Our son called today and told us that after much internal struggle and debate, that he had decided to leave his college team and pursue other interests outside of baseball. After meeting with the coach, son felt supported in his decision. He has long sensed that the pull of college and what he'd like to study was stronger than baseball. And the energy that he was diverting from the classroom into baseball wasn't giving him the satisfaction or meaning that he wanted.

Sort of an end to a chapter, I realize. But the beginning of a new one. And I'd like to think that baseball has built a good boy who will make use of the skills and wisdom he's learned on and off the field.

This website has been of enormous help to me personally. Even if the intent was primarily baseball, I think it has come to mean much more to me than sports. I'm hopelessly addicted to it and will continue to view all the posts, debates, arguments and revelations with great interest.

Thanks for sharing Newcomer...here's a kleenex...


I know you must be wavering between melancholy for the end of a path that has been followed since your son was a boy
and anticipation as a new road is charted.

I think it takes a great deal of maturity to look at your situation and make a decision that you know will be questioned by your family and friends, especially when baseball has always been part of your life.
So many of our sons (posters here, I mean) become so ingrained with basbeall, people don't always see that they may have other interests and goals. And I think it is harder for those people to accept that the player's focus has shifted so when any talk of leaving the game comes up, they say things to the the player about not "giving up" or "quitting."
It puts so much pressure on the player as they do not want to disappoint others or hurt their team.

Your son should be commended for taking that tremendous step of looking at his options, thinking through his goals, and making a tough decision that will change the course of his life...a choice that is right for him.
I'm sure it was very hard for him to face his coach and even harder to pick up the phone to tell you and it sounds as if he handled the situation with great poise.

What has he decided to study?
I certainly wish him well
and feel free to share his future accomplishments in his new endeavors!

Newcomer,
I had to sigh myself when I read your post. This is something that all baseball parents face, the eventuality of son hanging them up. It's really scary for some of us, and only because it brings the unknown to the forefront- that being what will they do next? And what will we do when we haven't got the next game to worry about? LOL
It sounds like Sonny has a great head on his shoulders, and a great plan for his life. Wherever that road takes him, he's already taken some huge steps along the way. Please do stick around and let us know how things are going.
All the best of luck to Sonny.

I agree with Bluesky. It takes a lot for a boy who has played and loved the game all of his life to walk away to pursue other interests.

There is life after baseball. You have to always let your sons know that at anytime it's his dream and that may not include baseball.

Best wishes to your son.

I agree that it takes a lot of maturity to be able to tell the people who love you that its time to move on. Baseball will only last a little longer for many of our sons. Some will be lucky to make their HS team, we have read of many who did not.then the next level takes even more numbers away.I think by the time you get to college ball and you have played your whole life, you will know if its for you or not. The grind as people have mentioned, the tiredness of trying to keep up. its a lot. I wish your son the best.I have spoken to many people lately whos kids have walked away and they say that life changes and for some its freeing and more time to do other things. Good luck to your son in his studies.

Newcomer - I am sorry to hear this news but it sounds to me like you have raised a fine young man. All the best to him in the future!

Newcomer,

quote:

Sort of an end to a chapter, I realize. But the beginning of a new one. And I'd like to think that baseball has built a good boy who will make use of the skills and wisdom he's learned on and off the field.

Thank you for sharing your son's story with us.
I hope you will continue to post with us. I have enjoyed and valued your input.
I'd also like to congratulate your son on his ability to know what he wants and to go for it!
I'm excited for his future!

Newcomer, There are many of us who continue to hang around here despite the fact our sons are no longer in baseball. My own son gave up ball last fall - for his own personal reasons. I think any of us that have had kids who have spent the life around that small white ball understand how difficult it can be when our kids make that decision. There is some sort of peace though knowing that they did it on their own terms when they were ready for whatever reason. It's been an adjustment for me and continues to be this spring - our first time in sixteen years without baseball being the center of our lives.

I don't get around to the site as much as I use to because of other things that have consumed more of my life. However, I believe I will always keep HSBBW as a part of my day or week.... great friends and folks who love a sport that is dear to me. I continue to enjoy living through others too! Also, I've known parents here who's sons have decided to give it up, only to head to the field once again. Others who didn't do that, but have shared the stories of their sons who went on to make great choices that were often based on the lessons they've learned on those fields over so many years.

So, congrats to you on many years of joy with your son and may they continue in so many other ways!! You must stick around though.... so I don't feel the loner!!

I've been thinking much about the end of the line lately and your post, Newcomer, really has me examining my own degree of emotional investment in son's baseball career.

We have always believed he was choosing his own path and considered ourselves so lucky that it's our youngest who has had such special opportunities to play beyond high school.

Our wild enthusiastic support includes son's brothers, sister, and the rest of the family, and his career has brought great pride, fun and entertainment to us all.

But, you know, this season has been his first "off" year and I think the grind of it has kicked in for him.

Of course that doesn't affect our level of support, and we've gone to as many games as we could just like always (tougher when they're in college), but now I am wondering if he may have reached a point where he's playing because he thinks we expect it?

That's the last message we want to send, and yet... Newcomer, thanks for making me reflect in this, and a big hug to you as you move into the next phase of watching baseball WITH your son.