The memories run deep. This must be why I cry predictably every time I hear the Star Spangled Banner sung live at any sports event. I don’t even like the song. It is all the memories with dear friends and devoted family, many now gone, but no doubt somehow still cheering wildly through the ether for the home team and for us as well. One particular memory I have is my dad always listening to the commentary on his transistor radio while we were also actually at the game,in person, at Dodger Stadium. The organ music was played live at that time too and was marvelous. Thank you for your own commentary and the nudge down memory lane.
It is so interesting to me how many of us have baseball imprinted on our memories. It is such a gentle-looking sport, yet it captures our imagination, and so many of us have vivid childhood memories of watching games with our parents or friends. Thanks for sharing yours!
Yes, listening to Lon Simmons and falling asleep with the transistor radio under the pillow. My birthday was in August so we'd go to a Giants game if they were playing at The Stick.
Agreed on the movies. At least 4 of the 5. Never got into Fever Pitch like the others. There are so many phrases to quote.
I'm on again, off again currently with baseball. Huge Nationals fan when they were making their pennant run. Then they completely dismantled the team and of course tanked. They got the title for the 92 year old owner and now a losing team is for sale. For a ridiculous amount of money. Don't get me started. Thanks Sabrina for sharing.
Thanks for these memories! I love hearing about falling asleep with the transistor radio under your pillow. And I'm an august birthday too! I've always had interesting birthdays as a result. Hope you have too!
Oh, this is lovely! I don't really know baseball, but at school we used to play 'rounders', which is a not-dissimilar, but much smaller, game. Smaller bat, no big glove, much, much smaller field - but, like baseball, there are 'bases'. If you make it all the way round it's a 'rounder' rather than a 'home run'.
Thanks for your nice comment and the reminder of rounders! I had forgotten about that. I first learned about it when I was a nanny for my cousins and they were at school outside London. They told me about rounders and it did indeed sound a bit like baseball or softball (which uses gloves, but a bigger, softer ball).
It brought so many memories so many memories of trips to Candlestick Park, the cold, the wind, and of course, watching my two favorite players, Willie Mays and Willie McCovey. Looking back on it, I realize how truly remarkable it was to see those baseball legends firsthand, and in person.
My father loved baseball and so of course it was something that we could do together and brought us together in all of those attempts to try to get attention from my father.
When we go to Pasadena to see my grandparents, my grandfather would take us to see the Dodgers, including another baseball legend Sandy Koufax. I have a much greater appreciation for them now than I did then.
I was lucky enough to renew my interest in baseball when my son was growing up. If I didn’t talk baseball we’d have nothing to talk about. We went to Yankee stadium, stadiums in the south, and of course took the ferry to AT&T Park to see the Giants. Then there were the Nats games in Washington and a few Mets games in Queens.
In all, except for those in San Francisco, I love sitting in the heat of the summer and watching the evening go by.
Baseball was an important bond between my father and me and my son and me. I wish I had reason to go more often.
Thank you for writing about this vital and sentimental subject.
I'm quite an energetic person, having played sports in my time but I can't actually find the interest to sit and watch a game of anything for more than passing interest, as I mentioned last week over soccer and cricket. Even tennis and hockey which I played competitively, I never really watch a game unless its an Olympic hockey match. I was a very competitive swimmer, competing at state levels but watching races? Nope.
But - I do watch the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France - not at all for the racing although its quite interesting (and another one I don't understand). I watch for the scenery and for the memories of travelling. Last night the Giro eased me to sleep...
I’m with you. Not a sports watcher. I sit with family or friends but often don’t even know the teams’ names. I knit or do puzzles to pass the time. I realize this sets me on quite perilous footing with pretty much the entire rest of humanity. Shhhhhh
The memories run deep. This must be why I cry predictably every time I hear the Star Spangled Banner sung live at any sports event. I don’t even like the song. It is all the memories with dear friends and devoted family, many now gone, but no doubt somehow still cheering wildly through the ether for the home team and for us as well. One particular memory I have is my dad always listening to the commentary on his transistor radio while we were also actually at the game,in person, at Dodger Stadium. The organ music was played live at that time too and was marvelous. Thank you for your own commentary and the nudge down memory lane.
It is so interesting to me how many of us have baseball imprinted on our memories. It is such a gentle-looking sport, yet it captures our imagination, and so many of us have vivid childhood memories of watching games with our parents or friends. Thanks for sharing yours!
Yes, listening to Lon Simmons and falling asleep with the transistor radio under the pillow. My birthday was in August so we'd go to a Giants game if they were playing at The Stick.
Agreed on the movies. At least 4 of the 5. Never got into Fever Pitch like the others. There are so many phrases to quote.
I'm on again, off again currently with baseball. Huge Nationals fan when they were making their pennant run. Then they completely dismantled the team and of course tanked. They got the title for the 92 year old owner and now a losing team is for sale. For a ridiculous amount of money. Don't get me started. Thanks Sabrina for sharing.
Thanks for these memories! I love hearing about falling asleep with the transistor radio under your pillow. And I'm an august birthday too! I've always had interesting birthdays as a result. Hope you have too!
Oh, this is lovely! I don't really know baseball, but at school we used to play 'rounders', which is a not-dissimilar, but much smaller, game. Smaller bat, no big glove, much, much smaller field - but, like baseball, there are 'bases'. If you make it all the way round it's a 'rounder' rather than a 'home run'.
Thanks for your nice comment and the reminder of rounders! I had forgotten about that. I first learned about it when I was a nanny for my cousins and they were at school outside London. They told me about rounders and it did indeed sound a bit like baseball or softball (which uses gloves, but a bigger, softer ball).
I’ve heard of softball but never seen it played - I’m going to have a look on YouTube!
I loved this post! Again!
It brought so many memories so many memories of trips to Candlestick Park, the cold, the wind, and of course, watching my two favorite players, Willie Mays and Willie McCovey. Looking back on it, I realize how truly remarkable it was to see those baseball legends firsthand, and in person.
My father loved baseball and so of course it was something that we could do together and brought us together in all of those attempts to try to get attention from my father.
When we go to Pasadena to see my grandparents, my grandfather would take us to see the Dodgers, including another baseball legend Sandy Koufax. I have a much greater appreciation for them now than I did then.
I was lucky enough to renew my interest in baseball when my son was growing up. If I didn’t talk baseball we’d have nothing to talk about. We went to Yankee stadium, stadiums in the south, and of course took the ferry to AT&T Park to see the Giants. Then there were the Nats games in Washington and a few Mets games in Queens.
In all, except for those in San Francisco, I love sitting in the heat of the summer and watching the evening go by.
Baseball was an important bond between my father and me and my son and me. I wish I had reason to go more often.
Thank you for writing about this vital and sentimental subject.
You were right into it, weren't you?
It's funny, really.
I'm quite an energetic person, having played sports in my time but I can't actually find the interest to sit and watch a game of anything for more than passing interest, as I mentioned last week over soccer and cricket. Even tennis and hockey which I played competitively, I never really watch a game unless its an Olympic hockey match. I was a very competitive swimmer, competing at state levels but watching races? Nope.
But - I do watch the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France - not at all for the racing although its quite interesting (and another one I don't understand). I watch for the scenery and for the memories of travelling. Last night the Giro eased me to sleep...
I’m with you. Not a sports watcher. I sit with family or friends but often don’t even know the teams’ names. I knit or do puzzles to pass the time. I realize this sets me on quite perilous footing with pretty much the entire rest of humanity. Shhhhhh