The "A Lifetime Of Throws" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Just finished taking photos of the Manheim Township baseball team for their 2014 Yearbook.  On my way to the car someone lined a foul ball in my direction so I grabbed it and attempted to throw it back to the field.  Not a good thing to do!  

Young boy playing Midget-Midget ball.

I should have remembered last year when I tried to so the same thing and could hardly lift my arm for a couple of days.  The joints and muscles just aren't the same as they used to be.  I can't imagine how a professional baseball pitcher, who has played for 15 years or so, and has thrown the ball thousands and thousands of times during those years, can still pick up a baseball and be able to throw it when he reaches say  …… my age.  I've had a lifetime of throws during my baseball career of playing and coaching and my arm can throw no more.  Just can't!!  All started when I was a young boy living on North Queen Street and would play "off the wall" in the parking lot behind my house.  

Playing Junior Midget Ball. Middle row, far right.  We were
the best Jr. Midget team in the state of Pennsylvania. 

Did that day after day, year after year, every day of the summer as well as part of the fall and spring.  Then came organized baseball when I was 12 and I played Midget-Midget, Jr. Midget, Midget, High School, Legion and organized softball.  While I was playing softball I coached Midget-Midget, Jr. Midget, and Midget and finally Midget ball.  During practice sessions I would pitch batting practice to everyone of the players.  

My Midget team that won the New Era Midget Tournament
Title.  I'm the coach on the left with a white shirt.

Most times I would throw 30-40 pitches to each player during every practice.  Take that number times the 15 or so players and it starts to add up.   Then there were the times when I would play baseball with my kids in the back yard or at the nearby school.  My arm must have thrown a couple million baseballs and softballs in my lifetime.  And ….. NOW IT IS WORN OUT!!  There comes a time as you age that you know when there is something that you can no longer do in life.  Run around the block, lift your grandkids over your head, shovel the driveway, etc., etc., etc.  You reach that stage yet?  There are many things that I can still do that my friends who are my age cannot, but throwing a baseball is not one of them.  And I'm so upset I can't.  I've always thrown a baseball.  All my life!!  I guess my arm is trying to tell me something. Will I listen?  Hey, at least I can still get my arms around my sweetheart to give her a hug.  Don't know what I'll do when I can't do that any longer.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  But, a sorry one!