98 Things That Changed My Life: Baseball

I was six years old when I joined my first baseball team. My parents lied about my age in order to get me to be able to play on the same team as my brother. I was awful of course, but so were the other kids. My only hit, was the game winning hit of our championship game. Everyone signed the ball, and I felt like a hero. From that moment on I was hooked.

Receiving a 1st place trophy

I was born in New York City, the greatest city in the world not named Rome. I had two choices before me, become a Yankee or a Met fan. No shade to the Mets, but there was never really an option. I bleed Yankee blue, and have been watching them since 1992.

Bernie Williams and Don Mattingly, two of my favorite ball players growing up.

I will always remember visiting Yankee Stadium on August 14, 1993 to see Reggie Jackson's number retired. Gosh the Yankees were an awful ball club back then, but that didn't really matter to me.

Mr. October getting his number retired

I like Football and Basketball plenty, but there is NO sport like Baseball. Most sports are broken into 4 quarters and require a player to go from one side of a field/court to the other side. Hitting a baseball is the HARDEST thing an athlete can do in professional sports.

Why hitting a baseball is the hardest thing to do in sports

We eventually moved from New York, and my playing days came to an early end. I often think about how things could have gone for me if I kept playing. I decided to join a softball team 2 years ago. I was paired with other random people. It was a lot of fun but the people I played with were competitive douche bags. The next season I made a new team with my friends and family. We played for two seasons and had a blast. We weren't that good, but weren't that bad either. Who knows, maybe one day we will play again.

The "Spectres"

From Left to Right: Gabriel Dorta (3rd Baseman), Milton Dorta (3rd Base Coach), and Michael Dorta (Left Fielder)

I can't express enough how great it was to be able to play the game I love so much with my wife, brother, and father.

From Left to Right: Michael Dorta (Left Fielder, Natalie Dorta (1st Baseman), and Gabriel Dorta (3rd Baseman)