| Baseball is a game that has many people and | | | | differences yet there part is critical in the |
| things all playing a part. Everything and | | | | game.Ole baseball bat is just like brother |
| everybody plays a part to make baseball a | | | | glove it changes with every hitter who comes |
| game referred to as our National | | | | to the plate. Big boy standing about 6'3" and |
| Pastime.Would we have a game without our | | | | a solid 240 lbs. come up there with a piece |
| players? Do the fans make our game stay | | | | of lumber that looks like the garden fence |
| popular with their support? Do beginning | | | | post. He stands in there swings and whiffs |
| baseball players put up with a coaches | | | | swings and whiffs and drags himself and his |
| constant, do it this way, or do this, time | | | | power pole back to the dugout. Little 5'8" |
| and time again if he did not want to be a | | | | cracker jack buzzsaw comes to the plate with |
| player like his favorite baseball hero? | | | | his tinker toy stick slaps the ball a good |
| Probably not!We can readily see that the | | | | one and takes off like a scared jack rabbit. |
| player, the fan and the beginners all have a | | | | So the bat plays his part.The catcher wears a |
| part to play. But this is only the tip of the | | | | baseball mask because his girl friend would |
| iceberg that we see. Hidden down in the real | | | | not be caught in public with a snaggled tooth |
| nitty gritty is all the other things which | | | | catcher after little baseball at ninety miles |
| play a part in this great game of | | | | per hour comes calling. So old iron mask |
| baseball.The glove the lowly little laced up | | | | plays a part.It's so hot here in the |
| piece of leather padding comes in all shapes | | | | bleachers with no breeze. Then sudden as a |
| and sizes. The baseball glove of a second | | | | sneaky hold up robber the wind picks up. The |
| baseman normally is significantly different | | | | next hitter lofts a well hit ball toward |
| from the outfielders. | | | | right center field but ole long striding |
| | | | center fielder is outrun by the ball in the |
| A second baseman's glove has shorter stubby | | | | wind. Little ball rattles the fence now |
| fingers for digging into the dirt and | | | | excitement is in the wind. So too the wind |
| scooping up that little baseball. Then again | | | | plays his part.It's the bottom of the eight |
| to be adept at turning the double play he | | | | inning two men are on base there are two outs |
| needs a glove which will give up and let him | | | | and the pitcher is right handed and is |
| have the ball without a struggle.Now the long | | | | throwing slower and slower. The next hitter |
| striding fast moving outfielder has a glove | | | | coming up is a left handed batter so the |
| with finger and webbing so long it looks like | | | | manager makes his appearance. He calls for |
| a dog catchers net when he runs down that | | | | the ball and waves in a left handed relief |
| high flying rocket shot. The outfielder may | | | | pitcher. Now the team manager has let us know |
| even hang onto the outfield fence send a wave | | | | that he has a part in this game.Now would you |
| a hand full of leather across the fence to | | | | not agree there are many known and unknown |
| retrieve little baseball.Look at what the | | | | playing parts of our game of baseball? |
| first baseman calls a first baseman's mitt. | | | | People and things all playing a part. There |
| If I did not know better I might think it was | | | | are so many more parts being a part of the |
| a size 16 leather sack he uses. At any rate | | | | action it is impossible to get them all in |
| he sacks all throws coming his way and | | | | one session. Keep tuned and keep going out to |
| pretends there is nothing to it.The catcher | | | | the ball park and soon you will be a super |
| sits back there behind homeplate holding an | | | | fan.Batter Up---Let's Play Ball...Major Wiley |
| overstuffed mitt that looks like a whoopie | | | | B. Channell USMC (retired) staying with you |
| cushion. When ole knuckle ball thrower is on | | | | at with some baseball for your enjoyment. |
| the mound he gets a mitt the size of a stolen | | | | Teach a youngster the game of baseball and |
| stop sign.You see even the well oiled leather | | | | give him something they will cherish all |
| glove in baseball has a part to play. We | | | | their life. There are more parts to the game |
| often overlook these subtle little | | | | than readily meets the eye. |