The Baseball Bloggess “is a blend of baseball talk and yoga talk. It’s akin to the old ‘Car Talk’ show on National Public Radio that was part auto mechanics and part philosophy and life counseling.” ~ The Baltimore Sun, 2018
Blogging is “the pole dancing of sports journalism.” ~ Frank Deford, the late sportswriting legend.
It’s Yin and Yang, this sports-blogging thing. In my defense, pole dancers work very hard and stay very fit, two things I also try to do. As for the life counseling? Let’s try it … “You seem nice. Why don’t you quit doing the things that make you unhappy, and start doing the things you love?”
Which brings me to … me.
I fell in love with baseball. I fell out of love with baseball. I fell back in love with baseball. (But, I never fell out of love with writing.)
I tell my friends this: Baseball was my Yoga, before Yoga was my Yoga.
It makes sense to me anyway. And, if I just made you roll yours eyes, I’m ok with that.
There’s not as much spitting in Yoga. Advantage: Yoga.
But, both baseball and Yoga … always seeking a path to home.
(This deep, inspiring stuff? I’m just messing with you.)
But, I do love that baseball and Yoga each demand patience, focus, balance.
This is me, The Baseball Bloggess, on the mat.
And, in the bleachers.
And, The Baseball Bloggess “as seen on” ESPN. (Is this how you take a selfie?)
I am a Baltimore Orioles fan — in good times and bad. (Mostly bad.)
As The Baltimore Sun wrote in 2018, as the O’s were wrapping up their horriblicious 115-loss season: The Baseball Bloggess “in zen-like fashion, has managed to find the elusive sweet spot between passionately caring about the Orioles without being unhinged by their repeated failings.”
“Without being unhinged.” Remember that.
I also enjoy close-to-home baseball from our season seats at the University of Virginia. I’ve seen a lot of baseball over the years and some of the best, most exciting, and inspiring baseball I’ve ever seen has been at UVa. In 2018, UVa’s park was renovated … (Thanks, R yan Zimmerman!) … the old bleachers are gone and we now sit in comfy blue seats. It’s quite luxurious. Come say hi!
I’m proud to be a member of SABR, the Society for American Baseball Research, and the Internet Baseball Writers Association of American.
Shameless Bragging:
The Baseball Bloggess has been recognized by Freshly Pressed for commentary on the history of vote manipulation in the All-Star Game (much funnier than it sounds) and on the use of performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) in baseball (not funny at all).
In October 2016, The Baseball Bloggess was named a Discover Blog for writing about “the game and its rich history with a mixture of deep knowledge and humor.” This could be the nicest thing anyone has ever said about me.
Plus, this blog has been called “fun” by Forbes Magazine. Seriously. Forbes.
And, if I haven’t proven my baseball bona fides to you yet … you can find me in the crowd scenes in Major League II. (I’m one of a couple thousand Baltimore fans pretending to be Cleveland fans. Squint and you just might see me.)
Here are some things you’ll find on here:
Posts on the Baltimore Orioles are here.
Posts on the University of Virginia Cavaliers are here.
A bunch of quirky baseball history, from Babe Ruth and Willie Mays to those cup-of-coffee players who played in just one big-league game … click here.
My five-part series on some of baseball’s most unusual Spring Training locations, from Catalina to Shreveport to Charlottesville, VA … click here.
The myth of Buttercup Dickerson … click here.
And, the Virginia-Born Baseball Project, where Editor/Husband and I foolishly decide to visit more than 100 locations in Virginia, to pay our respects to the Virginia birthplaces of every major league baseball player … start here. (Spoiler Alert: It seemed like a good idea at the time, but covid has slowed our wandering waaaaay down. Like a slow, rambling, extra-inning game, it’s going to take awhile.)
Want to stop by my Yoga studio in Orange, Virginia? Visit www.peacefulhands.com
Leave thoughts here or email me at jackie@thebaseballbloggess.com
You seem nice. I hope you’ll hang around. An email sign-up is at the bottom of this page and on the homepage.
The Baseball Bloggess 
I don’t know why this about page reminds me of my grandma, but it does. She, like most of the people within 300 miles of me is a huge Cardinals fan. When she’s at a game, you’re not to talk to her while she’s watching the action. It drives her batty when people are talking and not watching the game. She’ll give you $20 and let you keep the change leftover after you get her hot dog and Bud Light, though it’s gotten to be a lot less $ over the years. I too love baseball and took yoga in college because there was a 200-me girl to guy ratio. Lol. I look forward to reading your baseball posts.
Your comment has made my day! I think your grandma and I would get along great. When I lived in DC, I often went to Orioles games by myself so I could enjoy the game without worrying about entertaining my friends. I’ve since softened, although I most enjoy going to games with folks who like to watch the game. And, sometimes I don’t even bother to bring my scorecard. :)
I’m so glad you found my page … I’ll check yours out too!
