Lessons in life from a Little League coach
Joe Grice in his coaching jacket outside his home in Merrick in 1960. Credit: Grice family photo
In the spring of 1961, at age 9, I was awarded the only trophy of my life. My achievement was being part of the Cardinals, the team that came in first in the North Bellmore-North Merrick Little League. My contributions were minimal: I got two hits and a few walks the whole season.
Despite being one of the weakest players, I was happy to be on the team. In later years when friends asked what position I played in Little League, I jokingly said, "left out" -- both playing leftfield, and also often sitting on the bench cheering my teammates.
The best part of the experience was playing for Joe Grice, a coach who was not only supportive and encouraging, but also left a lasting impression on my life. Regardless of my limited skills, Mr. Grice created an atmosphere in which everyone supported each other. I looked forward to our games and practices, and despite my lack of skills, he never made me feel embarrassed.
Growing up, he learned the game on the sandlots of New York City and later as a pitcher and position player in adult amateur leagues. He was an excellent and patient teacher. If you didn't swing properly, he would calmly explain how to hold the bat and keep your elbows up.
Mr. Grice treated everyone the same. He wouldn't stick a poor fielder only where the ball wouldn't be hit. Everyone got a chance to play all positions. And he made sure everyone played at least half of each game.
He was low-key, not a yeller. A great play earned a simple pat on the back. He never took anyone out if they made a mistake. But if you were goofing off or screaming at someone, you came out immediately.
A few years ago, I located one of Mr. Grice's sons, Don, who now lives in upstate New York. I remembered meeting him years earlier when Mr. Grice invited the team to his home in Merrick for a cookout. I told Don how I appreciated his dad, and the impact his gentle lessons had on my development. He wrote back to me.
"My father would have been very proud to have gotten your letter," he wrote. "Sportsmanship and teamwork were always more important to him than 'winning,' and I'm glad it showed through to everyone."
Don said one year, his dad's team won both the sportsmanship award and first place. It proved to everyone that you could play the game right and still win.
Thanks to my happy experiences in Little League, I have been a fan of baseball my whole life. My love of the game also led to my becoming a big reader. As a kid, my favorite things to read were baseball cards and the sports pages.
In school, I learned to like learning as much as baseball. I went on to become a special-education teacher for 32 years at schools and health centers in Queens and on Long Island.
In my career, I've seen how children and adults avoid things we don't do well. Some children hate school because they are reminded that they don't read -- or speak, write, spell, learn facts or behave -- as well as others. Feeling like failures, children may act out, avoid school and lose hope.
Effective teachers like Mr. Grice are able to meet each student's needs: to be treated with dignity, to be accepted by their peers, to feel competent about their abilities and to experience fun.
Joe Grice died in 1987 at age 71. I am very grateful for the impact he had on my life. I only wish I had shared my gratitude when he was still alive.
Thank you to all the Mr. Grices who encourage and empower children and teach them valuable lessons -- while still allowing them to have fun.
Reader Bryan J. Abrams lives in Babylon.
