Four days ago, on January 1, we slid into home plate on the tails of the old year, 2023. In baseball lingo, I liken the first day of any new year to Opening Day of baseball season.
No one would argue with the statement that 2023 was a challenging year and that those challenges will, unfortunately, probably be following us into the new one:
The Middle East conflict
The Ukrainian plight
The continuous surge of Illegal immigrants across our border
The upcoming election
There are some bright spots amid the chaos:
Inflation is being contained
Crime rates have actually fallen
The Supreme Court upheld America’s toughest animal cruelty law
World peace and our own personal inner peace aren’t easy to come by these days. But if you look to the world of sports – and baseball in particular – an abundance of feats not easy to come by are on a regular basis being achieved nevertheless.
For instance:
In 1969, the New York Mets had never finished higher than 9th in the 10 team National League. And they never had a winning season.
But the Chicago Cubs, which led their division with a stellar line-up and amazing talent that year, had a late season collapse and the Mets ended up finishing 8 games ahead of the Cubs to clinch the National League East title.
And they didn’t stop there!
The Mets defeated the National League West champions, the Atlanta Braves, three games to none in the National League Series. The Mets then defeated the American League champions, the Baltimore Orioles, in five games to clinch the coveted title of World Series Champions.
The Mets became known as the “Miracle Mets.”
WHY? Because the Baltimore Orioles at that time were considered to be one of the finest teams ever assembled and had star players at almost every position. The Mets? Those guys were considered “very mediocre.”
And yet, The Mets won!
My husband and I are baby boomers. When coming of age, no game reflected and captured our anguish and our aspirations more accurately in the world of sports than the game of baseball. And this strong affinity for bats, balls, strikes and homers continues today down to our kids, grandkids and extended family.
The announcers shout out at every Opening Day “Play Ball.” And no matter how illusive victory may be, we secure our tickets, we gather our friends and family, we argue over trades and plays and umpire calls. Why? Because hope springs eternal and every spring in every new year is another opportunity to “get it right” by outplaying and out witting our opponents.
If the New York Mets could win against such great odds, perhaps by some unforeseen miracle the world’s ills can also be reversed and we all emerge “victorious.”
https://www.mlb.com/video/mets-win-1969-world-series-c1889909583
I fervently hope in the year ahead that our team – our citizens, our nation, and our world – sees peace and harmony blanketing our playing field.
Miracles happen to those who believe in them. And I believe in miracles.
Play Ball and Keep Preserving Your Bloom,