101 Lessons from the Dugout: What Baseball and Softball Can Teach Us About the Game of Life

Decoding baseball’s hidden messages for finding success in the game of life Every player or fan of baseball and softball thinks they know the game—and they do, at least the rules and the strategy. But take a deeper look, and you’ll see there is so much more to be learned beyond the strikeouts, walks, base stealing, and double plays. Hidden behind the game’s fundamentals are subtle real-world messages and meanings that help lead to success off the field just as much as on it. In 101 Lessons from the Dugout, famed baseball writer and insider Ken Davidoff and renowned parenting expert and writer Dr. Harley Rotbart decode these messages in brief snippets for young ballplayers and fans. Each lesson contains an individual feature of the game followed by a pearl of wisdom or two to inspire readers. These lessons show that picking the right pitch to swing at is the ultimate exercise of good judgment; that a runner leading off first base demonstrates the balancing of risk and reward; and that the self-discipline of tagging up is true impulse control. Every pitch, hit, and play on the baseball and softball diamond is its own life lesson. From homework and humility, to punctuality and perseverance, to responsibility and resilience, 101 Lessons from the Dugout offers a game plan for happiness and success in the major leagues of school, friendship, and life.

Table of Contents:
Foreword, by David Wright Acknowledgements Introduction IN THE DUGOUT 1. Keeping score Give 110% Peace of mind Self-respect 2. The starting lineup Earn your spot Prove you’re ready Believe in yourself 3. Playing time The right attitude When life is unfair Speak up for yourself 4. Batting order Labels people give you Adjusting to a new role 5. The uniform Standing out Blending in Acting cool 6. Equipment Find real value Appreciate what you have 7. Pinch hitters and pinch runners Include others Cliques Speak up for friends 8. On deck Prepare in advance Learn from those ahead of you AT THE PLATE 9. The batter’s box: Your comfort zone Arrive early You Are the right person 10. Chatter Block out the noise Gossip 11. Pitchers Unexpected changes Family and personal crises 12. The count Improve your chances for success. Handling disappointments 13. The called strikeout Take a chance Try again 14. The swinging strikeout Make good decisions Right and wrong 15. The check swing Changing your mind Admitting your mistakes Keeping your promises 16. Dropped third strike Second chances 17. The walk The easy way is not always the best way 18. Taking a pitch Competing 19. The sacrifice Help others get ahead Don’t wait too long to help 20. The bunt Slow down Simplify 21. The suicide squeeze When someone really needs you 22. Fake bunts White lies 23. Small ball One step at a time 24. Hit and run Punctuality 25. Home runs Big steps in your life The people who got you where you are Overcoming hard times 26. Foul balls Near misses 27. Bases loaded (part 1) Dealing with pressure Sticking with what works 28. Switch-hitting Just because you can doesn’t mean you should 29. Hit by the pitch Courage Bouncing back 30. The last out The big picture ON BASE 31. Running to first Focus Trust others 32. Turn and look Look ahead Ambition 33. Leading off Balance risk and reward 34. Stealing Dangerous behavior 35. Sliding Stay safe Weigh the risks 36. First and third Freebies Scams 37. Fly balls Planning ahead Good reflexes 38. Tagging up Control your anger Pause and think it over 39. Running with two outs When there’s nothing to lose, go for it 40. Bases loaded (part 2) Respect others, Set a good example 41. Hidden ball tricks Unhappy surprises Expect the unexpected 42. The last out (part 2) You can’t do it all yourself Focus on the real goal 43. The pickle Pay attention Tell the truth Earn trust IN THE FIELD 44. The ready position Good study and work habits 45. Around the horn Motivate others Share the credit Thank those who help you 46. The shift Learn from the past Your reputation 47. The grounder Little details make a big difference 48. The pop fly Take charge Keep your promises Follow through 49. Shortstop and right field Make the most of every chance Beat expectations 50. First step in, first step back First impressions Get off to the right start 51. The stretch at first When to reach out When to pull back 52. The double play Patience 53. Fielder’s choice Deciding what’s most important Study for tests 54. Bases loaded (part 3) Plan ahead Ask for advice 55. Cut-offs and relays Get help 56. The warning track Listen to warnings 57. Errors Grow from your mistakes Stay in the moment 58. Back-ups Be there for others Life’s bad hops Acts of loving kindness ON THE MOUND 59. The mound Stand up for what you believe Pick your battles carefully 60. Lefties and righties Stereotyping 61. Rituals Good routines 62. Deep breath A calming breath A good night’s sleep 63. The wind-up Reach your full potential 64. Checking the runner (the stretch) Limit the damage 65. Pickoffs Accept your mistakes 66. Strikes and balls Consistency 67. Wild pitches and passed balls Missed opportunities 68. Painting the corners Be subtle and polite 69. Framing the pitch Help others look good 70. The fastball Go with your strengths Be yourself 71. The change-up Spontaneity 72. The curveball Mood swings Getting help You’re not alone 73. The pitchout Obstacles in your way Fears, anxiety, and insecurity 74. The intentional walk Dangerous situations 75. Meetings on the mound Accepting advice 76. The pitch count Know your limits 77. Relief pitchers No-win situations 78. The balk Get back in control Regain your confidence 79. Bases loaded (part 4) Be optimistic 80. The perfect game Listen to your inner voice EXTRA INNINGS 81. Home field advantage Family 82. The head trip Controlling your emotions Controlling your temper 83. The umpire Accept responsibility Follow the rules 84. Calling time out Courtesy and good manners 85. The coach’s coaching When you need better advice 86. The coach’s signs Follow instructions When not to follow instructions 87. Thanks, coach Gratitude 88. Averages Excellent doesn’t mean perfect 89. Practice School Homework 90. Warming-up Do a final review Wake up your brain 91. Handshakes Building bridges 92. Dragging the field, cleaning the dugout Clean up your messes Take pride in your spaces 93. Injuries Resilience Understanding others’ pain Sympathy 94. Superstitions Believe in yourself 95. Spitting Role models 96. Genes Make the most of who you are See the inner qualities of others 97. Rallies Leadership Never quitting 98. Clutch or clench You’re in control High pressure Stress 99. Streaks and slumps Balance your emotions 100.A game of inches Stay humble When you fail 101.Heroes and goats Celebrate your successes Move past your disappointments Manage expectations The Game Plan: Using these 101 lessons in the game of life About the Authors

