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Post by Classicblast on Sept 6, 2009 0:29:28 GMT -5
Unless something unexpected happens, I will be done playing professional baseball after this week. My team's last scheduled game is this week and we are not going to make the playoffs.
So that's that.
I can't kick though. Being 34 and still doing this is not bad. Most guys of my caliber are not still playing by now. So I will finally end up getting a real job after this.
Its bittersweet obviously. You never want to let go of something you love, yet I realize for a so/so ball player I managed to pull a career two to three times the length that usually happens for people like me.
Once this is done I can be more blunt on issues and things. So that will be good.
In the old farts.com sight Squeaky Bear and some others who were mad at me said "so you a guy who makes his living hitting a ball with a stick." hahaha.
Obviously I've heard that more than just then. I grin each time all over again.
The one thing that avoided me for years was a league championship but in 2008 that happened for me too. So I will walk away with a smile hopefully not dwelling on this too much.
Basobolla has been betty betty goot to me.
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Post by Demona on Sept 6, 2009 5:16:40 GMT -5
That's really too bad.  But don't say it's not a "real job." You've loved it for years and very few people are good enough to make any sort of team outside of high school. Hopefully though better things come, and we get to know you more on here. |
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Post by Jason O'Lewa on Sept 6, 2009 14:43:44 GMT -5
its for sure a real job
how many players make a level you can get paid to play at/
like demona said after high school its college and work for everybody else.
maybe you can stay another year
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Post by Blastgirl on Sept 6, 2009 22:34:10 GMT -5
I know this will be a tough adjustment for him though.
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Post by thunderbird on Sept 7, 2009 2:40:30 GMT -5
Get your hammer out and come back home I have a job for you.
I can hardly believe it's finally come full circle.
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Post by Phil on Sept 7, 2009 18:11:56 GMT -5
Most people only dream of reaching a pro level. Classic I think you've done just fine. I will still hang onto hope of you getting another year out of this too.
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Post by Classicblast on Sept 15, 2009 0:53:07 GMT -5
I played what is most likely my very last game yesterday afternoon. My last at bat was a milestone base hit. A one out single but the next two hitters stranded me.
So it looks as if my playing career has come to a close. This was the optional season activated by the team. No further mention of a renewal was mentioned all season except for a month ago when I was told politely but with no doubt that there were no plans to re establish my contract or comprise a new one.
So after a total of 16 pro seasons total including rookie league time, I am done.
That's not to say theres no chance of a position emerging but I'm not going to be banging down doors. I have allowed my name to be tossed out there for this upcoming spring camps but I am not hopeful that anybody will call me.
I'm a lifelong AAer and I'll be 35 by the time spring training rolls around. Obviously its an emotional time for me, but it's also a new phase in life. I'll be able to be around home fulltime. I'll get to see my sons everyday. There's a lot of good coming from this. I'm very excited about the next phase of things too.
Its been a long long long ride.
It started shortly afer high school during a community college period I was also trying out for minor league teams in rookie and A ball leagues. My vehicle was a 74 F150 that had been retired from the family construction business. I liked it because I was born in 74. I drove it through high school until it came time to head into a tryout period.
That's when I had no money since I couldn't work at the business during baseball. My brothers put their money together and bought me a 1988 Thunderbird. That was in 1995.
I finally got some attention. I bounced from rookie and A ball teams until finally getting a main stay position. I changed teams a few times but managed to make it so Blastgirl and the boys didnt' have to move.
I grew up over 400 miles from here.
This is where I am for now though. I will be making 2 or 3 appearances with the community of my last team for a fund raiser, and a social outing where they play softball with members of the community.
But I know my employment with that organization and the sport is over.
I accept it and am ready to move forward. Obviously a favorite retreat of mine is right here. So hello Lewasite as we end another summer and I return to a regular basis here.
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Post by Phil on Sept 15, 2009 14:23:00 GMT -5
You have played a sport professionally and nothing can change that. You have a lot to be proud of and I'm sure there's jobs where you can stay within baseball.
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Post by Classicblast on Sept 15, 2009 15:25:24 GMT -5
Thank you Phil. I think something will come up too.
