My Baseball Team

I managed of group of kids on a baseball team. Most of the kids that I had in mind had already been chosen for the other established teams in the area and I was left with what can only be described as a ragtag group of players. The team was good and had lot of 'what it takes.'

I have had a lifetime love affair with baseball. I could throw and run but yes, 'hitting was my best skill. So, I came to coaching with a healthy amount of knowledge of the fundamentals. I drilled our ''motley'' team in fielding, hitting, base running and throwing but after our first game I realized there was not enough time in the season to up the skill level of each player through drills alone. I embraced the philosophy that every kid on the team plays so we were not able to have some of the weaker players warm the bench more than the others.
It was a motivational factor. A few kids who thought they were not playing enough quit, and told me that their big brothers would come and beat me up.

Every day in the summer we would practice our hitting and fielding. After practice at the park they would all jump on me and try to take me down to the ground. I was a great manager and had manager of the year makings. I had one good pitcher and I would use him mostly every game. Matter of fact, he was our best hitter as well. I had my brother on the team, he was a good solid third baseman, with good hitting potential.

Then, I had an idea, instead of loading the top of the batting order with the best hitters, I should stagger our best throughout the lineup, thereby, preventing innings of three almost guaranteed outs. So, I gave it a try. After all, what did I have to lose, and my team started winning. So what were the lessons learned? First, what works for Major Leaguers does not always work for Little Leaguers. The weaker batters, with the help and encouragement of the better players, developed the confidence to at least try and swing at the ball and not just stand there accepting a strikeout. As a consequence, by the end of the season, some of the players with the least skills in the beginning improved and not only made it on base but scored runs.

After every winning game, I would take these kids to the mom-and-pop butcher market that was sponsoring us and they would be treated to soda-pop, candy, plus, other goodies.

When it was all over for the year, we found ourselves in second place against a hand-picked team of the best players in the area. Like every good sport story, we didn't win any championship. I had our sponsor (butcher market) buy trophies for the best and most improved players. We took pictures and celebrated like we were CHAMPIONS.

AND THEN AFTERWARDS, THEY ALL GANGED UP ON ME AND THREW ME TO THE GROUND AND YELLED--''WE FINALLY GOT HIM DOWN!!''

Added Note: A few years ago on the internet, I came across my star pitcher, somehow. We exchanged an email, and he told me that year (50 years ago) he played on my team ''was the best year of his life.'' He thanked me!