Please accept my nomination to you for the “Super sweet blog award” http://wp.me/p3IvOz-eE
Thank you so much for reading my blog and for the kind nomination! It’s so great to find so many interesting writers who take the time to write … and read … and share good blogs with us all. I’ll be sure to pass on the honor to the other “super sweet” blogs that I enjoy … thanks again! Your blog is pretty “super sweet” too.
Hello, nice to meet you. I’ve been travelling all around your blog. Loved the piece on the Dalai Lama, so get the connection between baseball (and cricket which I was raised on in Australia) and yoga. Love yoga. Love when we’re in a place long enough to get to go to some yoga classes. So don’t get baseball :)
Thanks for visiting our blog and for following. Hope you enjoy the stories of our journey, both inner and outer.
Namaste
Alison
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment. Baseball is an acquired taste, I know, sort of like persimmons and Bob Dylan’s latest albums. :) But, it can bring great joy if you can find the sweetness in the stillness of the game. (Cricket and baseball have the same evolutionary “grandparents”.) You have a very beautiful blog and I look forward to reading more. Wishing you good travels (and many joyful Yoga classes) along the road!
I’m not surprised to hear baseball and cricket have the same “grandparents – there’s quite a few similarities apart from the pace. Didn’t get into cricket either even though my childhood house was full of it and we *always* played it on Christmas day. I live at a much slower, more present pace these days.
Thanks for your good wishes. Same to you, and see you on the road!
Hi,
Hope you are having a sports filled day with the Olympics. I am glued to it.
On behalf of the Through Harold’s Lens Creative Team, my trusty sidekick Mr. SLR Nikon, his brother Mr. Pen Pal and myself, we truly appreciate your enjoyment.
We hope you continue to join us on our journeys.
Best Regards,
Harold
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I love your blog! I’m not a die-hard sports fan – but I love going to St. Paul Saints games – they’re like 3-ring circuses – they let a pig run all over the field, and have a guy walking around on stilts. Once part-owner Bill Murray was running around doing crazy antics – the games are just fun. The field is parallel to a very active train line, and the announcer simply goes, in a very bored voice, “Train…” when the train goes by. I think it’s what baseball ought to be. I get the zen of the game though, and how Yoga plays into it… Your blog is very enjoyable and original!
Thank you so much for stopping by! I’m a big fan of minor league baseball, too … I love how hard the teams work to entertain everyone and fill every moment you’re at the game. The Richmond, VA Flying Squirrels (Double A) have their own team pig, too … he gets a ride around the field at every game. Maybe team pigs are the new/old “thing.” I love kitsch and low-tech goofiness … and minor league teams are so good at all that! Thank you for your kind words … and I hope our blogs cross again in the ether …
What a Smorgasbord wonder of a profile. Falling in and out and back in love with baseball and it never holds a grudge against us when we crawl in through the cat hole drunk at 4 am….again and then again and again.
I like your profile pictures as well. Wish I could do the splits like that, but as you suggest; “practice.” I couldn’t help noticing the beautiful leaves in the window; bright red and Orioles orange? so alive and maybe taken around World Series time? Also, you mentioned being a big REM fan. I think one of their members is now a member of the Baseball Project, rare the way they combine so much baseball lore and rock and roll.
And what a great idea to include links to some posts so new readers like me can get started.
Yup … both Mike Mills (REM bassist) and Peter Buck (REM guitar-er) are part of The Baseball Project. I love their albums. I’m determined to memorize the list of perfect game pitchers, via their song “Harvey Haddix” … which they helpfully update when performing live as required each season.
Here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amcg7A_-M-g
Thanks for stopping by and looking around … I really enjoy your blog!
Great blog, and thank you for following mine! I, too, fell in and out of love with baseball, but it seems it’s in my life to stay. Under God and my kids, baseball is right up there.
-Mike
Thanks for following mine, too! So glad to have found yours as well … looking forward to baseball season! :)
I played baseball when in high school, loved it, everything about it. Then…I discovered surfing. Still like baseball, especially live in a stadium. And I’ve been doing yoga for many years. I absolutely love your avatar: baseball with ohm…seriously cool
I love that OM-ball too. I knew I wanted to find a baseball with an OM on it. When I found this image online I had to work a bit to find its “person”. She was very kind and let me use it. She’s a Yoga teacher in Chicago who plays baseball … so I got a sweet avatar and made a nice friend. Win-win. I’m glad you stopped by … I like your blog very much!
Oh…how very cool. Yoga teachers are cool people, she’s probably a good friend. I think I’m going to have someone Photoshop an OM sign on a peanut butter sandwich as my new logo…thanks for stopping by my blog
Thank you for liking my post on the Orioles “The Rollercoaster Ride That Never Really Moves,” and it’s great to see you are an Orioles fan! Looking forward to more baseball talk (and the yoga too)!
