I just love this game so much. It reminds me of time spent with my grandfather (another huge fan). If I might be allowed to get a bit philosophical, I agree with Michael novak when he writes about the “ideal” qualities of the game, its almost Platonic aspects. There is no game clock so, unlike other sports, it almost exists outside of temporality. Teams are not “teams,” per se, but are instead “clubs.” In other words, it has a mythos of voluntary association and participation. It’s a game of failure–great hitters fail 7 out of 10 times at the plate–and so little victories are recognized and celebrated. it’s a game of numbers, a thinking person’s game. I could go on but i won’t. i just love baseball.