TEE BALL

As a young father many years ago, I took #1 Son to the local little league and enrolled him in tee ball, for those kids too young yet to play Little League baseball.

Don't let the hat fool you

I was eager and all excited and #1 Son was more eager to play than any of these overpriced, and pampered babies that play for obscene amounts if money, but probably would have to check the spelling of their name by looking in their wallets.

As young as 2 years old we practiced baseball with a whiffle ball, I would pitch him underhanded and he would swing away, sending the ball off as he ran the imaginary bases. By three he was assuming the batting habits of ballplayers he saw on the TV and even pitched on occasion, kicking his leg straight up and throwing, as it bounced a few feet in from of me. Watching him was fun and I wish we could still do this again like it was in the old days.

Could go to his right and had range

So one Saturday morning we drove down to the local ball field behind a school and signed up got a hat and started the process of organized play in Little League. Daddies and Mommies from all over the neighborhood gathered on that sunny field to root on our kids.

The ball was placed on a batting tee and each kid was to take a swing or two. You could tell which child had the influence of his father by the approached the kid took, how they held the bat and which way they were standing. One little kid stood at the plate, facing where the catcher would be, his back to the tee and one when it was his turn faced toward first base. As each batter took his licks at the tee, the other kids would be out in the field ready to ‘catch’ the ball. IF by chance the ball WAS hit, all the kids from the infield, outfield and points east, west, south and north, including the parking lot and the batter would all charge the ball, which made the scene look like a pileup of football players rather than baseball players!

The slick 2^nd baseman from Bradford Street along with most of the rest had the most serious of looks while some held onto the belief that this was all a mystery. Fathers would shout out advice and take it as a personal affront if their child made a little mistake, thus revealing the failings of the father.  

But the slick 2^nd baseman from Bradford Street showed the world that he was ready, if not for Little League play and aspirations so high, at least for the New York Mets!