The 1967 Atlanta Braves
The first major league baseball game I attended was the 1967 Atlanta Braves when I was twelve. I remember it was a hot summer day, and the crowd was humongous. The Braves were only in their second season in Atlanta, having moved from Milwaukee the year before. Their home field was the Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, and as a twelve-year-old, this was the largest venue I had ever seen. I was in awe.
More than the stadium, I was eager to see some baseball players I had collected on baseball cards for the last few years. There were several well-known players on the team: Phil Niekro, a knuckleball pitcher who is very rare these days; Philip Alou, a solid hitter and outfielder known for his consistency and professionalism; my favorite, Joe Torre, who looked like a gladiator when catching behind the plate; and, of course, Hank Aaron, the home run king.
Undoubtedly, the team’s star, Hank Aaron, was already a baseball legend by 1967. Known for his incredible hitting prowess and consistency, Aaron was the player everyone came to see. Fans had high expectations whenever he stepped into the batter’s box, anticipating that he could change the game with a single swing. By this time, Aaron was well on his way to breaking Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record, and his presence on the team brought a sense of excitement and hope to Braves fans.
It's Personal Now
I often wonder what legends like Hank Aaron thought as they stepped up to the plate. Were they confident? Were they fearful? Did they use their experience to have a vision for their present situation? Did demons bite at their thoughts? All of these probably played a part in the game they played.
Expectation is the word that comes to mind as I reminisce about those games I went to see. Recently, my Mom had a large tumor removed from her colon and, as a result, also received a colostomy. I have been living with her since being laid off three years ago. I was blessed that she was still active and able to do things for herself. But, in this situation, I’ve had to adjust my schedule.
I question whether I can step up to the plate and take on more responsibility for her as she approaches the end of her life. A Scripture verse comes to mind:
“For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” – Esther 4:14
For such a time as this is why I am here now. I must put away my selfishness and resentments and concentrate on what the Lord has called me to do now. The verse applies to me just as it applies to Esther in her time of trial. Is it expected of me? Maybe. Stepping up to the plate in any circumstance requires commitment and strength. Did I ask for this? No. But just like Esther, I am willing to sacrifice in the moment for an outcome the Lord desires.
My Time
Barry Bonds broke Hank Aaron’s home run record. Hank Aaron held the Major League Baseball (MLB) record for career home runs for over 30 years after surpassing Babe Ruth’s 714 home runs. Aaron finished his career with 755 home runs, a record until August 7, 2007, when Bonds hit his 756th home run.
Despite Bonds breaking the record, Hank Aaron’s legacy as one of baseball’s greatest players remains intact. He is still widely respected for his accomplishments on and off the field. A friend of Hank Aaron told me that Arron was one of the most unselfish and humble men he had ever known.
I asked the Lord to help me be a servant long ago. At the time, I was thinking of mission work, but now it’s clear that the expectation is to serve my Mom “for such a time as this.” Help me, Lord, to serve unselfishly and with humility.
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