FOR THE SMELL OF IT

Hello Baseball Fans,

Well, here we are heading for Shakespeare’s infamous ‘ides of March’ while on a collision course towards St. Patrick’s Day, the seasonal equinox, and the official start of Spring.  We’re already on Daylight Savings Time and Spring Training, of course, is nearly half over and the games are now featuring big-time starting pitchers throwing a few innings.  Some kelly green jerseys and hats will soon surely be among those various versions and colors of spring uniforms worn by teams other than the one that plays in Oakland.  And the harsh weather is starting to subside in states other than Florida and Arizona.

Ahh yes, here comes real spring and real games are within sight.  It’s great to see the days become brighter and lighter.  It’s great to see people heading outdoors even if it’s not too warm yet, but it isn’t teeth-rattling cold anymore either.  Ahh yes, what sights.  Great sights indeed.

However, there is much more to Spring and baseball than just the sights of birds and children flocking outside and players running and catching and hitting.  There, too, are the scents of moist, freshly cut grass, the new leather mitts and gloves, spikes, and pine tar.  Heck, you may even like the scent of a player’s chewing tobacco.  Unlikely, but you might.  No, we are NOT promoting such addictive habits.  How about sticking to those obnoxious ranch flavored sunflower seeds?  Everyone likes ranch, right.  Yep they do.  Just NOT on your seeds!!!!!

Playing early Spring baseball is unlike anything else.  The smell of damp air looms as the field tries its hardest to dry out.  Then there is the constant monitoring of those looming, threatening clouds that could at once cancel a scrimmage or dictate that the day’s practice will be held indoors to make even further use of the wooden pitching mounds and bouncy balls for batting practice.

But outdoor baseball always prevails.  Eventually, the weather turns for the better like a tailor-made double play.  Six.  Four.  Three.  However, we are still prepared for ill will as the scent of neat’s foot oil in the mitts is ready to protect from the elements at all times, be it rain or dust.  Ahh, protected new leather!  And surely, somebody’s father or grandfather will stand off to the side of the crowd and enjoy a coveted cigarette or stogy.  And that, combined with the freshly cut grass and the grape-flavored Big League Chew as the batter steps in, is how we know it’s Spring time!  Here comes the first, big swing….and it’s a…. FOUL BALL!!!  Straight back to the backstop, strike ONE!!

What sights to see.   The start of the first game.  The first pitch.  The first foul ball.  A foul?  Well, that can’t be that exciting, can it?  Well, a fine defensive stop or a triple are much more so.  But you can’t smell those.  A nice, hard contact straight back to the backstop produces another scent that being near the game announces quite loudly.  A ‘just missed it’ foul tip like so is a great scent-ual part of the game.  With a wooden bat, you can smell the matchstick ‘burn’ of such a missed opportunity as was famously highlighted by Ted Williams in his on-field Fenway Park appearance at the ’99 All-Star game while discussing hitting with the new generation of sluggers.  And even if you swing aluminum, you at least get that burnt plasticy smell.  It’s not as good, but go with the scent ya got!  Noses up out there!!

Later Baseball Fans.