“Baseball is what gets inside you. It’s what lights you up, you can’t deny that.” – Jimmy Dugan A League of Their Own
There is something to that quote. It does not matter the team or the gender, baseball is baseball. When the men were fighting in World War II, the women were left to play the game. The fans came and watched, even if it was just out of curiosity at first. Baseball was being played. If your team is not playing on a particular day, you probably find yourself watching another team play just so you can get your baseball fix.
Now look at the New York Mets. Let us be honest. There is not much there to look at. Nothing glamorous about them. Sure there are the occasional spurts of excitement if they manage to pull a streak together. There are one or two players that make watching this team exciting even if they lose like Jose Reyes and surprise guest player Justin Turner.
The standings say it all, though. This team is in fourth place. Not much of a shocker there. With David Wright, Ike Davis and Johan Santana out, expecting first or second place is a stretch of the imagination. They are lucky not to be in last place. Yet as I watch the games on television, which is not often these days I can tell you that, I see people in the stands. I see fans fighting for their players to remain on the team they grew up loving. They form rallies and chants. They wear the shirts and jersey’s that scream out the team they root for. They stand united. They cry, fight and battle their way through each and every game with their players. They win and lose with their team.
Say what you will about this team and where they are. Say what you will about the organization and the ownership. Even during the darkest times of this organization, there are the few who get what it means to be a true fan. They get what it means to enjoy a sport for the sake of enjoying it. Though their team loses, these individuals are the ones who still come to the ballpark and are excited to be there. As they walk towards their seats, when they see the field open in front of their eyes, they are optimistic and feel the hope of another chance at victory because it is a new day of baseball. Their eyes light up. Their hopes get raised. Their heart beats a little faster in anticipation of what they might see today.
Sure it would be great to win a game, win a series, make it to the playoffs and win it all. There is not a fan alive who would not want that for their team. Yet, ask yourself, why do you watch the game? Is it because Mets baseball is inside you? Or are you just another casual fan trying to come off as a die hard without showing any passion for your team?
What is inside of you?
Baseball really does have the ability to light up the lives of so many families. My husband, Skip Lockwood, and I had the privilege of being part of the NY Mets baseball family for 5 years in the mid-seventies and were amazed by the enthusiastic loyalty of the Mets fans. We just returned from a baseball clinic in St. John’s (USVI) geared at reinvigorating the sport on the Island. Watching the eyes of the boys and girls light up when they connected with a pitch confirms the fact that baseball continues to bring joy to all who embrace it.
Skip Lockwood was a fun guy to root for and he put up some strong seasons for the Mets in the mid to late 70s. I’m really happy to hear that he is still involved in the game and I wish the two of you best of luck in the future.
It is always great to hear that former players are involved in sports clinics for kids or teens. Although I never played the sport, baseball has been a huge part of my life and will always be grateful to my dad for showing me the sport. I remember watching my first Mets game. It was amazing. Thank you for stopping by and commenting Mrs. Lockwood. I wish you and your husband nothing but the best in everything you do.
Skip Lockwood was a terrific pitcher, one of the first true “closers.” Even got a mention in BALL FOUR! It was a real loss to the 1980 Mets when he bolted to Boston as a free agent.
I also liked him a lot because he shared a nickname with my father…
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