We've watched our son play baseball for eight years and we've seen all the ups and downs that go along with little league.  Lifetime friendships have been made for both our son and for us.  I've seen it all, bad calls that caused a loss, the thrill of that perfect critical strikeout, team party smiles, personal bests.  Yet my favorite experience happened just last week and it brought me to tears.  After two years of fundraising, broken promises, headaches, and heartaches, we finally reached the pinnacle of every little baseball boy's dreams, a trip to Cooperstown.  We were at elimination day there and my husband and I were sitting by the playground on the hill overlooking field seven.  I was stationed just behind my husband since I was with our three year old on the playground.  His back was towards me as he sat on the bleachers watching the team warm up.  I couldn't see his face but I knew how he felt, it was a feeling of perfect contentment.  His joy of watching his baby boy get to play in the "Little Majors" was one that only other fathers in similar circumstances could understand.  I took a picture of him staring out over the hill watching his son and then I started to cry.  Any mom knows why.  It was a perfect moment.

From the area in Northern California from which I came..

www.winecountrybaseball.com

"In 2000 Leonhardt founded Leonhardt Vineyards a grower and producer of red wines in Dry Creek Valley of Sonoma County, California (www.leonhardtvineyards.com). In 2009 in their first try their wine won a Gold Medal at the Sonoma County Harvest Fair. Leonhardt Vineyards provides a minimum of 25% of it's profits to charitable causes. They founded in 2009 Wine Country Old Fashioned baseball League with 8 teams in Sonoma County and 4 team teams in Napa County (www.winecountrybaseball.com). 50% of the gate and concession profits from each game goes towards supporting local charitable causes. The league is working to secure 10% celebrity owners for each team to help bring attention to the charitable causes. Leonhardt Vineyards announced spring of 2010 a sponsorship relationship with the San Francisco Giants baseball Club which includes two large panel advertisement boards behind home plate at the team's AT&T Park. Both the vineyard and the baseball league has booked a full page advertisement in the June issue of Wine Spectator."

50%!!!! of the gate goes towards a local charitable cause!!  Wow.  Play baseball, or watch as a fan, and help the local communities.. Incredible concept.

Matthew Rose takes a swing at the art of baseball in his prize-winning art stamp sheet, Rubens Rounding Third. Printed on gummed paper and perforated, the stamp sheet is the artist's ode to baseball, art, Rubens, stamps in a sexy twist on turning the corner, in this case third base.

This collector's piece is headed for Cooperstown, the baseball Hall of Fame in Upstate New York, as well as a permanent place at the Philatelic Museum of Oaxaca, Mexico, which awarded the artist first prize in their world wide competition for 'Baseball Philately + The Art Inspired by Philately'.

"My guess is that Americans of all sizes will be interested in this work, not only those who love baseball and art," said Matthew, "but also those who grew up playing the game and found themselves distracted by some attractive fan in the crowd."

• Printed on gummed stamp sheets
• Signed and numbered by the artist
• Limited edition of 1000
• 296mm by 407mm (11½ by 16 inches)

See the stamps, you can by them here, too: KEEP CALM GALLERY.

If that doesn't work, here's the link to cut and paste: http://www.keepcalmgallery.com/artists/matthew_rose/mrrubens-rubens_rounding_third.htm

Looking for a great communication system for your team or league? We offer a free application that includes email, text messaging, video drills and an interactive calendar. We also have a tremendous fundraising tool through advertising. Check out this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YG0oT3qaZvE

Over the past decade, I've watched different groups have "pink" days or vendors who release special "pink" editions of their product for breast cancer awareness. Here in Wisconsin, the limited edition pink Packers hats flew off the shelf in a matter of hours.

I was always curious to know what the Average Joe thought about events or products like that. Most wouldn't denigrate their friends for wearing pink, especially if they knew they had family members affected by breast cancer. 

It's very heartening to see how professional sports have embraced the movement. From my perspective here in cubicle land, tapped into athletic social media, constantly bombarded with top-tier vendors, I can now say with confidence that the stigma is gone. Men are now allowed to and actually encouraged to wear pink to support breast cancer awareness.

Save the ta-tas is just a joke until your mom gets diagnosed. Then it becomes a battle cry.

I hope my employers will step up and start carrying more products that will benefit breast cancer awareness initiatives.

I would like to propose to set up a charity, where those less fortunate than us, can enjoy the game of baseball one day. I would like to donate $500 to the administrator of this website, to coordinate with some children's group, to make a day for as many as we can. Maybe we can get the ball rolling, and in the Spring have enough money collected, that we can make some little guy or girl enjoy a baseball game at Citifield or Yankee Stadium. I am sure there are enough people out there, who would love to see, someone who has not enjoyed a game at a stadium. Just think about giving back, to those who have not shared  in the greatness of the game. A little smile on someone's face, is definitely worth the price of admission. A few pictures on the site, to show all of us, would be a great start. So, let's get the game started, and see if we can be a winner with this start-up ballclub.

                                                                                          Until we chat again,

                                                                                                                   Lefty

Cupcakes...no!  Video games...no! baseball...yes!  Its time to take  a better look at what is REALLY making our children overweight.  Everyone agrees that childhood obesity is a major issue that needs to be addressed.  However, making the above mentioned such a negative part of childhood only makes it more desirable.  You always want what you can't have, right?  I believe cupcakes, cookies, video games, tv are all okay in moderation and with monoriting.  They are all a part of life right now and they have been for a long time.  When we pretend they aren't we are not addressing the real needs of our children.  Instead, we should educate our kids about how to  make healthy decisions for themselves.  Get them active in whatever interests them (such as baseball, football, karate, tennis, dance...etc)  Lets start giving our children more opportunities to be healthy and active instead of taking away the things they enjoy!!