Summer Baseball The author reflects on his extensive experience coaching his sons in baseball over two decades, cherishing the moments spent in the dugout and the lessons learned. He contrasts the joy of volunteer coaching with the perceived “sin” of professionalizing youth sports, emphasizing that the true value lies in shared experiences and character development rather than just winning. As his youngest son finishes Little League, the author acknowledges the end of his coaching era with deep sentimentality.

• The author recounts his emotional realization that his youngest son’s last Little League at-bat might be his final time in the dugout as a coach.
• He details his own childhood baseball experiences and his subsequent seven years playing in a men’s league, highlighting the camaraderie.
• The author coached all three of his sons and one daughter in various leagues from T-ball to Babe Ruth, finding particular joy as an assistant coach.
• He critiques the professionalization of youth sports, where paid coaches prioritize winning over fun and fathers are reduced to mere payers.
• The author values the lessons of effort, fair play, resilience, and celebrating others’ successes taught through youth baseball.
• Despite his sadness at the end of his coaching career, he expresses gratitude for the 20 seasons spent with his children.