Post baseball blues yet?

In large parts of the country baseball is over for another year. The gloves, helmets, & shin pads are still covered in dust, the baselines are fading out of site as if moving off into the twilight, and even the grass has lost its cool green sparkle. What ever is the baseball fan to do as we wait for another bird-chirping, sun-blazing, lush green grass spring to arrive?

Well how about I suggest you gather some friends & family, set-up some great snacks to munch on (peanuts & cracker jacks?), and have yourselves a baseball movie night. The toughest part will be deciding which movie to watch first.
With that in mind might I suggest an informal survey of the best baseball movies of all time. Maybe we can come up with a top 10 or so. I'll throw 5 of my choices out there just to get us rolling. (In no particular order)

--- The Natural
--- The Rookie
--- Field of Dreams
--- Sandlot
--- Bad News Bears (the original)

There are so many more out there, share your favorites with us. Thanks for your input and I'll be looking forward to the results.

Where do we start?

It's World Series time again for the networks & for baseball fans, just ahead of Halloween. (Is that really "A-Rod" or is it "Mr. October" making a comeback in his trick-or-treat outfit?)

If you don't have a clue who "A-Rod" or "Mr. October" are, if you know but don't really care, or if you intently follow baseball from "Hot Stove" rumors to the last out of the "Fall Classic" - you just might be a baseball fan with a story.

At Growing Up Baseball I'd like to start with your baseball stories or insights into the game that we've all seen or been a part of throughout the summers of our life. It could be the T-baller who runs the wrong way, smiling from ear-to-ear the whole time, the little-leaguer with a first ever hit or catch, playing on sandlots with friends all summer long, or the 75 year old cardiac patient playing softball at "full-speed", and anything in between.

Whether it was you, friends, family, or strangers, just about all of us (in the good ole USA at least) have been touched in one way or another by baseball - its ups & downs, wins & losses, or lessons learned that carry over into everyday living.

Send in tidbits, thoughts, or your experiences to share with others. (any length is ok). You might just bring back a fond memory for someone, break loose a smile or some laughs, maybe even a tear or two, who knows? Let's give it a try and see where we go!