BASEBALL GLORY: How It All Started 

Throughout the years, baseball has always been my favorite sport.

As I wrote in my book, Belonging to Yourself, during my years in high school, I played for the varsity baseball team. Two professional baseball farm teams scouted me, but the turnout differed from what I had hoped since I did not become a professional player. I felt saddened by the outcome but didn't give up and continued aiming for something meaningful.   

After high school, I decided to coach a baseball team in the same league where I grew up in my neighborhood in New York, the Elmjack Little League. I hoped to give back to the young kids in my area.

The team I coached was the 17-21-year-old division. I wanted to show them the fundamentals of the game, the respect and leadership that come with the sport, and the skills they would need to succeed in the future. As a child playing baseball, the Elmjack Little League taught me the same values.

One day, I was approached by the president of the league, Bobby. During our conversation, he said he would have to cancel the senior division baseball traveling team due to a lack of funds. He added that they also didn’t have a coach for the division.

After listening, I asked Bobby how much money he needed. He said $2000 would cover the uniforms, bats, and balls. I wrote him a check and told him I would take on the coach role. Bobby hugged me with watery eyes and thanked me, knowing my involvement would help keep the older kids off the streets.

There were no kids to form a team, so my first task was to recruit players. I visited a park close to home, knowing a group of young guys hung out playing softball and basketball. It was a great way to spend their days, but then, they would smoke weed with their friends at night.

I approached them and asked if they would be interested in playing baseball for a summer traveling team to represent the Elmjack League in the Sandlot Alliance Tournament. They all said yes, but I wasn't convinced they would come through. So, I enthusiastically asked them to meet me at the baseball field the following Tuesday to start practice and walked away with a heart full of hope.

Ten players showed up to begin practicing that Tuesday! I was so happy to see them there; they had kept their word! Just from them showing up, I knew this would turn into something great for all of us.

It was a good start for the team, and soon, I started scouting players from other high schools who had experience playing organized baseball. I hand-picked players and approached them, asking if they wanted to join the team. Many of them said yes, and I knew my strategy was working.

It took a few weeks to complete my scouting mission, but I enlisted eight players from local high schools and had 18 guys ready to compete against an elite group of other teams. I had them out four times a week for intensive training—batting practices, infield and outfield drills, running bases, the whole nine yards.

The chemistry between them was amazing. It was initially tough, which I expected, but they developed a great connection. The experience of watching them getting along and helping one another each time we practiced was wonderful!

And, due to their efforts, we won three consecutive championships in a row!

We were back-to-back-to-back champions!

This experience taught me that life becomes beautiful when we can assist others in transforming their lives into something greater than they could ever imagine.

The real success lies in being kind to yourself and others as much as possible. I believe that is the reason why we exist on this planet.