Courtesy of Daniel Sullivan
Baseball, what is referred to as “America’s Pastime” has been around since around 1846. The sport means so much to people around the world and sometimes their love for baseball goes beyond the game itself. What does baseball mean to you? These are some stories from baseball lovers (or fans) about what the game means to them.
Sarah’s Story
Sarah’s favorite baseball team is the New York Yankees. She loves baseball because for her entire life, it is something that has connected her to her family and friends. Baseball has always been important in her family even before she was born. Sarah said, “Though ‘America’s pastime’ is pretty overused it’s still true, it’s a sport with a huge community around it, and it’s awesome to be able to talk to other baseball fans and relate to them even if you don’t always root for the same team.” Sarah knew she loved baseball after she attended a game in June of 2018. The Yankees were playing the Mariners. The Yankees were losing the entire game until they tied it up in the ninth inning and hit a walk-off home run and won the game. Sarah said, “it was the most exciting game I’ve watched to this day and I swear I've never screamed so loud in my life.” She loved being able to celebrate this moment with her friends and family who were at the game.
Courtesy of Sarah Agosto
Sarah’s Dad is the one who got her into the sport. She said, “Growing up my dad was and still is a die-hard Yankee fan.”
Fun facts about Sarah:
Sarah’s favorite player of all time is Aaron Judge. She also loves Gleyber Torres and Gerrit Cole.
In one season Sarah went to 10 Yankee games, which is her record for most in one year. She even came home from her college in Connecticut to go to a game.
Connor’s Story
To Connor, baseball is a great sport to enjoy during the summer. He said, “...no matter what level. It’s great to just chill out and watch two teams going at it on the diamond even if it’s the Can-Am league or if it’s Braves-Dodgers.” The moment Connor knew he loved baseball was in 2018. He got to see Ronald Acuña Jr. hit a grand slam against the Dodgers. Connor said, "The electricity that those moments bring is unmatched.”
Courtesy of Connor Tierney
Connor said the person that got him into baseball was his friend Brendan. He invited him to do a fantasy league. Now, he loves watching games and “...seeing all the stars play no matter my feelings toward their team.” Connor’s favorite moment this season was when Dylan Cease pitched a no-hitter. Since Cease is one of his favorites, “ I was really happy to see him back on track after the break and now making history with that performance.”
Connor’s favorite team is the Atlanta Braves. His favorite Stadium is Clover Stadium, home to a local minor team. His favorite players are, Ronald Acuña Jr., Dylan Cease, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Chris Sale.
Daniel’s Story
Daniel is a fan of the Yankees. He learned the game from his dad as well as the men in his family. Daniel said, “It was a great way of bonding and feeling like I was part of something bigger. You feel the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.” Daniel does not recognize a key moment when he started to love baseball, it happened gradually over time. Going to baseball games, watching the games on television, talking about the games, looking at the statistics, “Before you know it, you’re in love.”
Courtesy of Anthony Colistra
Courtesy of Meaghan Sullivan
Pete’s Story
Pete is a Yankees fan. To Pete, baseball has a different meaning now than it did when he was younger. When he was younger, baseball was so exciting because it was “brand new and fresh.” Pete said when he was younger, it was all about learning the game, and learning how his favorite players played. He said, “I would hold the bat and take practice swings exactly like they did when they were in the batter’s box. If it was a pitcher, I knew the way they took their wind-up and the arm angle of the release. After a while I knew the mannerisms of just about every player on my team…. I actually became a switch hitter because my favorite player was one.. Mickey Mantle.” Pete said he used to “...eat, sleep, and dream of baseball.” Baseball is different for him now. Now, Pete uses baseball more for entertainment purposes. Although it is less emotional for him, he still has “a great passion for wanting the Yankees to win.” He said he is now able to understand the manager’s decisions for the team and formulate opinions on them.
Pete said his love for baseball was a process over time, but it “probably culminated for me the day I went to my first game.” He went to his first baseball game on September 9, 1962. Pete remembers walking from the ramps to his seats and seeing the green grass in the park. He said it was “the most historic ballpark of all time [Yankee Stadium].” It was “the original Yankee Stadium I’m talking about, before any modifications or renovations. This was the House That Ruth Built….” All the games he watched on television were in black and white, so seeing the stadium like this was amazing and beautiful. Pete said, “...that the vision before my eyes took my breath away. And so, if there was ever a key moment when I knew I loved baseball, I’ll pick that one. I was 7 years old!”
Courtesy of Pete Baldo
Pete does not remember anyone in particular getting him into baseball. His parents and older brothers were not baseball fans. Although his brother Anthony was not a baseball fan, he is the one who took him to his first baseball game. Pete said, “Thus, what got me interested in baseball, was most definitely the cultural atmosphere, both nationally, and more specifically locally, on the lower east side of Manhattan where as a kid I absorbed and embraced my surroundings and became who I am, a baseball fan!”
Pete’s favorite moment from this season was when Juan Soto became a Yankee. He said that Soto “has exceeded my expectations.” Pete also enjoyed the Yankees sweeping the Astros in the opening series. He said that Aaron Judge has been “a pleasure to watch,” and that he is the “best player in baseball” right now. Pete said Judge is a similar captain to Derek Jeter.
Fun facts about Pete:
As a kid, Pete idolized Mickey Mantle. He got to see him hit a home run at Yankee Stadium but it was not just any home run. It was the day Mantle hit his 500th home run. Pete said seeing this was “easily the greatest thrill of my early baseball journey.”
Edited by Giana Robertaccio
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