Lessons From My Baseball Dad

Four Truths to Win at Life

Scripture References

Primary text

• Philippians 2
• Ephesians 4
• Galatians 6:9-10

Other references

• Romans 3:25
• Hebrews 13:16
• 1 Peter 5

Overview

On his first Father’s Day without his dad, the speaker honors “my baseball dad” by sharing four sayings that shaped his life and mirror biblical truth. Each maxim—about attitude, sacrifice, scars, and perseverance—carries a story from the ballfield and a passage of Scripture that points beyond an earthly father to the grace and call of the heavenly Father. The message moves from personal memories to an invitation: let today be “day one” of real change through Jesus.

Context

Father’s Day is joyful for some and painful for others; the preacher names that tension before recounting how his dad’s alcoholism scarred the family, how a cassette of a sermon on the repentant thief led to his father’s dramatic conversion, and how that transformation became the greatest life-change story he has witnessed in 33 years of ministry.

Main Points

1. “You can’t win with a bad attitude.”

• At Little League practice his dad sniffed the players’ heads, “smelling” for bad attitudes—only winners were allowed on the field.
• Philippians 2 was highlighted in his dad’s Bible: believers are to have “the same attitude as Christ Jesus.”
• Ephesians 4: throw off the old self and “be made new in the attitude of your minds.”
• Illustration: Even while battling COPD, COVID, and cancer, his dad answered every negative report with “Life is good. God is good.”
• Application: We cannot control circumstances, but we can control our attitude; an attitude like Jesus’ turns setbacks into opportunities.

“Life is good.”

2. “You don’t win without sacrifices—move the runners.”

• Baseball signal from his dad: two taps after “nose-ear” meant a sacrifice bunt. In an 8th-grade championship game he ignored it twice; his dad finally signaled unmistakably, and the bunt advanced the runner who later scored.
• Romans 3:25—God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin; we are made right with God through that sacrifice, not our works.
• Hebrews 13:16—doing good and sharing with those in need are “the sacrifices that please God.”
• Story: After his father’s death, a steady stream of townspeople told how he had secretly paid for tennis lessons, dance lessons, camp fees, gas, diapers, electric bills, even nail appointments—despite modest means.
• Church culture line the preacher echoes from his dad: “We’ll give up things we love for things we love even more.”

3. “No grass stains, no glory; no bruises, no story.”

• Before muddy games, Dad made the team dive head-first in the dirt so they would play unafraid.
• 1 Peter 5: after you have suffered “a little while,” the God of all grace will restore, strengthen, and establish you.
• His dad’s stains: decades of alcoholism, then 31 years (11,082 days) of sobriety beginning 11/20/1992.
• Illustration: The recovery community knew him as a relentless encourager who pointed to Jesus as his Higher Power and visited inmates, addicts, and the hurting.
• Point: Scars become testimony—like Jesus’ own—when God’s restoring power is shown.

4. “It ain’t over till it’s over.”

• Rally-cap ritual: when the team trailed, hats went on backward—“It’s rally time!”
• Galatians 6:9-10—do not grow weary in doing good; at the proper time you will reap a harvest if you don’t give up, therefore “do good to all people.”
• Even in his 80s, in and out of the hospital, Dad dreamed of restarting a Celebrate Recovery group; a recovery home now bears his name, “Tom’s House.”
• Story: His voicemail after a family milestone still rings in the preacher’s ears: pride, joy, and the reminder that “life is good.”
• Call: If you are breathing, God is not finished—turn your hat around, believe again, start day one of freedom.

“It’s rally time.”

Key Truths

• Attitude is a choice; Christlike humility turns obstacles into platforms.
• Lasting victory always involves sacrifice—Jesus’ first, then ours for others.
• God uses our bruises and stains as living proof of His restoring grace.
• Perseverance positions us for harvest; as long as we live, it is never too late to begin again.
• The church is not a meeting we attend but a people who do good whenever opportunity arises.

Response

• Examine your mindset; repent of any sour attitude and put on the mind of Christ.
• Identify one comfort you can sacrifice this week to serve or resource someone in need.
• Share a personal “bruise” God has healed to encourage another struggler.
• Put on the rally cap spiritually: revisit a dream or prayer you have shelved and ask God for fresh perseverance.
• If addiction or bondage grips you, let today be day one—seek help and community in Christ.

Closing

The legacy of a once-alcoholic, baseball-loving dad shouts that grace changes everything—from attitude to generosity to endurance. The preacher’s challenge is simple: live the four truths, trust the God of all grace, and never quit. Hats backward, church—rally time is now.

“If God heals me, it’s a win. If He doesn’t, I’m going to heaven—it’s a win.”

Prayer

The speaker asked the Holy Spirit to seal whatever truth each listener needed—new attitude, willingness to sacrifice, courage to step into the mess, or strength to persevere—and pleaded especially for those trapped in addiction to experience “day one” freedom through Jesus.

Resources

• Celebrate Recovery
• Alcoholics Anonymous