In a follow up from last week’s post, Every Master Was Once A Disaster, I want to share with you a personal experience of mine along the lines of the Disaster part of the topic.  Whether you want to refer to this under the aforementioned moniker, or Rags to Riches, or Zero to Hero, the notion here is to show you that Baseball is a Game of Failure and Redemption.

Now I am not here to toot my own horn.  However, I am telling this story as an inspiration when necessary, to stay focused when your immediate future in this game may seem immensely bleak.  You never know when your luck can change, and there is no reason to accept your circumstances.

 

Baseball is a Game of
Failure and Redemption
THE FAILURE

I was a redshirt sophomore in college at my first school. Obviously, my freshman year, I had to sit and watch.  The next year I had a back injury so cumbersome, I could barely have a catch properly.  So in my 3rd season, as a junior academically, I was healthy, in great shape, and ready to go.  Unfortunately, with ZERO college baseball experience on the mound, I was not in the team’s plans.  It also didn’t help that I was completely blind to the fact that the coach had already given up on me.  Constantly being passed over for pitchers who I knew I was better than was awful!  Nonetheless, I had no role on the team and no chance of ever earning one.  Regardless of how many opportunities I pleaded for from the coaching staff, I was there for doing the grunt work in practice.  

I was left home from the conference tournament in Florida. Which the team eventually won and went on to the Big Dance.  The teammates who I was closest with called me from from the middle of their post game championship celebration, to let me know how it went and and to remind me that I was a part of the team too.  As much as I appreciated their kind gesture, I just couldn’t honestly accept the terms.  There was too much burning up inside of me.  

Next stop, The NCAA National Tournament.  They were selected to the Cal State Fullerton Regional.  The school I dreamed about playing for when I was 15.  It was just one crushing blow after another for me.  In the week leading up to the regionals, I went to my brother’s high school game and heard others talking about the success my team was having and making some waves on the national scene.  You know, because the Selection Show was on ESPN.  

The people who I knew at my brother’s game, whom were talking about my team’s success, would catch a glimpse of me and then give me the look of “Why aren’t you in California with your team?”  Then you could see them connecting all the dots in their heads as it quickly changed to a look of “…well, that sucks for you!”

You better believe it did!  

As awful as it was, I didn’t hide from it.  Although, I did have to live through the shame of it all.  The season which I dedicated myself to beginning in the summer before was a complete failure which seemed to keep getting bigger and bigger.  The snowball was rolling down hill, picking up steam which I never thought I would ever be associated with, in a horrible way!

 

Baseball is a Game of
Failure and Redemption
THE REDEMPTION

Over the next 2 years, a lot of things happened for the better.  I focused on my academics and chose not to play the following year after the fall season. I had enough. They was no use for me there on the team.  Nonetheless, I never gave up on baseball.  I was in the weight room 3-4x a week, working a paid internship with the Philadelphia Phillies, and making time to throw every night.  

Throwing mostly by myself off the wall in the intramural gymnasiums after the the games finished.  This is when I realized, that when you want to be great at something, don’t expect people to show up offering help.  You have to do the work yourself, in a very focused manner.  I developed a whole routine of long toss and flat ground simulated games.  Being a late inning reliever, the last 3 outs of every game are the hardest to get.  So that’s where my simulation was focused.

I raised my GPA in my last 2 semesters and graduated on time.  The next fall, I transferred to my beloved Wilmington College, as I still had a year of eligibility remaining.   Come spring, I was pitching regularly out of the bullpen and loving life.  Learning how to throw the Slider sure enhanced everything…  Our team put together a strong run to end the season, winning 12 of our last 14.   We ended up winning the conference tournament, the Regionals, and advancing to the NAIA Super Regionals. Thus pushing a winner take all 3rd game while pitching against a future Major League World Series Champion.  I was extremely blessed to win 2 games in the postseason and get the final out in our conference championship.   It was an extremely rewarding experience and quite a memorable run.

As dim as it seemed for me just 2 years prior, I knew that I would have my moment to shine in a big spot. It was a matter of continuing to work hard to improve myself.  So when the big moment arrived, I could enjoy it and allow myself to excel.  

Regardless of switching from Division I to NAIA, it’s still baseball, and it’s still a chance to play.  A national tournament is never to be seen as passe at any level.

 

Baseball is a Game of
Failure and Redemption
What Not Everyone Understands

Many insisted that I should have quit and walked away. My talent wasn’t enough to play at this level.  No one would have thought less of me.  I was just not good enough. Therefore, they didn’t think much of me. Needless to say, that just burned the fire even more inside of me.  At 21 years old, I knew that I couldn’t live with myself if I never pushed myself to go all in for college baseball, no matter what it took.  That would have been a very bitter part of me if I took the advice of ‘Know it Alls’ back then.  As a result, I was out to prove a lot of people wrong.  In doing so, I could have cared less how crazy they thought I was!  

The painful memories of being left out from just a couple years before were all a thing of the past.  As many of the same people at my brother’s game who were giving me the pity eye, were then talking about my current team’s success the next time around.  

Never forget that Word Travels Very Fast in Baseball when it comes to success.  Both on the team and individual levels. As Baseball is a Game of Failure and Redemption, understand that it is worth dedicating yourself.  Separate yourself from those who attempt to hold you down.  Always take the initiative to be in position to earn these lifelong memories, as no one, NO ONE can ever take them away from you. They are yours to keep forever!  So if you want them, GO GET THEM!!!

 

Keep Dominating!!!

 

Baseball is a Game of Failure and Redemption