The importance of defense

[gkhd11a]

Defense to me is the key to playing baseball. I know people say, well you've got to score runs, but you've got to stop them before you can score runs. And I use to love to run down every fly ball, I used to love to throw a guy out. Of course, I played good offense too. But I just felt baseball was a beautiful game.....I mean all you do is go out there and you're out there by yourself, in center field, and it's just a beautiful game.

[b:972c3d2cd1][i:972c3d2cd1]Willie Mays[/i:972c3d2cd1][/b:972c3d2cd1]

[egvrich]

No matter the sport, one thing I have always tried to impress upon my teams is that you can never lose if the other team does not score ..... 8)

[danielz]

One of the biggest highlights from my playing days was throwing out 3 guys at the plate in the same game from RF. For one brief moment in time, I was Clemente.

[modmark46]

Best memory I have is from my American Legion baseball days while in HS. I also was playing RF. Last inning of the game, we are up by a run, they have two on and their big LH slugger up. He hits a blast, and I end up sprinting back, leaping up and crashing in to the fence, bouncing off, rolling over, and coming up with the ball! I never knew I had it until I rolled over and saw the ball in my glove. CFer said the ball would have been over the fence by a good foot or two. The congradulations and exhultations of my team mates made my crap offensive summer disappear. I felt 10 feet tall. I can still remember that feeling. Everyone should enjoy a moment like that in their lives. :)

[gkhd11a]

Great stories keep 'em coming :D

[ADRIANGABRIEL]

I didn't start playing little league until I was about 12. I gave Mendoza a bad name, but I could sort of play the outfield. I remember being in right field and having a ball hit right at me. I misjudged it and started in, but quickly backtracked, leaped, and made the catch. The crowd and my teammates all started cheering and applauding. I was very proud of that catch, but I felt like a fraud. If I hadn't started in, the ball would have come right to me.

[dwightskino211]

Ah defense!! This play is what made me stay in baseball and have a long and semi illustrious career. Our team in our town's summer park league was the best team, the Juniors (12-15 yrs) were undefeated!! One day they were short players so they took me right off the field from the midgets (9-11) game, stuck me in RF and hoped for the best. Of course a close game, extra innings and some big dude blasts one to RF. I go back, way back, lose the ball, find the ball, barely catch it as I'm falling down into a swamp, I hold on and we win the game in the bottom of the next inning. Boy, to have every older, good baseball player say hi to you the rest of the summer was awesome!! Best part was my older brother (the SS!!) had to agree it was a tough catch. I read Willie Mays' comment above, imagine having his TALENT and being alone in CF. He's the definition of the staples easy button!!

[JAMESBEESON]

Midget League 11 and 12 year olds,Las Vegas 1966. I played for B.A.North Construction,we were playing Southwest Gas Company,they had the bases loaded with no one out. I was playing third,batter hit a line drive right at me,i caught it threw to 2nd,our 2nd baseman threw to first,and an infield of 11 and 12 year olds completed a triple play.