5 More Ways Baseball is Like Life

Here are some more ways baseball is like life. This continues a list from a previous article. These baseball lessons are inspired by the Yankees’ recent struggles and meant to give perspective to Yankees fans. In baseball, one can learn life lessons even when one loses. Indeed, baseball is like life. These lessons provide the perspective needed as the Yankees fall in the standings. Today was a huge game for the Yankees, as both managers, Bruce Bochy and Aaron Boone, managed this game like a playoff game. Do you think these Little League lessons apply?

Baseball is a lot Like Life Because…

Batting order, Field Position, Pitching choice, and Pitcher Selection Don’t Matter

Children often get upset when they are ‘stuck’ in the outfield. They shouldn’t. First off, outfielders are in important positions. When baseballs are hit out there, there is a high likelihood of damage. Thus, outfielders have an important job. But like in life, you get what you get, and you do not complain. As Jesus said, the first shall be last and the last shall be first.  In life, you are likely to get (what you perceive) as short shrift. You must deal with it with humility. Baseball does nothing if it does not teach one to be humble.

Successful Experience In The Field Starts In Spring Training

A prepared baseball player will be a successful baseball player. That is why I devoted one-third of this book to winter training. A player uses the time to prepare, even though there is no outdoor practice or games because of inclement weather. Drills, like tee work, are essential to success. Embrace the mundane; it will make you great. This is the same as in life. A person must always be prepared. That is why the Boy Scouts of America stresses being prepared. Like baseball, they teach children a valuable lesson.

Every Professional Baseball Team Wins Fifty Games and Loses Fifty

It is what they do with the other sixty-two that matters. Plus, you are never as good as you look when you win and never as bad as you look when you lose. In baseball, one plays a lot of games, and there is a lot of losing. Even great teams lose upwards of 40% of their games. There is an important lesson herein. Baseball players need to get used to losing because they lose so often. This is just like life. Nobody likes a so-called ‘sore loser.’ Baseball adjusts one properly for a lifetime of losing, which happens about half of the time.

Being Baseball-Ready is Important in Both Baseball and Life

I cannot stress this enough: be ready! Being ready on every pitch is the hallmark of a great defense in baseball and life. One must always be ready because you never know when your opportunity will come.

If You Want to Succeed You Need the Right People on the Team

Skills build character, and drafting or recruiting the right pieces is important. A baseball team will be successful if they work as a team. Players must compensate for each other’s weaknesses.  This means they back up their teammate if they are not fielding the ball or covering a base. This is a life case too. Strong teams, not individuals, win, and you need to make sure you have the correct people with you.

Conclusion

Even when you lose in baseball, which is a lot like life, you can learn lessons. One should do this to make the most of a bad situation. Ty Cobb said that baseball is like a war. It is an unrelenting war of nerves, and the parallels between baseball and life are too strong to ignore.