My family and baseball...

I come from a family of nine kids, enough to field a baseball team! Ok we never had a family baseball team but I do recall some great wiffle ball home run derbys when I was little. When I was growing up we always took a trip to Kansas City in the summer. This was highly anticipated by us kids because not only did we go to Worlds of Fun amusement park and Stevenson Apple farm but best of all we would go to a Royals game!
The KC Royals have one of the most beautiful outdoor stadiums with waterfalls in center field! We always went early and watched the batting practice. I got to watch Bo Jackson hit home run after home run in warm ups. That mans thighs were HUGE, like a tree trunk! He was a nervous shy rookie he could barely manage a smile and wave for the crowd cheering madly for him. If he hadn't gotten hurt playing football I think he would have continued to improve as a baseball player.
The Royals were my team because partly because my Dad loved them but also because they were so fun to watch! George Brett, Hal McRae, Amos Otis, Frank White, Jamie Quirk, and Willie Wilson are some of the players I remember. I recall Amos Otis making a throw from center field to get a guy heading home. Cant remember who they were playing or any of those details just remember the excitement of the moment!
Thinking about all those fun game sin the outdoors makes me even more excited for the new season. Not sure how many games I'll actually be able to attend but hoping a few! Also hoping the weather cooperates for home games!

Baseball memories...

One of my earliest memories around baseball was at a Royals game! I remember I was standing next to my sister leaning over the rail watching the players warm up. We always went to the game early enough to watch batting practice and try to talk to players. Frank White the Second basemen was running in and my sister and I were waving and yelling to him so he tossed a ball to us. Some guy near us reached out and grabbed it. My sister and I were crest fallen, but Frank saw it and ran toward us yelling at the guy. "that ball isnt for you!" He made that guy give us the ball! I can still see his face yelling up at that guy and the smile he gave us when we got the ball. What a great guy!

I was thinking how just a moment like that from a sports star can make such an impression on little kids. While I dont think we should look at sport stars as role models or expect them to be any better then any one else I understand the profound effect they can have on a young person. Thing we forget is that anyone can have that effect if they just take the time. Though I have great memories of meeting baseball and basketball players my favorite sports memories revolve around my family. Sharing that time together. I doubt any of my siblings can hear a baseball game on the radio with out thinking of my Dad!