I’m here at Fort Pierce where a purpose built complex of baseball fields which host college teams for training during spring break. Most teams and parents stay in Fort St Lucie PGA, which is a rabbit warren of look alike condos for rent; well manicured and well equippted with amenities.
The Florida Coastal Baseball field complex for the college teams is beautiful, with scoreboards , food trucks, ample parking, clean bathrooms, and food trucks.
Parents come to the college training week to watch their sons practice baseball, driving shiny new cars and SUVs and taking pictures with expensive cameras, and toting lots of gear such as stadiium seats, snacks, hats, team T-shirts and loads of enthusiasm. And they smile at each other and chitchat about the game and teams.
Then the players take the field. They are young, energetic, talented athletes who work hard and share a lusty comraderie supporting each other. And parents pick up the vibes. It is such a positive vision of American youth and I am so proud that my grandson is part of it all. It’s wonderful being here.
But I look around and notice the difference between baseball fields now and baseball fields when my brothers played years ago.
The whole scenario is so clean. That’s not the way I remember baseball fields in the old days when I was growing up. We watched my brothers play in fields without clear white baselines, without immaculaely groomed fields, without scoreboards. The viewing bleachers were usually wooden and always slanted a little., with lots of splinters. There was no food truck. And the fence usually had bits o f ust and debris clinging to it.
There was the smell of dirt and when players ran, puffs of dust rose and formed small clouds around their feet. And always the smell of leather, sweat, and grass. Tufts of wild weeds sprouted in unexpected places around edges of bases and dandelions attracted nusaince bees which the players and fans had to swipe away frequently to maintain a focused view of the game.
Baseball fields may be cleaned up now, but the players have the same enthusiasm and comraderie. And parents are still supportive.
And the players were young, athletic, and talented – a positive comment on American youth who love the game. The same as now.