Boys and baseball... a life changing thing! Dedicated to all baseball loving Dads (and Moms) - and their sons!

I typically share this piece on Opening Day each year, but with all the negative talk around the baseball cheating scandal, I feel compelled to share it early.

I am a proud baseball "nut." Growing up in Philadelphia, one of my earliest memories is of my dad, my two uncles and my grandfather (four men in white shirts with skinny ties) jumping up and down around a tiny black and white television on Father's Day, 1964. The reason for their excitement... Jim Bunning of the Phillies had just thrown a perfect game against the Mets at Shea Stadium and had run into the arms of his catcher Gus Triandos to celebrate.

I have been blessed in that I have been able to pass on this love for the game to my three kids. My daughter played third base on her high school softball team and my two sons both pitched and played first and second base on their teams.

Having played, coached and been a huge fan of not only the game but its illustrious history, I find this piece to be a real touchstone each Spring as it exemplifies the pure joy of the game we love. I hope you enjoy this early Spring offering.

Boys and baseball...

If you give a boy a baseball, he will want a bat to go with it.

You'll buy the best bat you can find, and then he will probably want a bucket of balls and a glove and some cleats, too.

When he realizes he can't carry all these things with his own two hands, he will want a bat bag. Then he will want to spend hours begging you to go out in the yard to play with his bat, glove and balls.

Even though you just wanna sit on the couch and watch TV, he will insist. And his insistence will win out!

Lauren and little brother Paul, Veterans Stadium, 1994. Philly skyline in the distance.

When you go out in the yard to hit, pitch, throw, and catch, he will not want to go back in the house for dinner and will swear that even at dusk there is enough light to continue playing!

Paul and little brother Tim at big sister Lauren's softball field, 2000

Next the backyard will get too small and he will want to go the baseball field to see how far he can hit and throw! Once he gets to the baseball field, he will get dirty and will be happy! He will probably smile and laugh!

Once he is all dirty and enjoys the way the dirt feels, he will want to learn how to slide... in the rain on a muddy field! Finally, he learns to catch THEN he wants friends to play this new game with!

When a boy gets a jersey, he will want pants and socks and a belt and a cap to go with it! And a TEAM!!!

Card store visit - Cooperstown, 2003. Lou Gehrig's 100th Birthday weekend. Paul wearing his Doylestown Tiger's Cap, Tim in his Bobby Abreu jersey.

Then life as you know it will end! There will be no more lazy weekends. You will see more sunrises than you ever thought possible! Every spare minute of your time will be spent hauling buckets, bags, stinky cleats and crazy boys all over the place to play baseball!

You will get excited about all the cool baseball shirts and hats that say "Baseball is Life!" Your yard will be overlooked! Your house and car will be a mess all because you gave a boy a baseball! Your weekends will be spent hanging out in a fold-up chair!

His weekends will be spent gaining confidence, making friends and learning new skills. He will have fun getting dirty... so dirty you will learn a whole new way to do laundry!

His smile will grow bigger and bigger! And each year that he plays with that baseball, he will get better and better. And his love for the game and confidence in himself will grow right along with his jersey size!

Tim, Opening Day, 2007

Then he might try to be a PITCHER, CATCHER, OUTFIELDER or INFIELDER because baseball teaches him he can be anything he wants! And you will be there the day he hits his first home run and makes his first double play! And he will make you proud! The coach may give him the game ball!

And right before your eyes, your little boy will be transformed into a baseball playing beast who set aside his Thomas the Train toys one day long ago simply because you gave him a baseball and a bat, glove, bat bag and a jersey to go with it!

When you give a boy a baseball you give him a talent, and hope a sport, a dream, friends, and a new family. He will have room to grow up as a person where he can push the limits, have bravery, courage, and learn about LIFE and memories. And he will have all these things simply because you gave a boy a baseball and a jersey!

Paul "In the hole", 2007

Then one day many years from now... he will be in his room and a baseball will roll out from an old dusty bat bag underneath his bed. And he will pick it up and realize instantly that when you gave that boy a baseball you also gave him a childhood that he would never forget! And he will hug you, and your eyes may leak! Because then you will realize that everything you gave up along the way was worth it All BECAUSE YOU GAVE A BOY A BASEBALL!

~ Author unknown