By Albert B. Kelly
I don’t know if you’ve
been to any of the baseball games taking place at Alden Field as part of the
Bridgeton Invitational Baseball Tournament, but if you’re a fan, even a casual
one, then it would be worth your time take in an evening of tournament play.
I say that because
watching the teams play, reminds me of what I love about sports. We live in a
time when professional sports are all about money and contracts and commercial
success. This is a far cry from the way it used to be. Even college sports
becomes all about the money; though the schools like to opine all the way to
the bank about the purity of amateurs.
For those of a certain
age, we remember when players stayed with one team for years. In fact, I could
probably find a lot of people who can name the starting line-ups for the 1980
Phillies the 69 Mets or even the Brooklyn Dodgers before they went west.
Today, teams turn-over so
much that it’s hard to follow who belongs to which club. No player is sacred
and it is rare indeed to have a player end his career with the same team he started
with. Maybe Dereck Jeter will be the last one; though I had hopes for Cole Hammels
until he was dealt to Texas. Years ago I was brokenhearted when the Phillies
dealt my favorite player Richie Allen.
But that’s the pro game:
not so much at Alden Field. The players you see in Bridgeton’s tournament play
because they love the game. Maybe some had dreams of going pro when they were
in high school or college and maybe a few still privately nurture that dream,
but they play because they love it.
And what’s not to love.
Maybe it’s the feel of the dirt under the cleats or the sound of that “thwack”
when the ball hits a well-oiled glove. Maybe it’s the sound the ball makes
coming of the bat or breaking off a perfect 3-2 curveball that freezes the
hitter. It could be the catcher making a snap throw to nail a runner trying to
steal second base.
Whatever it is, they love
it and you can see it in their faces and body language. For me, my playing days
have long since passed and my perfect “thwack” comes with a fork, a spoon, and
some napkins. But every evening for two weeks in August each year, you can
catch the late afternoon sun glinting off the outfield grass as it settles in
the west.
Each year, Alden Field
gets a little better with some new improvement or addition to the venue. I
remember the stands being a dramatic change; for players it was the addition of
the outfield warning track. When I think about it, Alden Field is a pretty
impressive venue for fans and solid field for the players.
I also love to see
families and young children. The Bridgeton Invitational Baseball Tournament is
a great family outing even if you’re not a die-hard baseball fan. There’s
always someone you know there or an old friend you haven’t seen for a while.
It’s a good time to catch up with old friends and maybe make a few new ones.
But I have to give a lot
of credit to the volunteers who organize and coordinate the tournament. This
goes way beyond the care and maintenance of the field; it includes bringing
down celebrities, sports stars, the Philly Fanatic, and all manner of
entertainment. This is also part of the tournament experience and something I
look forward to each year.
The tournament reminds me
of where we are on the calendar. It marks the dog days of summer and if I knew
nothing else, I would know that fall is not too far away. I’m always glad when
tournament time comes around and I’m just a little sad to see it end.
But I’m appreciative of
the players and the competition because I know their motive is pure and it’s
the love of playing baseball. So if you’ve never been to the Bridgeton
Invitational Baseball Tournament, I encourage you to check it out. If you’ve
been out before but it has been a long time ago, I urge you stop by one evening
and see what’s new.
The Tournament will run
until August 17th this year and you can get more information on
games and schedules by visiting bridgetontournament.com. We hope to see you
there.