God and Baseball

Summer is officially here so it’s the perfect time to write an entry combining two of my biggest passions.  Today I’m writing about God and Baseball.

When something occurs on the field that seems miraculous or like justice is occurring in favor of a wronged player or team people often times like to use the term, “the baseball god’s”. When these things happen I prefer to say God is a Baseball fan.

Rather than discussing memorable Baseball moments there is a quote and a joke I love that I want to discuss.

First the quote, “Baseball is like Church. Many attend few understand.” -Leo Durocher, Hall of Fame Baseball Manager.

I think that’s a brilliant quote and it is very true. In church many do attend but often times miss the point of the Gospel or misquote the Gospel to get a point across that fits their view.

I know for a fact that not only have I made that mistake but there have been times that I have sat in Church confused as to what is going on or being said.

In Baseball I often times hear from a person that the game is boring or nothing is happening but that is because they don’t understand the game.

Things are occurring constantly that can affect the outcome of the game and even games down the line. A guy stands at the plate in the 1st inning and forces the pitcher to throw him ten pitches could set the tone of the game and cause the pitcher to raise his pitch count high quickly. After 100 pitches a starting pitcher is usually taken out. If he reaches that total in let’s say the 4th or 5th inning. The team will have to exhaust their bullpen of pitchers and not only affect this game but future games where they will have a tired group of pitchers. Someone may even have to be sent to the minor leagues or even cut off the roster entirely just to bring up a fresh pitcher and it all started because of an at bat in the 1st inning.

An early three run homerun can be enough to decide a Baseball game.

But as Yogi Berra said, “It Ain’t over till it’s over.”

The 2003 Cleveland Indians were down 12 runs in a game and came back to tie then win the game in Extra Innings. Yogi Berra was indeed right.

Famed Orioles manager Earl Weaver said about baseball, “You can’t sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You’ve got to throw the ball over the damn plate and give the other man his chance. That’s why baseball is the greatest game of them all.”

For some it may seem with both God and Baseball that nothing is occurring in front of them but truly if you look closely you start to realize there is so much happening at all times and it truly is beautiful.

I will close with the promised joke.

A man is at his best friend’s death bed he looks at him and says to him, “Frank, I love you like a brother and I will miss you terribly. But I have a request, I know it may be hard and I shouldn’t worry about things like this but I have to know. When you get to Heaven, you have to find this out for me. Come back to me in a dream and answer this question. Is there Baseball in Heaven?”

Frank stares at his friend and says, “George I promise I will come back and answer your question.”

The two men say their goodbyes and Frank passes away.

Weeks go by, George waits and waits. Finally one night Frank comes to George in his sleep.

“Frank!” exclaims George. “Thank God, you’re here. Please tell me, I have to know, is there Baseball in Heaven?”

Frank replies, “Well George I have good news and I have bad news. The good news is that there IS baseball in heaven. The bad news is you’re scheduled to pitch on Sunday.”

Have a blessed week,
Chris