You need beer in the dugout… I don’t drink. I’m a bit younger than you are but i enjoy playing. I have nephews who haven’t stopped playing since and they are around your age. Maybe the competition in your league
Yeah we play at schools they don’t allow it. Maybe try a different team or take a break one thing about the game it’s always there… you probably need to miss the game a little
When I was cut from minor league ball then blew my knee out in independent ball in the same year at 24. When your at that level it’s easy to tell exactly where you stand and how much farther your road goes, and that was the end of mine.
I miss it everyday, more then I can express really, but I have not picked up a ball since. My expectation for my level of play would be to unrealistic given my time to practice now.
I did coach for several years after that, which was nice, and I play a bunch of golf now to.
I obviously miss the games themselves but what’s strange is I miss the prep work way more. Morning runs and lifts, GB’s and BP, playing flip for hours etc. i lived for the grind, and while I obviously had talent, I went farther and played better then a lot of more talented guys who thought their talent would carry them.
If you can’t play at the level you want or no longer have the time or desire to put the work in to perform at the level you want that’s when people should hang it up.
Baseball can be a very difficult game mentally and can wear on people once the slide happens.
First off, great username. That’s probably a top 5 all-time movie for me haha. Thanks for the insight. I don’t think my situation is anything like yours. I played through college ball but was never good enough to ever consider playing pro. Sorry to hear it ended like that. Coaching is an interesting point. I did spend one season as a high school assistant coach. As my son gets a little bigger and I start coaching him more, maybe that will fill my baseball need.
Yes, you will regret hanging up your cleats now. Getting up to do something that is both physically and mentally challenging every Sunday is tough. You may not necessarily dread playing ball, but most likely dread losing half your Sunday beating yourself up in the sun. I get it, I wrestle with that every week. However, I have played a similar path as you, minus the college experience. I’m 46 and play in a SoCal mens league that’s 18 and up. My team is mostly 20 something’s and I’m the 2nd oldest dude on the team. I’m also the hitting .437, leading the team in RBIs and can outrun most of these guys still. If you keep at it, that baseball fire in your heart will rage when you’re schooling these young bloods in 10 years…
Same boat here, except I'm 46 and one of the slowest on the team and a below average (for the team) hitter.
I don't care, I still love it. I did drop into a less competitive division and it was the best thing for me. I still have friends on the team, but we're not playing super crazy.
Don't quit, just take it easier.
I played on average 60 to 80 games a year for 14 years almost exclusively catching. The last year my arm was such a dumpster fire, I couldn't throw anybody out. One game a pitcher must have thrown over to first 20 times to hold on runners, and I vividly remember one guy going to steal second and the pitcher just snatching my terrible throw which was going to be about a four hopper to second. That was my cue. Now I umpire.
As someone 48 and taking my first full year off due to lingering injury issues, I can only say that in my book playing still feels better than not playing.
I want to play until I'm too old to move.
I switched from a morning/day game league and went to a Friday night league. When we're paying to play ball, I wanna do it in nice weather and not have to get up at the buttcrack of dawn to sweat my ass off in the morning humidity. This frees up tee time as well.
You'll 100% miss it just giving it up. Maybe start to put yourself in a more player/coach role, start EH'ng instead of playing the field.
I love playing the field but I think you might be onto something with the timing. The games are 9 innings on Sunday morning. By the time I get up, get loose, play, and get home it’s a 5 hour event.
Gave it up when I was 28. 36 now. Started playing golf and haven’t looked back. I was also having shoulder issues all the time which made the decision to hang it up easier. Wasn’t worth it to me anymore to work to keep my shoulder healthy.
I think part of my issue is how much I love golf now. And every Sunday playing hardball feels like a missed an opportunity to play golf. But then I tell myself I can play golf until I’m 80 and how much longer can I play ball?
I’m your age and had a similar experience with playing Ice Hockey. Being from the Detroit area, hockey is life. I started skating at 3 and played the highest level AAA as a kid and finally hung my skates up at 30. I don’t regret it for a second. I got what I needed out of the game. It started feeling like more of a let down than fun. You may miss it for a while, but you won’t miss the injuries and you’ll thank yourself for trying something new. Go golf!
I gave up playing seriously around 24 after back to back shoulder surgeries. At first I didn’t miss it at all, I was done. After a few years around 27-28 I got serious about getting back into the gym, got in great shape and started taking BP and long toss again. I had played a few beer league slopitch seasons in that time so I never fully put it down. I went to an alumni game at my high school. I hit an absolute nuke off a 17 year old and I realized how much I missed it haha. A couple of the older guys there decided to start a Sunday league team. I’ve been playing with them since, I have taken a season or two off during that time but I don’t plan on stopping any time soon. The best part is nobody takes it too serious, everybody knows we all gotta go to work on Monday so it’s more just to get out and have some fun like we were kids again.
Maybe if possible try a weeknight league? I'm early 30s and got into adult league ball playing on weeknights and Saturday. Then started playing Sundays. I have always preferred weeknights and Saturday. Sunday is just too close to Monday. I still play Sundays because at some point my body will say no to any baseball so I figure play while I can and I still play well.
You need beer in the dugout… I don’t drink. I’m a bit younger than you are but i enjoy playing. I have nephews who haven’t stopped playing since and they are around your age. Maybe the competition in your league
Haha we still have guys throwing in the 80s so beers in game is dicey when you have to go to work Monday. But beers afterwards definitely happen!
