My History with Baseball

 Aloha, Reader!

Today, I want to share with you a fun history of me & America's classic sport: baseball. Even though this article contains a lot of details, it's only the beginning of my story with this ball sport! :)

Early Fandom: 1980s-1990s

Growing up in Northeastern, CT immediately meant that I was branded a Boston Red Sox fan. In the state of Connecticut, depending on where you live, you may be pressured into supporting either the NY Yankees or Red Sox - and the rivalry runs deep. So deep, actually, that in the early 2000s, you could be an attendee at a non-baseball event and if New Englanders got intoxicated enough (which was 99% the case, especially on cold, winter days) crowds would taunt "Yankees Suck" or vice versa. This chant often occurred at my undergraduate college campus in Smithfield, RI.

My grandmother, Barbara, took my brother and I to visit the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY, when we were young children. As boring as it was, I appreciated the experience. I watched plenty of games, but never got hooked on it. It seemed so boring to me, at the time! Nowadays, I have a much bigger appreciation for the sport, with one caveat: it never made sense to me as a child and adult, is how could the US have a "World Series" with only one non-US team... why is only Canada allowed in, for other counties? Anyway, let's move on... :-)

Undergraduate College Years: 2000s

I continued to shine my Red Sox pride through sports apparel and enjoyed cheap beer and 25 cent wings, while watching games with my college roommates. One of my college roommates was a Yankees fan and I did not hold it against her… a true a sign of respect :)

Reversing the Curse of the Bambino: 2004

After moving to Boston, MA in 2004, baseball fandom took an even bigger chunk of my time! As a working professional, focused on both graduate college studies and my full-time career as an accountant, I often indulged in few after work beers and enjoyed the downtime with my co-workers.

When the Red Sox were crowned the World Series Champions in 2004, I attended the rainy day parade, in which they rode by cheering crowds in WWII amphibious vehicles. It was so fun! Out of curiosity, I did confirm recently with Henry at the Duck Tours Boston, these vehicles are fully operating and available for private tours. :-)

Not a Baseball Kid/Mom: 2022/2023

My son had his first experience playing on a baseball team and almost immediately I could sense it was not for him, as a focused sport. As a loving, observant mother, I noticed his passion and joy for soccer at the tender age of 3. Recognizing a kindred spirit within us, I could easily appreciate both the running and need for intense, powerful moves within the sport. We both like to get out wiggles and are naturally built for long-distance sports: running being one of them. It was clear to me when he was positioned to play outfield, in baseball, that he was way more interested in gazing at the flowers in the field than waiting patiently to catch a hit. While we gave the sport a fair chance, he seemed to be bored and it didn't seem worth his time (life's most precious asset). But oh my, how his coaches pressured mom into this sport, because he's a leftie (and would make a great pitcher!)

Sports Bettin': 2024

My man surprised me with an offer to visit Las Vegas last fall and offered me the opportunity to learn more about sports betting and understanding the money line, an integral part of betting. It was incredibly fun and wow, did I learn a lot! Also, it was so fun to bet on the Dodger's in-person, not with my money, but my housemate’s, as you know I do not really enjoy gambling. The dining scene and people-watching is next level in LV. It was actually a very last-minute decision to visit Sin City, as I was so bombarded with extra stress by the SF Bay Area and the added travel was tiring, but so happy I did it. Never thought I’d actually make it to Las Vegas, after getting so engrossed in mom/family life, but there I was. Funny how life works out, sometimes. What’s that quote about God and plans? Man plans, God laughs. Gosh, God must be laughing now…

As you head in to the weekend, please enjoy a moment to yourself and immerse yourself in what truly sparks you. Following the crowd too often, whether in sports or a task as simple as ordering food, can lend to too much conformity and you may not truly understand yourself.

Choosing to sit in silence offers you space to think about what you truly want and we all deserve that choice. Getting as much nonconformity time as a young person will not only make you the strongest adult version of yourself, but also for a partner, if some day you choose to engage in a long-term relationship.

On a funny ending personal note, my current favorite baseball teams are the Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox and LA Dodgers. While I did live in NorCal for quite some time and appreciate the SF Giants’ stadium, I didn’t care much to support the local team. None of the players seem to carry an ounce of the swagger of the SoCal players or the Boston Red Sox (back in the early 2000s), for that matter, while walking up to the plate. I last attended a SF Giants game in 2022.. and the best memory I created for my son & I was buying him an overpriced ice cream sundae in a plastic baseball hat. :-)

Enjoy your weekend, friends!

Heidi