Take Me Out to the Ballgame: Baseball, Biblical Masculinity, and Godly Character, Part 4

[Editor's note: On Tuesday Gender Blog began a four-part series by Randy Stinson on baseball and biblical manhood. In today's final installment, Stinson, who serves as president of the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, gives the final three ways in which he uses the game of baseball in the lives of his two sons to build Christian character and cultivate biblical masculinity.]

Thanks Coach: Gratitude

As with most youth sports, baseball is carried on the shoulders of thousands of volunteers.  Each week my sons have opportunities to express gratitude to the many men and women who make their experience possible.  This makes them more mindful of others who are serving them in other venues as well.

Principle for Manhood: Thank every coach after every practice.  Thank every coach and umpire (if possible, they often leave before the team has cleared the dugout) after every game.  Thank the concession stand workers for their time.  Thank the grounds crew (as available) for their work on the field.  You will find yourself more grateful as you join your sons in their expressions of gratitude.

Shake it Off! Leadership and Encouragement

A common expression from one player to another is to "shake it off" after a botched play or minor injury.  Baseball requires a lot of mental toughness and good leadership on the field means you are encouraging teammates to "shake it off" to be ready for the next play.  Typically, focusing on a failure in baseball means that you will not be focused on the next play which means another failure.

Principle for Manhood: Never correct another player while on the field.  Good leaders on the field offer encouragement, and remember to keep a "short memory" and to "shake it off."  Strategies for improvement can be discussed in the dugout.

Father, Where Art Thou? The Decline of Baseball

It is sad to me that one of the greatest sports is experiencing something of a decline at the youth recreation level.  Some have argued that the proliferation of highly competitive travel teams have caused this demise.  I think the socio-cultural phenomenon of absent fathers, however, has created the giant gap between recreation and competitive players and thereby created the need for more competitive venues. Baseball requires at least two people.  You cannot play catch with yourself.  You can't pitch to yourself, and you can't hit grounders to yourself.  Normally this is where dad comes in.  But where is he?  Is he working too much, abandoning his family altogether, or is he just emotionally absent? 

Over the next decade, fewer and fewer boys will enjoy the incredible father-son moments of playing catch, hitting grounders, spending hours discussing the nuances and character-building aspects of the game.

Principle for Manhood:  Encourage the church to stand in the gap and embrace the fatherless young men around you.  Mentor them, teach them the Gospel, and maybe toss the ball a time or two with them.

Part 1    Part 2    Part 3    Part 4