In our household, baseball isn’t just a hobby—it’s a way of life. So, when we had our daughter, we were curious whether she would share the same enthusiasm for the sport. Aubrey entered a family already deeply embedded in baseball culture, with two teenage brothers who spend more time on the field than a jeweler at work, and parents who have spent years both coaching and playing. It was clear she was stepping up to the plate with high expectations.
For those unfamiliar with Southern California, there’s no such thing as a baseball “season.” At the high school level, the schedule is relentless: summer ball, fall ball, winter ball, and then spring season. Before high school, kids aged 4 to 14 dive headfirst into Little League games, practices, and endless volunteer commitments. And let’s not forget about travel ball—available for all ages, often at a hefty price.
Our sons, Jake and Ryan, participated in every available program simultaneously. For years, my husband and I have been split, each taking a child to their respective games during weeknights and weekends. So, when I discovered I was expecting a baby at 40, we were thrown for a loop. All I could think was, “Where will I fit a car seat?” My mid-size sedan was already overflowing with baseball gear—catcher’s bags, pitching nets, you name it.
After much deliberation, we traded in our compact car for a massive SUV. I stepped down from my coaching role, and when Aubrey arrived in November 2010, we eagerly welcomed her into our baseball family. Given that she was born during a whooping cough outbreak, we kept her away from public places until she received her vaccinations. Yet, just three weeks after her birth, she attended her first outdoor travel game.
Aubrey quickly adapted to her new life. While I lounged in my folding chair, she nursed without missing a pitch thrown by Ryan. On chilly evenings, we would relocate to the back seat of our SUV, enjoying the game from the warmth of our vehicle. When All-Star season came, I adorned her onesies with fabric paint in Ryan’s team colors, even if she spent most games napping in her stroller. Dressed in her mini Encinitas Reds jacket, she became a regular at weekend tournaments.
Now that she’s 4 and developing her own sense of fashion, matching uniforms have become a challenge. I scored big with a sparkly “Lil Sis” tank top, but failed miserably with a black shirt proclaiming, “My Brother Can Get Your Brother Out.” Convincing her to wear it took some serious bribing with candy—if only it had come in pink!
Baseball has opened up a world of travel for our little one. From road trips to Las Vegas for Ryan’s tournaments to multiple visits to Arizona and Southern California, she has been a trooper. Just this year, she even flew to Denver for Jake’s college baseball opening weekend. Through it all, she has endured sweltering heat and bundled up for games in the snow. This past March, we managed to catch ten games in a week, and her patience was commendable—at least according to the many spectators who remarked on her enthusiasm.
Of course, we’ve amassed quite the collection of gear to keep her entertained during marathon games: fruit snacks, juice boxes, coloring books, and even a dollhouse that fits perfectly in a duffle bag. But what she loves most is the attention from high school cheerleaders and the rare chance to play with teammates’ little siblings. In a family where kids are spaced out by over a decade, that’s not a common occurrence.
As seasons change, Aubrey sometimes struggles to remember which player belongs to which team. “Will Summer be there?” she asks, only to realize her brother’s friends are now in college. Four years into this baseball journey, we’re sensing her enthusiasm might be waning. She occasionally asks, “Can we go now?” even before the first inning wraps up. With over two years left in Ryan’s high school career and Jake’s college games in another state, there’s still plenty of baseball ahead of us.
However, Aubrey is becoming her own person, and we’re uncertain if she’ll share our family’s passion for the game. Just last weekend, at a college game for a friend’s son, she looked up from her book and asked, “Wait, what are we doing here?”
People often wonder when Aubrey will transition from spectator to player. Will she follow in her brothers’ footsteps, sporting number 9 and claiming third base? Or will her interests lie elsewhere, perhaps with plastic diamonds in her tiara? While she enjoys swinging a wiffle bat and catches balls in her little glove, I can’t help but wonder if she’d show the same interest if her gear wasn’t pink.
Being born into our baseball family might either ignite a passion for the sport in her or sour her on it altogether. No one knows what the future holds. For now, with her love for dancing and riding ponies, I must brace myself for the possibility that she may not want to play ball. The truth is, while we’ll support her in whatever she chooses, I would miss the crack of the bat and the thrill of a stolen base. And what a pity it would be if I could no longer show off my skills in removing infield dirt from laundry!
Regardless of what path Aubrey chooses, I have no doubt I’ll still be in the stands cheering her on. Whether it’s as a horse show mom or a dance mom, I’ll find a way to adapt. But as of now, I’m batting 1000 as a baseball mom, and I hold out hope that my little diva will one day find her passion for dirt and diamonds too.
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In summary, while Aubrey’s future in baseball remains uncertain, our commitment to nurturing her passions—whatever they may be—remains steadfast.
Keyphrase: baseball family dynamics
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