Spring training: a cherished family tradition

I just got back from a cherished family tradition: spring training baseball with my sons in Florida.  Chris and Vince are in their twenties now, and it’s a challenge to match up our vacation schedules.  This was our sixth trip to the “Grapefruit League,” and we’re already looking forward to next year. (Cindy has not yet joined in, but I’m working on her.)

What’s the big deal, you ask?  After all, spring training is like the “Whose Line” TV show: the points don’t matter.  For about thirty days in March, major league baseball teams square off without really caring who wins.  Sure, they keep score.  But it’s not unusual for big-name players to sit after a few innings so the minor league guys can play.  Unlike a regular season game, you’ll see a star like Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman jogging in the outfield while the game is still going on.  The first time I saw that, I wondered, “What happens if a ball gets hit toward Freddie?” I guess he just gets out of the way.

Still, there’s something on the line.  Despite the relaxed atmosphere and cozy surroundings, many players are under pressure.  Those minor leaguers who end up in the game (after many fans have left the park) are hoping to catch the manager’s eye.  A home run here, a great catch there, and Braves skipper Fredi Gonzalez might remember your name: “This kid can play.”

Plus, there are faded stars, often “non-roster invitees.” This year, former everyday players like Dan Uggla, Kelly Johnson, and Jeff Francoeur are hoping to get one last shot.  Most are considered past their prime, and have struggled in recent years.  They’re in their thirties, which is young in most careers but not baseball.  The odds are against them, but who can fault them for trying?  A few players stick around past the age of 40, and they’re the envy of us all.  Who wouldn’t want to play a young man’s game, well into middle age?

Craig Kimbrel meeting fans, March 2015

Spring training also provides opportunities for fans to interact with their favorite players, both past and present.  For one thing, the players are in a better mood.  After all, there’s hope, renewal and optimism in the air.  Everybody’s in first place until the regular season starts in April.  Get to the game early, and there’s a good chance of grabbing an autograph or a batting practice home run ball.  My sons have amassed an impressive collection of both.

Most teams invite a few of their legendary players to visit each spring.  This serves two purposes.  Retired players get to don their uniforms again, and share a few big-league tips with the prospects who grew up idolizing them.  Plus, they serve as goodwill ambassadors, chatting up fans and posing for pictures while current players are gearing up for the game.

Dale Murphy signing autographs, March 2015

My all-time favorite Brave Dale Murphy makes the trip each year, and he never ceases to amaze me.  More than any professional athlete I’ve ever seen, “Murph” truly appreciates the fans.  I’ve never seen him turn down an autograph seeker, and he’ll sign cards and baseballs until there’s no one left in line.  He had some great years for the bad Braves teams of the 1980s, and never got enough votes in the Baseball Hall of Fame balloting.  I used to get upset about that, but Murph seems to accept it, so I suppose I should too.  He’s in my personal Hall of Fame, and I’m sure his legions of fans feel the same way.

Baseball is still going strong, although it may have lost some ground to a few other sports in recent years.  It doesn’t inspire the same fan frenzy as football, and it certainly doesn’t move as fast as auto racing, basketball and hockey.  Despite the best efforts of TV producers to liven up games with graphics, highlights, and swooshing sound effects, it can be a bit slow.  In fact, steps are being taken this year to speed things along.  Starting in May, there’s a scoreboard clock to make sure innings start on time, and pitchers and batters don’t dawdle too much between pitches.

I’m not too worried about the pace of the game, or even the chances of my Braves winning the pennant this year. For a few bright, sunny March days, I got to see that perfectly shaped diamond, and the men who are lucky enough to call it their workplace.  Yes, I was just a few feet away from the famous players you see on SportsCenter.  I took in the sights, the sounds, and the wonderful hot dog smell of some beautiful ballparks.  Oh, and who won? I did. I got to do this with my two amazing sons who told me there was no place on earth they’d rather be.