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Post by Jersey on Sept 15, 2009 21:01:47 GMT -5
I understand where Classic is coming from. This was to be my last season of playing football, but after six camp practices my knee basically told me "nope".
The good thing is that I'm being kept with the team so I can be retired with everybody else at the banquet this February. Getting put on medically inactive status was a very difficult decision. But I knew I could be smart where other players in my situation were not smart. By continuing to try and stay on the field I would be putting myself at big time risk of serious injury. Most gung-ho athletes would choose to stay with it, and I know a great deal of them who still deal with their problems these days.
I've had a hard time not becoming depressed over this. One good thing is that 80% of my teammates reacted positively. The other 20% won't speak to me, with only one asking why I wasn't playing and saying my reasons were bullcrap. But I'm not in the mood for fighting with anybody. This has been hard enough.
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Post by Blastgirl on Sept 16, 2009 0:53:32 GMT -5
How would anybody think your reason was bullcrap? I mean you've had a Medical Report. You sighed up to play Football and you have played it throughout College until you got hurt. So why would anybody think you didn't want to play?
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Post by Phil on Sept 16, 2009 14:30:53 GMT -5
I would say the same thing. Why would some of the guys think you didn't want to play. I realize there's always a few people that are just conspiracy theorists but I woud think most people would recognize an injury that hasn't gone away.
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Post by fartinggurl on Sept 16, 2009 15:43:59 GMT -5
That's a shame. At least you got to do something you loved, and, like Demona said, very few people are good enough to play a sport professionally. Hopefully something else comes along that you enjoy as much as baseball.
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Post by Jersey on Sept 16, 2009 16:04:56 GMT -5
Some of them have indirectly accused me of faking my injury. Many of them see me as a sub-standard player that decided to fake his way through by playing off an injury that really wasn't as severe as I was putting on, rather than just quit the team. Kind of like saying I was tagging along for all the benefits of being on the football team, without putting in the hard work required to do well. Which isn't even close to true, as I probably put in roughly twice the hours they put in through my rehab programs this past srping and winter.
It's basically a way of hurling around the accusation of "pussying out".
I suppose the surgery I had in March wasn't enough evidence that I had a real problem with the health of my knee. But those sort of things don't matter to people like them.
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Post by Antonio on Sept 16, 2009 21:10:21 GMT -5
I respect you Classic you went after a dream and never quit you still turned into a reality by at least playing for a league. I'm currently going through the same thing with Football I'm still in my early 20's in decent shape and just healed from a back injury. The last 7 months I been eating right,running,lifting at the gym everyday I still have that competitive bug that all former athletes have. I just don't want carry around the burden of what if around when I'm in my 30's.
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Post by Classicblast on Sept 16, 2009 21:55:49 GMT -5
34 here. And I know what you mean. If there is any chance of playing another season I'm up for it. Unless it really disrupts my family for a one year deal then I wont do it.
Like if I have an offer but we have to move far away. If it was the Toronto Blue Jays, the LA Dodgers those places are far but that would make it worth moving. I would not move far for another deal similar to what I've played out my time for. The reality is I'm done as a player.
But Antonio stick with it as long as you can because when it comes to an end the book is closed for good.
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Post by Classicblast on May 20, 2010 0:46:51 GMT -5
I am bumping this because I have something on this subject.
Today I received my paycheck. I receive an amount to attend games to watch, I receive an additional bonus if the information I offer gets discussed on the radio or in publication. I get a gasoline allotment, and hotel room if I use it and present a receipt.
This is all new to me. So this week I took in a lot of games and received a heftier check than the others I have received yet. I'm sure as the baseball season hits full stride its going to be like this. Then slowly die off as it comes to an end. The thing is I cant catch all the games that are out there obviously I can only be one place at a time.
I get a choice of games most times but they have the right to tell me which game is most important to them to be observed. And I'm not the only guy they have doing this. I don't always get a choice. I'll get the hang of this sooner or later but its a little weird still.
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Post by Blastgirl on May 20, 2010 2:24:29 GMT -5
No new car this Summer though. Its not secure enough. Its ok though our cars are maintained my my Dad and Dannyboy.
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