Take me out to the Little League ball game

Take Me Out to the Little League Ballgame... (unedited)

The beginning of the baseball season heralds reminders of how baseball affected our lives as young boys.
Baseball cards, the thrill of opening a new package and finding out which players are inside. The smell of the slab of stale, crispy bubble gum that had all the texture of a dog treat. That smell permeated the cards and made them even more special, at least until the smell waned.
The feel of new baseball cleats on my feet, the leathery smell of my baseball glove, the same smell the baseballs also head.
And the feel of a new wooden bat and, once I grew older, aluminum ones.
How about the appearance of a brand-new baseball, fresh from the box and with no scuffs on it yet.
And, of course, those special visits to the ballpark to watch our heroes play. We'd take our mitts to the game, hoping to catch a foul ball.
We'd also study them, Emulating some of the moves special to them that we wanted to try.
Growing up in Pittsburgh in the 1970s, watching Willie Stargell and his trademark wind up of his baseball bat.
He'd make the pitcher wait until he was darn good and ready for his delivery. Only then could the picture throw his best effort.
It was one of the earliest forms of stare down, game face intimidation I witnessed, and it shaped my approach to the world ever since.
Even though girls have been major league baseball fans and Little league participants for many years, back then, organized baseball was largely the domain of boys.
We didn't chew tobacco, but big wads of gum instead. Anything we could do to be more like one of our heroes we did.
Even today, I still have a baseball card I ordered online of all places.
It's of a pitcher, Bob Veale, who was never quite that famous to we boys because so many cards had his picture on it, thereby decreasing their value.
We wanted cards with Willy Stargell, Richie Hebner, and Richie Zisk. No relief pitcher could match up to these guys.
The bubblegum smell has long since worn off, but the sight of the card instantly brought back the memories.