Donald DeMarco on Baseball and Life

“Baseball, it should never be forgotten, is a game.  But it is not just a game.  Because of the way it employs life and death metaphors, its analogy with human drama is compelling if not totally convincing.  A runner may ‘die’ on third, but not literally.  A batter may stay ‘alive’ if he fouls off a two-strike pitch.  But a third strike would not result in his demise.  ‘Fair’ and ‘foul’ suggest a moral distinction, while ‘win’ and ‘lose’ separate off-the-field success and failure.

“Because baseball is a game, the failures and foibles of its performers are not tragic.  In fact, if sufficiently offbeat, they can be comical.  Errors, mishaps, bloopers, and bonehead plays can have an enduring charm of their own, and they do not cry out for forgiveness. . . .”

In a recent commentary, writer and professor Donald DeMarco reflected on the similarities between the game of baseball and the living of one’s life.

To access Dr. Demarco’s complete post, please visit:

Crisis Magazine: Life, Like Baseball, Demands Order (3 MAY 13)