David Bids Farewell

Jim Bouton once said, “A ballplayer spends a good piece of his life gripping a baseball, and in the end it turns out that it was the other way around all the time.” This has long been one of my favorite quotes, but until now I have never realized how much truth this quote holds. Baseball has been my passion for as long as I can remember. I have played with injuries I probably shouldn’t have, I skipped homework and class just to watch baseball, and I just can’t seem to stay away from the game. All of this for the love of the game, that is the hold it has on me. As I near the end of my college career, I have realized just how much the game of baseball has given me on and off the field. I have made friends that go way beyond the game of baseball, I have learned how to deal with adversity, and I have also learned to cherish the things that are important to you and not to take them for granted. With that said, I would like to take some time and thank those people who have helped me along the way. First and foremost, I need to thank my family. Dad, I learned my passion for the game from you. You taught me to play the game with respect and to give it everything I had, both in games and in the off-season. No matter how tired you were you always found time to catch for me, throw BP, and hit me endless groundballs. Every game you have ever attended, every “practice” session and every discussion after games has been special to me. Mom, I can’t thank you enough. You have been to almost every home game since high school. You spent countless hours in uncomfortable bleachers getting sunburned just to be there for me. You were always willing to help out the team whether by packing snacks or offering rides and so on. Although we sometimes wonder if you actually watch the game, gossiping seems to be more common, your presence and support is greatly appreciated. You and Dad mean everything to me, you are my heroes and I hope someday I can be as good to my kids as you have been to me. Shawn, I don’t know what to say. You spent countless hours catching for me when I’m sure all you wanted to do was nap. Thank you for continuing to come to support me even after you went to college. You were always my most honest critic, and even though you’re a catcher (they think they are always right) I respect that. You were the best catcher I have ever thrown to and I will cherish those games forever. Lisa, our relationship is also something very special to me. You are one of my best friends. You have come to more games than you would probably care to remember, many of them against your will. You have been the person that helps me keep the game in perspective. You have helped teach me as much or more than I have taught you, although singing songs while hitting is something I haven’t mastered yet. I have enjoyed watching you become a great ballplayer and an even better person. I look forward to being able to watch you play in the future. Next, I have to thank Grandma Reiter. The last thing I told you was that I made the team at SMU, and I remember how proud you were. Although you never got to see me play at SMU, I know you haven’t missed a game. Without your willingness to run me to games and practices for all those summers, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I miss you and I love you! Next, I need to thank Mary. You have been so supportive of me for the last three seasons that I don’t know how to thank you. I know I can be hard to deal with during the season and yet you put up with me. You have attended home and away games whenever possible, and I will never forget you sitting in the rain to watch the alumni game only a few days after I met you. It doesn’t matter if I am struggling or doing well your support never wavers and I have a roomful of good luck signs to prove it. I love you and I look forward to whatever the future may hold for us. I would like to thank my fellow seniors. Leech, Coz, and Danny, we have been through a lot in the last four years. Coz, your humor and ability to keep people loose is something I will never forget. Danny, your commitment to being prepared and being ready for whatever the coaches asked of you is inspiring. Leech, you too have a great sense of humor, and I know you will always be ready to pinch run or play a nasty CF, even when there are position players still available. I also want to thank some of my teammates both past and present. Cic, Jose, Ryan, Rink, Jared, Grant, Buj, Greg, and all the others I have had the pleasure of playing with. Cic, Jose, Ryan and Rink you are three of the best people I have ever met. You are great leaders and I am glad I got the chance to play with you. Jared, although you only played for two years you were always a fan. You were someone I could talk baseball with or just hang out and have a good time. I wish you the best in the future. Grant, Buj, and Greg, we will always have “the group.” Grant, you are one of the funniest and most competitive guys I know. Your boundless enthusiasm is something I look up too. Buj, it has been my pleasure to have a friend like you. Your willingness to adapt and to do whatever it takes to get on the field is something I admire. Greg, I wish I could play with you for more than this year. Your hard work and positive attitude is something all teams need. I know you will be great leader in the years to come. All my teammates have been my family for the last four years. I may not know all of you as well as I would like to but I will always have the memories we have shared. Finally I would like to thank all my coaches, past and present. Each coach I have played for has contributed a part of the player I am. Coach Whaley, I would like to thank you for giving me the opportunity to fulfill my dream of playing college baseball. I have learned to become a more complete ballplayer during my four years here at SMU. Benji, thank you for helping me become a better pitcher than I ever thought possible. Your knowledge of the game and your commitment to making us better is your greatest strength. You will make a great head coach someday if you so choose and I wish you the best. To all the returning guys: Play every game and every practice like it is your last. Pitchers keep diving for balls in BP, sneaking into the infield, and most definitely keep getting in the cage. Don’t be afraid to try out at a new position, you never know what might happen. Just remember that you get the opportunity to play college baseball; and it goes by in a hurry. This team has the potential to do great things in the next few years and I wish you all the best of luck and I look forward to watching you guys in the future. The friendships and memories that have been created over the last for years are something I will carry with me forever. We have had our ups and our downs but I have played on some of the best “teams” I have ever been a part of. That is a tribute to the university, the coaches, and the players we have. I have been proud to wear the Cardinal jersey and to have been fortunate enough to be teammates with all of you. Thank you to everyone who has helped to make this possible. Without you, I would have missed out on four of the best years of my life.