Day 80 (3/21/11) - "Hey Dad, you wanna have a catch?"

Although on the surface, baseball is pretty boring, there is something special about the sport.  It evokes feelings of tradition, patriotism, and nostalgia.  It is also an important cornerstone in the foundation of father-son relationships.  Playing a game of catch with your dad is practically a rite of passage.  Sportswriter Chris Bellamy describes it best:  "There's a certain peace and contentment that comes from a game of catch, a certain connection, one that so many fathers and sons can't define but completely understand. It's kind of like saying 'I love you' without actually saying it." 

For these reasons, many say that getting their first baseball glove was a milestone moment in their childhood.  Baseball gloves are like a promise and a memory - of camaraderie and togetherness, heroics and victory.  A baseball glove can conjure up dreams of sliding into home plate and making the winning run, catching a fly ball for the final out, or pitching a no-hitter.  It can also bring back memories of little league, major league, and neighborhood pickup games as well as those all-important backyard games of catch.

Over the years, I would imagine that the simple back-and-forth game of catch between father and son evolves from instructional to relational - from teaching proper techniques to chasing errant throws to casually discussing problems with school, girls, and other important life lessons. 

There's nothing better or more timeless than a game of catch.  I guess that's why the baseball movie Field of Dreams resonates with so many people across so many generations.  And who can forget the final scene of the movie when Kevin Costner's character invites the ghost of his estranged father for a game of catch.  Armed with his first baseball glove and the promise of warmer days ahead, I can't wait to hear Ryan ask, "Hey Dad, you wanna have a catch?"     

One day, many years from now, I hope Ryan will find his first baseball glove in a box hidden in the corner of his attic, smell the leather, remember the sting of his palm when he caught a hard throw, and recall the many games of catch he shared with his Dad. 

Here are some photos from when Daddy and Ryan went to pick out his first baseball glove.  When they got home, Daddy showed Ryan how to wear the glove and gave him some tips on catching and throwing the ball.  Ryan was so proud of himself when he caught his first ball!  He is eager to start practicing his new skills and is very excited about his upcoming tee-ball season.  He's so attached to his glove, he sleeps with it right next to him!