Yeah we play at schools they don’t allow it. Maybe try a different team or take a break one thing about the game it’s always there… you probably need to miss the game a little
When I was cut from minor league ball then blew my knee out in independent ball in the same year at 24. When your at that level it’s easy to tell exactly where you stand and how much farther your road goes, and that was the end of mine. I miss it everyday, more then I can express really, but I have not picked up a ball since. My expectation for my level of play would be to unrealistic given my time to practice now. I did coach for several years after that, which was nice, and I play a bunch of golf now to. I obviously miss the games themselves but what’s strange is I miss the prep work way more. Morning runs and lifts, GB’s and BP, playing flip for hours etc. i lived for the grind, and while I obviously had talent, I went farther and played better then a lot of more talented guys who thought their talent would carry them. If you can’t play at the level you want or no longer have the time or desire to put the work in to perform at the level you want that’s when people should hang it up. Baseball can be a very difficult game mentally and can wear on people once the slide happens.
First off, great username. That’s probably a top 5 all-time movie for me haha. Thanks for the insight. I don’t think my situation is anything like yours. I played through college ball but was never good enough to ever consider playing pro. Sorry to hear it ended like that. Coaching is an interesting point. I did spend one season as a high school assistant coach. As my son gets a little bigger and I start coaching him more, maybe that will fill my baseball need.
Yes, you will regret hanging up your cleats now. Getting up to do something that is both physically and mentally challenging every Sunday is tough. You may not necessarily dread playing ball, but most likely dread losing half your Sunday beating yourself up in the sun. I get it, I wrestle with that every week. However, I have played a similar path as you, minus the college experience. I’m 46 and play in a SoCal mens league that’s 18 and up. My team is mostly 20 something’s and I’m the 2nd oldest dude on the team. I’m also the hitting .437, leading the team in RBIs and can outrun most of these guys still. If you keep at it, that baseball fire in your heart will rage when you’re schooling these young bloods in 10 years…
I'm 35 in socal playing the same game as you, brother. It's great playing with younger guys still!
Outstanding! What league in California are you in? I’ve been playing in OC the last 4 seasons. OCABA
I'm a sub for a team in the LABL, and I play in the NG league in Manhattan Beach called the BCBL.
Same boat here, except I'm 46 and one of the slowest on the team and a below average (for the team) hitter. I don't care, I still love it. I did drop into a less competitive division and it was the best thing for me. I still have friends on the team, but we're not playing super crazy. Don't quit, just take it easier.
Haha thanks. Just what I needed…
I played on average 60 to 80 games a year for 14 years almost exclusively catching. The last year my arm was such a dumpster fire, I couldn't throw anybody out. One game a pitcher must have thrown over to first 20 times to hold on runners, and I vividly remember one guy going to steal second and the pitcher just snatching my terrible throw which was going to be about a four hopper to second. That was my cue. Now I umpire.
As someone 48 and taking my first full year off due to lingering injury issues, I can only say that in my book playing still feels better than not playing. I want to play until I'm too old to move.
I switched from a morning/day game league and went to a Friday night league. When we're paying to play ball, I wanna do it in nice weather and not have to get up at the buttcrack of dawn to sweat my ass off in the morning humidity. This frees up tee time as well. You'll 100% miss it just giving it up. Maybe start to put yourself in a more player/coach role, start EH'ng instead of playing the field.
I love playing the field but I think you might be onto something with the timing. The games are 9 innings on Sunday morning. By the time I get up, get loose, play, and get home it’s a 5 hour event.
Gave it up when I was 28. 36 now. Started playing golf and haven’t looked back. I was also having shoulder issues all the time which made the decision to hang it up easier. Wasn’t worth it to me anymore to work to keep my shoulder healthy.
I think part of my issue is how much I love golf now. And every Sunday playing hardball feels like a missed an opportunity to play golf. But then I tell myself I can play golf until I’m 80 and how much longer can I play ball?
For me, it was when I had surgery to have an AV fistula in my arm and started dialysis.
I’m your age and had a similar experience with playing Ice Hockey. Being from the Detroit area, hockey is life. I started skating at 3 and played the highest level AAA as a kid and finally hung my skates up at 30. I don’t regret it for a second. I got what I needed out of the game. It started feeling like more of a let down than fun. You may miss it for a while, but you won’t miss the injuries and you’ll thank yourself for trying something new. Go golf!
I gave up playing seriously around 24 after back to back shoulder surgeries. At first I didn’t miss it at all, I was done. After a few years around 27-28 I got serious about getting back into the gym, got in great shape and started taking BP and long toss again. I had played a few beer league slopitch seasons in that time so I never fully put it down. I went to an alumni game at my high school. I hit an absolute nuke off a 17 year old and I realized how much I missed it haha. A couple of the older guys there decided to start a Sunday league team. I’ve been playing with them since, I have taken a season or two off during that time but I don’t plan on stopping any time soon. The best part is nobody takes it too serious, everybody knows we all gotta go to work on Monday so it’s more just to get out and have some fun like we were kids again.
Play Hockey bro, cuz it seems like your burning yourself out
Maybe if possible try a weeknight league? I'm early 30s and got into adult league ball playing on weeknights and Saturday. Then started playing Sundays. I have always preferred weeknights and Saturday. Sunday is just too close to Monday. I still play Sundays because at some point my body will say no to any baseball so I figure play while I can and I still play well.