Every so often we receive an email from one of the folks in the WebBall community, that we want so much to share with everyone ...and this is one of those times. By the way, in the email below the writer mentions something called a "charter" membership - that was available only until mid-2006, replaced now with our new lifetime membership.

Coach Todd,

I must share something with you even though we wouldn’t know each other if our paths would somehow cross. Over the past few years I have asked many questions to many different people involved in the game, players and coaches. In my process of gathering information you my friend have always had the last word. I have always respected your no-nonsense, common sense suggestions and for whatever reason felt confident that I was getting an honest thought out reply from someone who truly wanted to help in someway.

Many subscribers and non-subscribers, (baseball enthusiasts) all over the world explore your site in the constant search of information to improve as a team or an individual. We all know how exhausting and overwhelming not mentioning the effort and dedication needed, (coaches, players, and parents) to play competitive baseball. To be quite honest there have been times that I have asked myself is all of this worth it. Are we all just chasing a dream? Desire by itself can diminish when faced with the reality of the dedication needed and the persistence of self improvement.

I have worked the same job going on 30 years. A very close friend and co-worker retired last year. At work during our breaks my friend listened to me talk about my son’s baseball games, pitching lessons, all of his hard work and accomplishments over the period of the last 7 years. My friend understood the love that my son and I shared and how baseball had created a very special relationship between us. (He probably listened a little more than he would have liked) but like I said, he was and is a good friend. He was always going to come to one of my son’s games but because of work and a busy life, most of our games being on the road he never made it to a game.

When my long time friend retired, I wanted to give him something special as a retirement gift. Something that would have a meaningful, heartfelt impact that would symbolize our longtime friendship working together over the years and what this had meant to me. This was an easy choice for me.  I had to give him something that he knew I cherished and was very important to myself. Along with a letter and a card I had my son sign a baseball. I explained in the letter that this gift is a symbol of not what it is but what his friendship has meant to me. Believe me when I tell you he more than understood.

Last Saturday my friend called and wondered if my son would be having a game soon, that he would like to come and see him play. Luckily we were playing a game the following day and my son was going to be pitching. Normally at my son’s games when he is pitching I hang out way down on the 3rd base side somewhere between 3rd base and the fence.

My son has always laughed about this. I told my son that I did not want to be a distraction. His response was “Dad” I don’t pay any attention to you when I’m on the mound”. (I guess his response didn’t bother me too much)?

I decided because my friend was coming after all these years that I was parking two chairs right behind the backstop, directly behind home plate!!! To me this is like parking your car on a railroad track, I was very uncomfortable! My friend arrived and the game unfolded. This was to be a 7 inning game and we were playing a competitive team that had won a tournament we were in the previous year.

As we sat and watch the game we caught up on old times and he commented on how well my son was pitching.

All [of a] sudden it dawned on me that my son was in the 6th inning and had a no-hitter going. Sounds started getting very quiet around the ballpark. We took our at bat and my son went to the mound for the final inning. It’s probably not necessary to explain this but at this point in the game, time stood still. As I sat there I just knew that this would be too good to come true. Here I was setting with the one person that had heard me talk about my son and baseball for years and for the 1st game that he came to watch him pitch, to be a no-hitter, no-way. Things like this happen on the Hallmark channel, not real life. To top it all off, this particular day was my sons 14th birthday.

My son struck the first two batters out on 6 pitches; he was down to the final out. Have you ever seen a 225 lb kid jump 5 foot straight up in the air? And to see him run down off that mound with a smile so big, being surrounded by his team and coaches. And most of all as a dad, to have him walk over to me and place that baseball in my shaking hands. Words will never describe the emotions that I felt this day. I do remember saying to my son trying to hold it together, “you know buddy you almost made it, Greg Maddux pitched a no-hitter when he was 13 years old. His reply was “Dad, I’m not officially 14 until 11:08 tonight. What a great kid!

Coach Todd, I wanted to share this with you because you also are part of this story. I am a charter member of your site. Not only have I picked up helpful information and products from your site but also great advice when emailing you with specific questions. My reasoning for taking the time in writing this to you is as follows. This story is really what the game is all about. I think we all sometimes get caught up in the pursuit of excellence and competitiveness and forget about the stories behind the game. I do want you to know that my son did work very hard to achieve this goal. You have played a major role in his support system and I want to thank you.

Sincerely,
Mark Howard

All I can say is that I hope part of everyone's baseball journey includes a moment like this. And if WebBall can help that happen, let me know. This letter now has a permanent home on the site - so if you can think of someone who needs to hear this story, please tell them about it. Thanks.

- Richard Todd, Head Coach, WebBall Baseball