Baseball Traditions
It’s baseball season in America. Throw out the first pitch.
Baseball is much different than the sports of football and basketball.
Football and basketball have time clocks; baseball does not.
Football fields and basketball courts are all the same size. One baseball field might have a left field wall at 310’. Another might have the left field wall at 345’. Every stadium is different. I played college ball against Livingston where there was an elevated right field next to the fence.
Football and basketball is played with a lot of energy and aggressiveness; baseball players are loosey-goosey. Some are just down- right goofy. It is part of the game.
There are some traditions in baseball that only baseball purists know about and can explain them to others, in detail.
For example: when the infielders throw the ball “around the horn,” the ONLY person to flip the ball to the pitcher is the 3rd baseman. The same is true for a flyout to the outfield.
The ball is relayed to the infield. The first baseman is left out of the throw around. If the left fielder throws it in to the shortstop after a fly ball, the short will throw to 2nd base who will throw to 3rd. He will then toss it to the pitcher.
Why this order? Because of baseball tradition. That’s it.
Baseball is the most individualized team-game that exists. You can put an All-Star team together in just a few hours. The only things that must be discussed are the coach’s signs and the catcher’s signs. The rest is universal.
Catcher’s signals to the pitcher are standard. One finger calls for a fastball, two for a curveball, three for a change-up. Why is it that every catcher will review the signs with the pitcher: 1 for a fastball, 2 for a curve, 3 for a change-up, and 4 for the pitcher to throw over to first?
The catcher will point to his right knee with his right thumb to indicate a “pitch-out.” This is usually called when the dugout steals the opponent’s signals and knows that the runner is going to try to steal second base.
A tradition that has passed down through the years is that of “initiating” rookies. It does not mean a beltline or paddling like the Leighton Boy Scouts. It usually has to do with the rookies carrying the equipment for the veterans.
It is not required, but strongly recommended for “team unity.” It also shows that the rookie respects the game and its long-held traditions.
Tim Tebow as a rookie minor leaguer, won over his teammates with his humbleness and his “I’m just one of the guys, mentality.”
Baseball lineups or batting orders are studied for days, to try to get the proper player in the proper order. Managers prefer for a left- handed batter, to follow a base-stealer in the batting order.
The reason for this is the fact that the catcher must throw over the head of the left-handed batter, since the catcher is right-handed. A good left handed hitter can also “punch” the ball in the shortstop area, since the shortstop will be covering 2nd base, if the batter is left-handed.
This easily ends up with runners at first and third.
I once asked Daddy, our high school baseball coach, why he batted Jimmy Isbell in the leadoff position.
He asked me: “Who is our best ball player?”
I said: “Jimmy Isbell.”
Dad’s additional question to me: “Which batting position gets the most at-bats on the team?”
“Leadoff.”
He looked at me, and asked: “Any other questions about the batting order?”
“No sir. That makes sense.” End of the story, Grasshopper.
In the movie “Bull Durham,” the subject of superstitions, takes over as the discussion topic.
Crash, played by Kevin Costner, convinces a rookie pitcher that streaks are broken, based on karma.
If you have a good day at the plate, don’t shave on gameday; wear the same undershirt; don’t step on the foul line; eat the same number of chicken wings; and even concentrate by breathing through your eyelids.
Continue to wear your girlfriend’s garter strap if it got you started on a good hitting streak.
Most pitchers will throw the same number of pitches during warm-ups. The batter takes the same number of practice- swings every time. Players sit in the same spot in the dugout and on the bus.
Their response to all this: “Just being careful.”
Baseball is the ONLY sport, where as a batter, if you are successful on 3 out of 10 at-bats, you will be selected All-American or All-Pro. Surgeons would lose their license with that average.
Batting .300 is considered outstanding. Aren’t we all glad, that surgeons don’t make All-Pro by messing up, 70% of the time?
There are still numerous tradition questions that continue unanswered:
“Why is the pitcher’s mound 60’6” from the batter’s box?”
“Why is baseball, the ONLY sport where the chalk line is considered in play?” In basketball or football, touching the sideline is a simple ruling: out of bounds.
“Why is baseball, the ONLY sport where the manager or head coach, dresses in a uniform, just like the players?” You never see a basketball coach in a uniform.
The same is true of a football coach. Can you imagine, dressing with a helmet and shoulder-pads? I don’t think so.
Baseball tradition continues to this day with a nickname for the manager or head coach. He is referred to as “Skip” or “Skipper.”
Baseball players are given nicknames, usually based on a derivative of their name.
For example: McWilliams is Mac. Smith is Smitty. Danny Day is Double D. Ashcraft is Ash. Jacobson is Jake. Joseph is Jo-Jo.
As we enter the spring season, that means that baseball is finally here again.
Let the games and the traditions begin.
What would I give, to have my old high school “Skipper” here as the season takes off?
I wouldn’t dare ask him about the garter straps and streaks. His response would be something about streaks across my backside, if he ever even remotely thought that I had on a garter strap for luck.
Rest in peace, Daddy.
I ain’t ever been that desperate for a hit.