I caught for Satchel Paige in 1968 during an exhibition game in Florida. He was in his late 50s…and could still throw a 90 MPH fastball. He was kind, gracious…and spoke with wisdom, he said, from a lifetime of living.

Image Credit: (Photo courtesy of MLB Hall of Fame and Museum)

OPINION

It’s Summer, so my grandson — like a million kids — is playing baseball…a sport I love and played. Even at my advanced age, I stay close to the game…umpiring in both the U.S. and Canada…mostly high school- and college-age teams.

My grandson is 11…an age group that I don’t umpire. When I’m not umpiring, I try to make his games as a spectator. He’s a good athlete…something, I guess, most papas say…but he throws, catches and bats better than most the other kids his age.

Athletic talent is mostly something you’re born with…picking up skills along the way that determine whether your career ends at Little League or MLB…or somewhere in between. Physically, the kid has what it takes…he might even be able to land a college scholarship some day.

A couple weeks ago, I saw my grandson throw a baseball hard into the pitcher’s mound in frustration…he had walked a couple batters…watched as teammates committed a couple errors…threw a tantrum and was pulled for another pitcher.

He stormed off to the dugout, muttering…with a scowl on his face. Good sportsmanship isn’t always an easy lesson to learn. But it’s an absolute necessity…and not just for the game of baseball. It’s a life lesson…one that helps determine what kind of adult you might one day become.

My dad offered me this advice one night after I hit a walk-off, game-winning home run in high school. Boasting about my homer on the ride home, my dad simply said, “Son, you’d do well to shave off the peaks…and fill in the valleys.”

(DON THOMPSON / iNFOnews.ca)

Last week, in a doubleheader I didn’t get to see, my grandson’s team played well…coming back in both games in the last inning to win. But in the final game, my grandson struck out in his last at bat…and cursed loudly enough on his way back to the dugout that spectators and players heard him.

Both his parents - accomplished competitive athletes themselves - reprimanded him immediately. He lost certain privileges for a yet to be determined time…an action I fully support. When I heard about his behaviour, I told my wife that in games I umpired…he would have been ejected.

Good sportsmanship isn’t always a single vaccination…often it requires a few shots as you’re growing up. Sadly, we all know adults who are impervious to the vaccine. Most folks - as kids - learn valuable lessons that allow them to work and play and live well with others.

The morning after my grandson yelled the expletive at the game…he was cuddling with his mom and suggested he scramble eggs for everyone for breakfast…almost an apology.

I have little doubt he’s well on his way toward being fully vaccinated…perhaps another booster or two as a teenager…but it’s working. I’m guessing when he reads this…it could build his immunity against poor sportsmanship further.

Satchel Paige, a baseball Hall of Famer who played 30 years in both the Negro Leagues and Major League Baseball…as well as barnstorming in the Dominican Republic and Mexican Leagues in Winter, offered this gem of wisdom about sportsmanship…character…integrity…and life.

“You win some. You lose some. Some get rained out. But you have to get dressed for every game.” 

My dad, Satchel Paige - and lots of other good folks - understood that anyone can be a gracious winner; but being gracious after losing shows strength of character.

My grandson is learning that…and he’ll be better for it.

— Don Thompson, an American awaiting Canadian citizenship, lives in Vernon and in Florida. In a career that spans more than 40 years, Don has been a working journalist, a speechwriter and the CEO of an advertising and public relations firm. A passionate and compassionate man, he loves the written word as much as fine dinners with great wines.

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