Please line up directly behind Mr. Andersen.

Yes, apparently Garrett Andersen came up with this brilliant idea to have many different players of different ethnicities appear on TWIB to thank Jackie Robinson for bringing us different players that we have loved to watch through the years.  Good job Garrett.

But on to the real reason I'm writing...

Watching This Week In Baseball (TWIB)'s tribute to Jackie Robinson this morning reminded me of so many reasons why I love baseball.

I work in a group home with SED boys aged 10 - 18.  Not many of them have an appreciation for baseball and I'm constantly hearing how the game is stupid, it's boring, there's not enough violence, etc.  

It's a rough job because these boys are so damaged: no sense of family, no sense of self dignity or respect, no sense of history of any kind.

Last season, I took a group of six boys to an A's game.  I was kind of worried because I was afraid they would ruin my enjoyment of the game.  To my astonishment, the opposite happened.

It was a fireworks night and the game went into extras.  We had to be back in Sacramento at a reasonable hour or I would be fired, so the other staff & I decided to cut and run rather than wait to watch the fireworks on the field.  Of course the A's scored the winning run while we were waiting in line for the shuttle to take us to the BART parking.

We made it to our van just in time to sit on the curb and watch the fireworks and listen to thousands of fans vocally celebrate an A's victory.  The kids were moved and so was I.  Several of the boys said it was the best night they'd ever had.  

Baseball is about history.  It's a beautiful, mental game that can teach us things whether or not you've ever actually played it.  My 20 year old daughter bought a new glove and a ball for the first time in...a while.  We've been playing toss like she was 5 again.  And it is amazing.

Year after year, I fall in love with the game.  With players old and new.  I smile and get a bit misty eyed when I happen to see an old favorite who is no longer playing.  Memories...good times.

Jackie Robinson opened up this game to so very many people.  TWIB's show is not to be missed in my opinion, whether or not you're a fan of TWIB.