Baseball and Church

The last three nights of Rivercats baseball have been interesting ones. Our new catcher has hit a couple of homers for his debut. Kaz Tadano had a marvelous outing last night. Andrew Brown has looked good in two closing appearances.

But as I was at the stadium last night I was struck with some of the things that make every baseball game almost like a church service. The processional is like the national anthem. During the season there are some very good performances of the anthem and some less than good. Last night the woman who sang was very good. Also before the game we get the order of service - where players are introduced in their batting order. Another pre-ritual is the first pitch. In this stadium there are always a couple. Then there is the invitation - at the Rivercats, after the introductions and the anthem. A young kid, in this instance, invites us "Let's play ball" (Those three words we all want to hear.)

Then the game gets underway. There are all sorts of things that happen in every game. At some points the congregation is asked to be very involved, at others not so much. Many of these involvements do not always come in the same order. Inevitably the people in blue will flub something and the congregation is asked to join in - almost like the responses in the lessons. Some games, like some services, there are more opportunities to participate. But then comes the Seventh Inning - anticipation greets the away team for that inning because all the congregation knows what is coming. In the middle of the inning, almost like communion, everyone gets involved - a group helps to lead the crowd through - but everyone knows the words and almost everyone participates.

At the end of the game, people begin to peel off. But if you stay for the dismissal, the home fans of the congregation will get up to participate in the last out. All of those things give comfort to the regulars and even to those who come to the stadium from another place. Baseball, like church, is a group exercise. While you can watch it on TV or even listen to it, it is better when you can join your fellow parishioners right there in the church.