There was a time when people knew, for whatever reason (fear of man or fear of God, or more likely some of both) that each individual was responsible for their actions, inaction, reactions to life and all that it entails. And back then, each person seemed to know for the most part that each of us individually is accountable to something or someone other than himself or herself. Such was OUR culture and society for approximately the first 175 years of our national existence. Then after World War II came television, fast cars, baby boomers, drugs, sex, and rock ‘n roll, etc, etc, and all the good and bad that came along with those things. But mostly what came along, that was, and is, the primary facilitator of making wonderful advances in the human condition, was/is TECHNOLOGY.
OUR National Pastime was born, cultivated and mostly matured in the societal and cultural conditions that existed prior to 1950. Sure there were some things wrong with the game but those largely reflected the culture at large, e.g. smoking in the dugout, chewing tobacco on the field and a stark lack of diversity in the work force, to name a few. But the players characters and qualities also reflected many of the better things, great things, about America, like hard work, loyalty, and pride in accomplishment. I think those things still exist, but our almost compulsive habit of looking for the negative aspects of virtually anything and everything makes for a less friendly world all around. We’ve changed from a culture that was ‘rough and tough’ to one that is ‘crude and rude’. This has also shown up to a degree, in OUR GAME.
The only real catalyst for this transition that I can find, is TECHNOLOGY. It has made so many things faster and easier that it has seemed to help human beings gloss over our very existence and interactions with our fellow humans. While it has brought so many good things to mankind, technology seems to have stunted our growth as persons. This is why I’ve decided I cannot abide advanced technological devices (cameras, et al) in Baseball. Not in baseball anywhere, at any level, for ANY reason whatsoever. Doesn’t anyone other than me realize that baseball is likely our last tenuous connection to our human past (read humanity)? Not just our American past, as Terrance Mann (James Earl Jones) so eloquently described, but how our grandparents and forebears literally ‘approached’ life. Maybe that sounds a little weird or extreme, but if one thinks about it, I think most, if not all would agree. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that saving baseball sans technology does a fair bit in salvaging what’s left of human goodness. Crazy huh?
Very soon, we’ll be over the brink with technological gadgets that can measure and decide everything that matters on a playing field. I know radar guns and electronic scoreboards, etc., have been around awhile but now we’re at the point where the ‘responsibility’ to DO the VERY BEST one can do and have it ‘matter’ will be lost forever, except when considering fields where so few get to ‘play’ (brain surgeons, commercial pilots, and a few others). Baseball is the only game (and I do love football) where a complete game could be played, in which good decisions must be made rapidly and continuously, at an individual level in order to reach a final outcome that stretched each person’s ability and character on the field and demands total commitment, concentration and skill in order to come out ahead in the end. Just persons/players being ONLY people knowing that NOTHING else can, or will bail them out (or make them look bad) other than what they did/will do as individuals. The responsibility and accountability rests with the man/woman alone. That’s what made OUR Game great to begin with and that’s also, not coincidentally, what made America great.
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With apologies to Don McLean
(and the chronologically challenged - some references obviously not in order)
(and the chronologically challenged - some references obviously not in order)
Verse 1
A long long time ago
I can still remember baseball used to make me smile
And I knew if I had my chance
That I could hit those bleacher slams
And set those folks a jumpin' in the aisles
Nolan and Lefty made 'em shiver
With every pitch that they delivered
Bad news on the sports page
Tradition lost in our age
I don't know where to place the blame
As I read how it killed the game
But something touched me deep inside
The day OUR Ball Game died
{Refrain}
Say good-bye, bye, my-oh-my, apple pie
Ford and Chevy, Coca Cola, Pepsi and fries
All those good old days have been put to the lie - now
Technology replaced the ump's eye
Technology replaced the ump's eye
Verse 2
You still got your bat and glove?
And do you have faith in God above
If the Bible tells you so
Do you believe in rock n' roll
Can springtime heal your yearning soul
And can you teach me how 'Centerfield' goes
Well, of course, we're NOT in love with them
'Cuz we saw 'em blow a call again
Tommy and Earl kicked their shoes
'The Man' said now you guys are through
I was a lonely, teenage broncin' buck
When Pete hit Ray like a pickup truck
But I think we'll be out of luck
The day OUR Ball Game dies
I’ll start singin'
{Refrain}
Bye, good-bye, hot dogs, apple pie
Ford and Chevy, Coca Cola, Pepsi and fries
All those good old days have been put to the lie - now
Technology replaced the ump's eye
Technology replaced the ump's eye
Verse 3
Now technology's left us on our own
The grass grew back on the neighbor's lawn
But that's not how it used to be
Billy's Yanks lost to the Red Machine
And Ozzie sang of Dizzy Dean
In a voice that came from Vin and me
Oh, and while Billy Buck was looking down
The Metsters stole the Beantown crown
The Bum’s won, Eck was spurned
By Gibby’s bat, A’s got burned
While Yogi and Casey never balked
Uecker led the league on talk
Now we'll sing dirges in the dark
The day OUR Ball Game dies
We’ll be singin'
Refrain}
Bye, good-bye, hot dogs, apple pie
Ford and Chevy, Coca Cola, Pepsi and fries
All those good old days have been put to the lie - now
Technology replaced the ump's eye
Technology replaced the ump's eye
Verse 4
Helter Skelter in a summer swelter
The birds blew up, Tom Terrific dealt it
Rocky Mountain flies rising fast
Some players fouled but not on grass
Blatant lies made us hope it'd pass
Some said Lou's string, well you knew, it couldn't last
Seventh inning air is sweet perfume
America sang Kate Smith's tune
We all were Red Sox fans
And they got another chance
As the players refused to take the field
The Mariners refused to yield
Do you know what'll be revealed
The day OUR Ball Game dies
We'll be singing
{Refrain}
Bye, good-bye, beer, dogs, apple pie
Ford and Chevy, Coca Cola, Pepsi and fries
All those good old days have been put to the lie - now
Technology replaced the ump's eye
Technology replaced the ump's eye
Verse 5
Oh, and there we were, all in one place
A generation lost in space
With no time left to start again
Mickey was nimble, Maury quick
The Willie's smacked 'em out of Candlestick
And fire flew from Randy's strong left arm
Oh, and as I watch them from the stands
I holler “Find your glasses” at 'the man'
Decades spent in Hell
Can't break that Cubbies spell
And as long balls fly out far to right
We'll finally bid the game goodnight
I saw The Babe crying at the sight
The day OUR Ball Game died
He was singing
{Refrain}
Bye, good-bye, beer, dogs, apple pie
Ford and Chevy, Coca Cola, Pepsi and fries
All those good old days have been put to the lie - now
Technology replaced the ump's eye
Technology replaced the ump's eye
Verse 6
I met a girl who sang the blues
And I asked her for some happy news
But she just cried and turned away
Technology rules on every score
Where I'd watched the ballgames years before
Now 'the man' there says nobody comes to 'play'
And in the streets the children screamed
Tradition died, and oldtimers dreamed
But not a word was spoken
The church bells all were broken
And the three guys I admired most
The Splinter, Joe, and Roberto’s ghosts
With Henry gave one final toast
On the day the ballgame died
And they were singin'
{Refrain
Bye, good-bye, hot dogs, apple pie
Ford and Chevy, Coca Cola, Pepsi and fries
All those good old days have been put to the lie - now
Technology's replaced the ump's eye
Technology's replaced the ump's eye
AND
We were singin'..............
Singing that'll be the day that I die
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