October Baseball and How I Judge People Because of It

I promoted my last Pete Chat post on Facebook, and I'm pretty sure more people than usual read it. Can you even call that guerrilla marketing? I'm not sure. So to all the new Pete Chat  readers welcome and to my regular readers, I say welcome back. Not all of my posts are baseball related (although a fair amount are) but seeing as the play offs are rapidly approaching I felt that now is as good as any to talk about the importance of baseball.

Baseball was the first sport I ever loved. Before, football, wrestling, or volleyball. I gained a great appreciation early on. My Grandpa loved baseball (he played semi pro) and I remember fielder grounders from him when he was in his late seventies maybe eighties. I don't know too many people who gain appreciation for baseball later in life. My dad will go to games with me, but because he didn't grow up watching it (he played Handball and Soccer in Germany, he gets a pass because baseball is America's Pastime) he doesn't appreciate it the way I do.

So if you are a guy and you were born in the country and you don't like baseball, I'm sorry but I just can't trust you fully. You may not know this but one of my simple pleasures in life is a two out RBI. I just love that. I remember being at a game in high school with my friend Jenny.  There was a two out RBI single. I applauded, she didn't get it. Anyone who says baseball is slow or boring doesn't understand the intricacies of the game.

There are a number sure fire way to determine if someone is a real baseball.  One involves two baseball cards. These two seemingly innocuous cards are right up there with '52 Topps Mantle, the Honus Wagner, or the '89 Griffey Upper Deck. Now anyone is libel to have heard of those cards but serious baseball fans know exactly what I mean when I say Dale Murphy-RN, or Bill Ripken-FF.

I even have a personal experience with Dale Murphy. In 2004 Dale Murphy was on the Stake High Council when I was BYU. After Brother Murphy gave his talk and was standing around after Sacrament meeting, Jordan went up to him and talked to him about this card.

I won't say much about Bill Ripken because I don't need to. People I trust, already know.

As Dan Nelson and I have said time and time again, I just can't trust a man who doesn't like baseball. Some people even go against standard procedure and develop a an appreciation. JJ for example wasn't a huge fan when we are eleven, but has increased his appreciation for the game, to the point where he stayed up to watch all of game four last year in Boston.

So as the Angels roll into the playoffs, and I grow out my playoff approximation of a beard, you should know that I am judging you, not based on your gender, your religion, your skin color or anything like that. No, I'm judging you on whether or not you like baseball.

People who I didn't mention who I trust partially because they like baseball.

 In no particular order:

1. Brian Rowland
2. Josh Rose
3. David Dickinson
4. Thomas Estrada
5. Dan Mason
6. Kyle Holmberg
7. Will Perry
8. Tyler Kurtz
9. Joe Johnston
10. Ryan Barber
11. Tom Lewis
12. Stevie Wilson
13. Chad Hallberg