My upcoming novel, Saving Babe Ruth, revolves around the idea that community baseball is worth saving. You can read more about it here.
Sure, I like to watch baseball all the way from the youth level to the major league level. I like to coach it too.
But my passion runs deeper, much deeper, right down to the very threads that make up our community fabric. I grew up in a community where the chief complaint among my teenage friends was that there was nothing to do in the town. I have lived in my community for a good part of my life and today’s teens register the same complaint.
A difference maker in our town has been baseball. Baseball is one of the few teenage recreational activities in our town that is available to everyone. In the age of school program reductions, the program is becoming even more precious. Our league provides baseball for anyone of any skill level from April through June, maybe even July. Yes, our league provides travel baseball and all-stars as well, but only for those teens who participate in our in-house baseball program.
I believe in the concept of in-house baseball for the benefit of the community and for the benefit of all teenagers. I have yet to see a player who could not benefit in some way from playing in their community’s in-house program throughout their teenage years. Not one.
So if you’re tired of reading or hearing about teenage drinking, drugs, crimes, then one of the most direct and meaningful things you can do is to support your community baseball or softball program with your teen’s participation, your time, or your dollars, or with all three. Teenagers must have positive outlets and, together, we must provide those outlets.
Over the years, I have seen baseball save a number of teens from more things than you can imagine. Supporting community baseball can and does change lives.
With that said, I’m proud to be a “corporate” sponsor of the 13u Mid-Atlantic Babe Ruth Regional Tournament in my hometown which starts Wednesday and runs through Monday. Teams from all over New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Pennsylvania will arrive to participate.
Good luck to everyone and remember to always have fun!