There is nothing quite like going to a baseball game. Buying a ticket and knowing there is a seat waiting for you in the stands. Walking through the gates and having the smell of freshly popped popcorn greet your nose. Walking out from the concourse and getting your first view of the field. Finding your seat and hearing the welcoming shouts of a nearby vendor yelling, "Peanuts! Cracker Jacks! Get your peanuts and Cracker Jacks here!". Going to the ballpark is just part of the experience. There are so many things that I have learned growing up around the game of baseball.
1. The Importance of Teamwork
While each of player on the field has a different position that they excel at none of them can do it on their own. As you continue on through life there are many different teams that you will be a part of. In any relationship, friendship or group that you work with each person will have strengths and weaknesses that will need to be worked with.
2. It's Not Supposed to Be Easy
In the movie A League of Their Own" Tom Hanks plays coach Jimmy Dugan who at one point in the movie describes the game of baseball by saying, "It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great." This can be said about many things that we go through in life. If things weren't difficult it wouldn't be quite as rewarding when we succeed.
3. Reacting to Failure
This past summer I had the opportunity to work for the South Bend Cubs, the Class A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. Toward the end of the season I took action shots for the team, in doing this I was able to watch the games and see all of the excitement. On one of the opposing teams there was a specific player that would get angry when he would make a mistake and you could always tell. During one game in particular he struck out on a badly called strike ending the game, when this happened he stormed into the dugout, threw his bat and helmet against the bench and continued to swear terribly. Now he didn't have to react in this way, but he choose to. This allowed for fans to form opinions about this player and the attitude that this player has. If we react to failure in a positive way it will end up making us feel better and it will make others around us realize that we can be classy in the midst of failure.
4. Handling Pressure
It's the bottom of the 9th with the score at 2-1. The bases are loaded. Two outs. The count on the batter is 3-2. The batter steps into the batters box as you get ready to deliver the final pitch of the game. You look around at the fans that are yelling from the stands, your teammates on the field around you and the coaches and other teammates cheering from the dugout. Even sitting here describing this situation makes me nervous. If your too nervous you could throw the ball in the dirt and loose the game. Or if you gather yourself you could strike the batter out. It all depends on how you deal with the pressure. Giving a presentation or going for a job interview can be stressful, but it all depends on how you deal with the pressure.
5. Sometimes It's Best If You "Suck It Up"
This is something I learned from my dad when he was my coach in little league softball. Whenever I would get a small scratch on my knee or would get hit by a pitch I would look over to him and I would see him holding up three fingers or he would look to me and say "Three words." and that was all I needed. Now if I was seriously injured he wouldn't do this, but this action taught me the importance of being tough and not complaining about unimportant things. If you complain about every bad thing that happens to you your life will be filled with disappointment. Also no one likes being around someone who is constantly complaining about something.
6. Follow the Rules
This point could make me sound like a stick in the mud, but the rules are in place for a reason. In baseball it is important to follow the rules. In order to ensure that this happens we have umpires to enforce the rules and coaches to teach the rules. If a rule is broken there will be consequences. In life there are laws that are put into place that should be followed for our own safety.
7. The Importance of a Strong Work Ethic
When watching players play baseball most times it is pretty easy to see who wants to be on the field and who works for it. By putting in the extra time and effort to improve themselves they are also improving the team. Being willing to work for your success is something that will continue to be important. Employers appreciate it when their employees work hard at their jobs and want to do well at their jobs.
8. Learning From Authority Figures
Any baseball player has more than likely had multiple coaches throughout the course of their career. Each coach will have had the ability to teach the player important lessons about how to play the game. Coaches may also ask their players to run certain drills in practice. Players can choose to listen to their coaches and follow their instruction or to argue with the coach. The same could happen if your boss was to ask you to do something. Listening to the people in authority positions will show them that you respect them. When people see that you respect them most times they will treat you with respect in return.
9. Reacting to Success
Working to be the best that you can be is important in life, but when you succeed it is important to graciously accept it. Sure, celebrating success is good, but it is when you flaunt your success to others that it becomes a problem. If a player hits a home run and then proceeds to strut around the basses and laugh in the faces of their opponents it will reflect badly upon the player's character. In life if you experience success by getting an A on a test or by doing well on a presentation at work that can be exciting. But if you continue to remind people of how awesome you are for doing so, people will think that you are full of yourself. It is important to accept success and defeat graciously.
10. Have Fun!
Possibly the most important lesson that I have learned from baseball is the importance of enjoying what you do. Finding a job that you enjoy will help you to be able to succeed. If you enjoy what you do you will be more willing to work at it.
