Happy Mothers' Day to all moms who love baseball! Several years ago Justine Siegal threw batting practice to the Cleveland Indians. She was the 1st woman to throw BP to a Major League team. And now, Rachel Balkovec is a minor league manager for the New York Yankees. It reminded me not only of women’s love and skills for the game but their role in the development of a young player. Think about it. Who plays catch with a player after school, drives him or her to the game, keeps stats, schedules….It’s mom… Who sits in cold, damp seats cheering you on, telling you its’ ok you’ll do better next time after you strikeout, keeping you happy and in a positive mindset…mom. “Keep your eye on the ball” she’d yell. I remember coming home dirty and smelly after a game, and ‘miraculously’ my uniform would be clean and fresh the next day for a game….I never knew how it got that way!....mom. I had my name sewn on the back of my uniform in the ‘70’s! before it became vogue….mom. It was my mom, and aunt who kept me motivated, and in a positive state of mind, keeping me hopeful, confident and involved. 50 years later I see it every day in the players I work with.
Women keep the balance in baseball and softball. 34 years ago this June, a baseball-loving Southern belle named Annie Savoy spoke these words in the opening scene of the baseball movie - Bull Durham
"I believe in the Church of Baseball. I've tried all the major religions, and most of the minor ones. I've worshipped Buddha, Allah, Brahma, Vishnu, Siva, trees, mushrooms, and Isadora Duncan. I know things. For instance, there are 108 beads in a Catholic rosary and there are 108 stitches in a baseball. When I heard that, I gave Jesus a chance. But it just didn't work out between us. The Lord laid too much guilt on me. I prefer metaphysics to theology. You see, there's no guilt in baseball, and it's never boring... which makes it like sex...I've tried 'em all, I really have, and the only church that truly feeds the soul, day in, day out, is the
Church of Baseball."
On this Special day I want to wish my mom in heaven, and all the moms everywhere a
Happy Mother’s Day.
Throwing to a 7 yr. old kid, or a 27 yr. old Major Leaguer, some things never change.
‘Swing for Stars’ – See you soon – Danny Garcia
Danny Garcia is a former Major League baseball player with the 1981 KC Royals. He enjoyed a 7 year minor league career as an outfielder, and has traveled the world playing, scouting, and coaching baseball. A student of human behavior, he is a Mental Performance Coach and baseball hitting instructor. Often writing on the similarities between his pro playing days and enjoying happy life.