Thanks for stopping by! It’s always good to have another O’s fan out here in BlogVille. :) Go O’s!
What a wonderful blog! I just found you after you found me, and the respect is mutual. I love the yoga-baseball analogy! As a writer I often compare baseball to writing–you fail two-thirds of the time. Keep on blogging.
Baseball always reminds me, if you just stand there and take all those pitches and never swing … you’ll never get a hit. So, here’s to the swings and misses that make the hits oh-so-much sweeter! Thanks for stopping by! :)
I have nominated your blog for the Liebster Award. I don’t know exactly how it works but it involves nominating other bloggers and answering questions. It’s a nice way to get extra notice for all your hard work. Info at
Love your blog! Go Os!
Awwww … Thank you! I’ll definitely check it out. I wonder sometimes if there are Orioles fans out there reading this … so good to know that you’re there! Go O’s!
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I was in the stands of Major League during the Spring Training in Tucson scenes. That was a fond memory of my childhood.
Hi Pirate … It’s one of my favorite things about baseball … that somewhere deep in our memories there is a fond memory or two just waiting there for us. Thanks so much for stopping by!
I agree. Baseball is different from all other activities. The Giants have been shared for 3 generations of my family. I’m looking forward to catching up on your blog.
You had me at your title. My child lives and breathes the game, thus by extension, so do I! There’s so much to love about baseball–I’m looking forward to reading all about your views here. Take me out to the ball game. . .
Thanks Wendy … so glad we crossed paths! A baseball game on a beautiful day (or night) tucked away far from the stress of the “real world” is my refuge. I always smile when someone finds me here and loves the game, too! :)
Hi, Baseball Bloggess! With a moniker such as yours, I couldn’t pass your site up. Thanks to this Commenting Bootcamp, I have been able to expand my horizons and find other blogs and bloggers who have lots to offer. I have only had a chance to read your ABOUT page, but I’m glad I ran into you and will enjoy your other posts soon. The fact that you’re an AL fan immediately triggered a good feeling. And though I’m a life long White Sox fan (the Cubs are an irritant in my world!), the Orioles have always been one of my “other” favorites. How can they not be, after all, when I had the pleasure many times to see Brooks Robinson, Boog Powell, Jim Gentile, Mark Belanger, et al when they’d come calling at Comiskey Park! And I need not even speak of that great history of their pitching, or the antics of Earl Weaver, or how the O’s broke our White Sox hearts in ’83 after Tito Landrum found the left field upper deck on a gray autumn afternoon. But, that’s baseball, and probably one more thing that sets it aside from all the other sports: the unexpected! Anyway, your blog has raised some good feelings this morning, and as we watch our respective teams work through spring training, we find ourselves counting the days–and hours/minutes–to Opening Day. Best to you and those Orioles! :-)
Hi Mark! Any team that can boast Frank Thomas, Minnie Minoso, and Bill Veeck is a-ok in my book! Plus, Robin Ventura and I come from the same hometown (and I never liked Nolan Ryan, anyway, so I’m Team Robin all the way). Glad you stopped by … and we can talk real these-games-count baseball … very very very soon!
You can count on it!😊
Don’t forget Nellie or Little Luie!
This seems wrong on a baseball post, but the yoga picture is amazing!
LOL
I was that kid who always picked out field and was usually drawing in the dirt when the odd ball came her way. I’m still that kid.
Leah … I’m the outfield girl too! I was always stuck in right field and spent much of my time there praying no one would hit it to me. I’m a much better fan!
Thank you for the kind words about the Yoga photo. I’m much more at home on my Yoga mat (or in the bleachers) than out in right field! :)
I have to tell you because I feel like you’ll appreciate this–as a prelude to opening day, the Milwaukee Brewers were out and about town today, dropping envelopes with a personal note from one of the players along with a voucher for 2 tickets to an upcoming game. Cool, right? Well, while at baseball practice this morning, one of the Brewers, Chris Carter, left an envelope on our windshield. My little one, ALL about the baseball, was so excited to be the recipient! Super cool! I tweeted a pic of him with the note/tickets, and the Brewers retweeted it. You’d think he won the lottery. Happy opening day!
Wendy … When I read your comment, I was nearly as excited as your son! (I may have even gotten a little teary-eyed, but don’t tell anyone.) What an amazing and wonderful thing and yet another reason why baseball is the best. (Sadly, the only thing on my windshield this morning may have come from an oriole … but not THE Orioles.) I’m a big fan of Hank the Dog, so best of luck to your Brewers. Happy New Year!
I told my husband and son about your referring to opening day with “Happy New Year” they both got a huge kick out of it. My baby has his first scrimmage of the season tomorrow & I plan on waking him up with Happy New Year!