Life Is a Game of Baseball

Ashley Robinson
Mr. Riley
AP Language
10/31/12
Life is a Game of Baseball
Something as simple as going to a baseball game can teach you a lot. There are many things in life that are important to know, baseball can teach many of these lessons. There are many life lessons to learn and are needed to succeed, some of these life lessons include picking yourself up after you’ve made a mistake, working hard for yourself and your team, respect, and many more. “’The great American past-time isn’t just a sport- it is a chance to learn skills that guide us through all the pitfalls the world can throw at us.’”(Liberthson). Life is like a game of baseball.
“In baseball, like life, you get multiple chances to succeed.”(Eglehoff). Never give up, even when you fail, there will be another chance to prove yourself. While watching a baseball game, you will notice players make mistakes, they are only human just like everyone else, but they do not give up. “But in baseball, like life, it’s those failures that make us better and stronger to be a better competitor the next day.”(Eglehoff). Making mistakes is common, it happens to the best of us. Players need to be prepared to do the right thing next time. Baseball players strive to continuously improve, and to do better than before. It does a player, and the team, no good to dwell on mistakes, players need to be able to accept the responsibility of their mistake and move past it onto the next play. The ability to pick up the pieces after a bad play leads to a good comeback, which everyone loves. Mistakes can be a good thing, making mistakes help you learn and grow as an athlete and person. “When you blow it, you need to pick yourself up and try again.”(Liberthson).
Teamwork is very important in baseball and life. Teamwork is about building relationships with your teammates, or coworkers, and being able to trust everyone on the team to play their position, and do their part for the group, you cannot do it all on your own. You win as a team, and you lose as a team. Your team becomes your family, whether it is major league baseball, a school team, or even coworkers, so it is vital to treat them with respect and work together as a group. There is always going to be people you have to work with, whom you do not necessarily like, that’s life, being able to move past all of the differences and work together makes a great team. Clashing personalities can cause major issues, but diversity is a key aspect to a great team. Different perspectives and experiences from various members of the group can be helpful to everyone, learning new things and supporting each other is important for a team to do together. Baseball illustrates how well people can work together, to reach a goal. “In baseball, like life, we are sometimes asked to make sacrifices for the good of the group. Sometimes you do the work, and someone else gets the glory.”(Eglehoff).
“True sportsmanship is giving credit where credit is due.”(Coach). Sportsmanship is a quality everyone needs, as a player, coach, or even a fan. It is a simple idea to grasp; good sportsmanship is easily noticed by actions performed by players, or anybody for that matter. The act of helping a teammate or refraining from degrading the competition after a win exemplifies the meaning of a “good sport”, on and off the field, for players and fans alike.
It is always hard to accept criticism. No matter how old or confident someone is, nobody wants to be told what they are doing wrong. You cannot fix what you do no know is broken, that is why feedback is so important, especially in baseball. It is very important to take constructive criticism to understand your weaknesses and opportunities to grow to become a better player, or person. Nobody is perfect, when a coach gives feedback it is important to listen and accept it. When someone gives feedback, it is not a personal attack. Constructive feedback will allow for improvement in whatever it is one needs to work on. It is key to have an open mind, and accept the suggestions given. Those who accept feedback will see more growth as an individual versus those not accepting of feedback.
Respect is considered a golden rule by some- without respect we would live in a world of chaos. Players must respect authority, by respecting coaches and umpires, and respecting the institution of baseball. One cannot succeed in life without respecting authority, playing fair, and following the rules. It is respecting those with experience, such as coaches, will lead to success. Coaches look out for their players and for them to succeed, improve, and win.
Athletes show commitment. Not just commitment to their team and sport, but also to making themselves better players. Countless hours spent on and off the field showing commitment to personal excellence. The best players are athletes who spend every day working hard to improve every aspect of their game. Commitment is needed to succeed whether it is on the court, in the field, in the classroom, or in the office. “Those who succeed...find a way to overcome the obstacles placed before them.”(Eglehoff). When the going gets tough, players pull through and stick by their teammates sides. Didn’t bring home a championship ring this year? That’s ok; commit yourself to work harder for next year.
Life is about accomplishing goals that you set for yourself. Baseball is also about accomplishing goals, set for the team. These life lessons are necessary in both situations, in order to reach those goals. Respect, following rules, sportsmanship, teamwork, and commitment are life lessons that everyone needs to grasp a hold of, without these, it will be hard to achieve anything at all, whether it be the promotion at work, or winning the title of world series champions. In baseball, as well as life, these few concepts are vital to success.

Works Cited
Eglehoff,Tom. “Baseball: The only sport that reflects real life.” 9 April 2012. Web. 29 October 2012. www.kmmsam.com
Liberthson,Dan. “The old ball game”. Print.
The Coach. “Sportsmanship?”. Youth baseball knowledge base. Infosports.com. Web. 31 October 2012.

Cited: Eglehoff,Tom. “Baseball: The only sport that reflects real life.” 9 April 2012. Web. 29 October 2012. www.kmmsam.com Liberthson,Dan. “The old ball game”. Print. The Coach. “Sportsmanship?”. Youth baseball knowledge base. Infosports.com. Web. 31 October 2012.