That Baseball Sound

I think the world's greatest sound must be the smack of leather when a baseball is caught in a glove after a solid "spring-is-here" kind of throw. The only sound that might compete is the crack of said baseball when it connects with the wood of a bat for a solid "spring-is-here" kind of hit.

Of course, there is also the sound of frogs singing, which I just heard today for the first time. Not to mention the sound of kids yelling - which, for some, can only be appreciated in early spring.

And in a non-seasonal way there's the sound of a printer printing off your final draft, and the sound of sizzling in a frying pan, and the sound of footsteps on the porch when you're expecting a friend.

But the sound of the ball in the glove, at least today, wins first prize in my book. It captures the idea of excellence which makes baseball so inspiring. It recalls memories of happy summers, and holds the promise of good things to come. It evokes that peculiar smell of a warm day that can so easily be forgotten in the winter months.

They make CDs of Mozart with ocean waves in the background. I'm waiting for the one of Gershwin with "playing catch" in the background.