too. He started playing ball when he was young , and his Dad was his coach of almost every team.  Here they are when Doug was in high school.

Doug played all through high school, was awarded many honors, and was good enough to be a walk on James Madison University’s baseball team.  He didn’t stay with the team, a decision I know he regrets, but continued to play baseball in adult leagues after he graduated.

No doubt, you know the story of my Dad and Little League. His hometown team of Newville, PA advanced to the state championships in Williamsport, PA, home of the Little League World Series.  In the above photo, that’s my Dad crossing home plate after a walk off homerun.  This moment was one of the most treasured memories my Dad ever had and shared.

…which is why we try to attend the Little League World Series each year…because we love baseball too and we do it to honor my Dad.

 

And maybe one day, this little guy will have a team that makes it to the LLWS. Wouldn’t that be neat?  Trevor started playing tee ball when he was 3…

Believe me, like most kids that age, he was more interested in getting to blow bubbles with a pack of big league bubblegum than paying attention to the game! But it’s been so much fun watching him grow into the player he is now….

He usually plays short stop or third base, pitches, and this year, has been booming a few home runs over the fence! I have to admit, I’m loud cheering for all of the boys…but when Trev rips a hard, line drive into the outfield…let’s just say, there’s no questioning who is Mom is!  Woo Hoo!!!!

And one more baseball story you might enjoy. My Grandpa Metzger was a heck of an athlete too.  He was offered a contract to play for the White Sox in the fifties…he declined, because he believed a traveling life like that was no place to raise a family. He did continue to play on area teams, and had the chance to play against the great Ted Williams while Williams was on inactive duty from the military.  Williams and my Grandpa both batted clean up, both went 3 for 3, and had the same number of RBI’s….BUT, Williams made an error in the outfield, and my Grandpa did not.  He always wondered how Williams received a million dollar contract but he didn’t!

And for the record, although I grew up going to Angels games, my favorite team was the Los Angeles Dodgers. This vintage picture is the team I remember most…all of their battles with the Yankees for the World Series, the “penguin”, handsome Steve Garvey, and my favorite player, Steve Yeager.  In fact, on our second date, Doug was so impressed that I knew the starting line up for this team, that he later told me that he knew he had found the girl for him!  Never hurts to have a few sports facts in your back pocket ladies!!

Time to make sure Trevor’s uniform is washed and ready for tonight’s game….despite the heat, lets play ball!

xo,

JB

ps…if you’re a diehard baseball fan like me, did you know Dooney and Bourke actually has a Major League Baseball collection? Check it out!