Handing Down This Family's Heirloom

Stern...Stealing home. Photo attribution not available

What does title of this blog mean? An heirloom is something meaningful and special that is passed from one generation to another. This blog tries to combine the personal history of the game with the current season. There are occasions where this blog will capture moments when game touches close to home.

In one of my earlier posts, I mentioned that my brother and I were handed the game of baseball down from our mother. There is another generation of this family in the process of receiving the heirloom from my generation.

My brother lives a comfortable life in South Orange County, California with his wife of almost 18 years. They have two wonderful children: A daughter in high school and their youngest son. These are the only two children between both my brother and I.

It is now my nephew...my brother's son...that is the recipient of Barbara Stern's heirloom. He has not only taken to the game of baseball; he has gone a step further. In fact, this is a boy who is living the dreams of his ancestors.

My brother and I dabbled in the game when we were in Cub Scouts. Granted our athleticism wasn't close to average, but we had fun. I went as far as to be a scorekeeper/manager of my high school's junior varsity baseball team. Did I mention that I met Bret Saberhagen when he played varsity baseball for a rival school prior to being drafted by the Kansas City Royals?

No one had any inkling that either my brother or I would play Little League baseball. His son did exactly that as a member of the Class AA championship team of the local Little League. In fact, he made an important contribution to the victory by hitting a double, then scoring on a steal at home.

My brother talks about how much his son has improved from earlier iterations of his Little League career. The boy played under a fantastic coach who cultivated his and his other teammate's talents instead of drilling it out of them. It just seems as they were indeed playing the game as it was truly intended: For the fun of it!

This story is not just about a proud parent or relative of their Little League participant. From my understanding, the idea of a family is to help facilitate interests while maintaining traditions. Baseball's long history of generational support for the game, whether it is in the stands or on the field, fits into this concept.

Perhaps it is time for your family to hand down this heirloom that the game represents. It is a simple thing to do. This summer, share the game with your family. Your local ballpark is a good start. Whether it is the excitement of Major League Baseball, the witnessing of the future down in the farm system or your local semi-pro club, there is a game out for the whole family to enjoy together.

There are many stories to tell from this wonderful tradition of the game. My brother and his son is one of them. My close friends and I are another. Families all...no matter how your definition fits.

This is still a game worth sharing and passing down to the next generation.