About the Author :
Harley A. Rotbart, MD, is a nationally renowned pediatrician, parenting expert, speaker, and educator, and has been named to Best Doctors in America for 18 consecutive years. He was a monthly contributor to Parents Magazine, has written for the New York Times and popular parenting blogs, and has made hundreds of media appearances. He coached youth sports from little league through high school levels for many years. He lives in Colorado. Ken Davidoff has been covering Major League Baseball for 30 years. He served as a baseball columnist at The New York Post for ten years and retains an emeritus status there. He has appeared on ESPN, the MLB Network, YES Network, CNN, and others. A former president of the Baseball Writers Association of America, Ken now works as an adjunct professor at Endicott College in Massachusetts. He lives in New York City.

Review :
This book has everything for young ballplayers and fans alike—life lessons, love of sports, and a genuine passion for the games of baseball and softball. It’s easy for me to see the tremendous value of these lessons because I was really born and bred in baseball. There couldn’t be a better set of guidelines for life, period, no matter what age you are. The authors have captured the essence of baseball and softball and, in so doing, have captured the essence of life off the diamond, as well. This is a book that needs to be on the shelf of every young player and fan, every coach, and every school library. Through all my years playing baseball, I knew I learned a ton of life’s lessons, whether it was perseverance, hard work, communication, how to handle failure, or fighting for a spot. But I didn’t really realize until I started to read this book just how many things I actually did learn. What I love about 101 Lessons from the Dugout is that it applies to all ages—anyone could read this book and get a lot out of it. And I think there’s life lessons for an adult like myself to read and teach to my kids. Coaches can use it, too. The lessons to be learned from baseball and softball are endless, and this book displays them beautifully. I think it’s brilliant. As a coach and ultimately an educator, I have always believed that the greatest purpose of sports is to teach young people LIFE. In 101 Lessons from the Dugout, authors Harley Rotbart and Ken Davidoff uniquely break down America’s greatest games, baseball and softball, and analogize each moment to the game of life. This book is a wonderful, insightful look at our beloved sports and how we can apply them to the opportunities we have in our daily lives. It's always been said that the game of baseball parallels the history of our great nation. Perhaps...but what Harley Rotbart and Ken Davidoff have accomplished is to thoughtfully demonstrate that baseball actually is a parallel and reflection of all our lives. In this book, the authors masterfully break down the complicated game of baseball into simplified life lessons that, when followed, transcend balls and strikes, hits and errors, and wins and losses. This book has home run written all over it. Rotbart and Davidoff are masterful writers and the baseball metaphors are brilliant. They have turned baseball and softball into a philosophy of life and a guidepost for the healthy development of young adults. Every parent will want to give their baseball and softball players a copy of 101 Lessons from the Dugout. I didn’t understand why colleges like to see sports on an application until I became the parent of a student athlete. I saw the discipline required for my son to balance school and lacrosse. I watched the life lessons learned, both on and off the field. It didn’t matter that he would never go pro—it wasn’t about that. As Rotbart and Davidoff so brilliantly point out, it’s about how sports can shape the person our children will become. Not allowing batting order to define you; understanding when to be a team player and when to be a team leader; the importance of tuning out negative chatter—the life connections made by the authors make this book a must-read for players, coaches, and parents.