My First Blog

I don't really know what to write about and I only started this thing because I was bored and have nothing to do once the Yankee game ended. I guess I'll write about my first experience with catcher's gear, being as my blog is called "Tools of Ignorance".

Growing up in the carfields of Brooklyn, I pretty much played softball all my life. I was a big time Yankee fan, but all of my gloves were the 13 inch kind. You know, the vacuum cleaners. My family took softball pretty seriously and we were pretty good. In the summer camps we went to, the Schwartz Bros were always first rounders in the draft, even when we weren't in the oldest bunk.

When my oldest brother began college, Yeshiva University was starting a club team (they had no varsity) and after he joined, he suggested I try. From then on, we stuck to baseball, hitting fungos, and learning the grips- my brother pitched and played infield. I wasn't sure what I was, I never played before. In softball though, I pretty much played anywhere- except catcher. Who wants to play catcher in softball - it's so demeaning and you really have no responsibility back there.

After seeing my brother off before his first game, I actually met his coach and my brother grabbed my shoulder and said, "Coach, this guy will be your catcher one day." (I had once been in Modells with my father and I picked up a catcher's mask. When I caught my Dad pitching to my brother, I used to sit like 20 feet behind the batter.) I shook my head, thought of sitting so close to the batter and said, "Nah, second baseman."

Well, my brother was right and it was just a month or two later that I was looking for a baseball camp to go to. My brother had convinced me to become a catcher and to this day, I really don't know how or why, but I love him for it. Regardless, one Sunday, we went to Modells to buy my first set of gear- chest protector, shin guards and the new hockey style mask. I tried it all on, it all fit- the shin guards fit fine if the vertical settings were at its highest.

If you don't know by now, adult sized shin guards do not have settings to make it bigger or smaller. Tighter and looser, yes, but not tall and short. I had bought youth shin guards at the age of 17. I practiced blocking and receiving and I was not good at it. But I thought I would be damn good, and here I was, never playing baseball before, going to a camp geared toward the college-bound high school player. Ignorance is bliss.

Well, I found out I was wearing youth shin guards when all the other catchers had much bigger and intimidating shin guards. Sure, I got weird looks, but it wasn't as embarassing as my poor play. Everyone was very nice though, and during the first week, I quickly ordered a new pair of shin guards, the man size. And to this day, I still wear the man size shin guards.

Just now I remembered a story that I must tell. I was hanging out with a friend one Sunday morning, back when were probably like 8-10 years old. And he played little league baseball, and his dad was their coach, so he let me tag along and play. While I can't remember what I did at the plate, I do recall them asking me if I want to play catcher in the last inning. Yes I do. So, as noted before, I did sit 10 feet behind the batter. This time I had full gear (maybe even same as 10 years in the future) so I guess I sat closer. Well, I ran up the past balls count and couldn't even keep my eyes open when the batter didn't swing. Thats all for now. Lets see how long till I write again.