Just some baseball-related resolutions for the new year.
Introduction
Welcome to 2025 everybody! It is a new year where (nearly) anything is possible and we can all make deliberate choices about the year we want to have. I suspect that comforting thought is one of the motivating reasons behind New Year’s resolutions. I’ll be honest though – I think New Year’s resolutions are a little stupid. I love the sentiment behind them: the idea that we have true agency over our lives and the sense of renewal that life changes can bring. But given that a recent survey showed that only 1% of people had their resolution last for the entire year and the fact that those same changes can happen whenever you want rather than being tied to an arbitrary period, makes them somewhat tiresome to me. Even still, baseball is one of the few sports that is soaked in the possibility and renewal that a new year can bring for every fandom. So even if I personally won’t be partaking in any New Year’s resolutions this year, I thought I would share some baseball-specific resolutions I would like to accomplish this year/season!
- Not live and die with every game of the season
This is a tough one for me. As both a writer and fan, it’s very easy to get hyper focused on every game and every decision within every game. And while this past season painfully reminded all of us the difference a single game can make on a season, I have to protect my own sanity and mental health. It is a cliche that the season is a marathon, but the mental fortitude that is required to be a baseball player is an admirable quality that I would like to adopt more fully as a fan. That doesn’t mean I won’t be just as passionate, but it does mean that I’ll remind myself more specifically that each game is an extremely small part of the entire season.
2. Start a fantasy baseball league
If I’m being honest, this resolution is partly selfish. I was recently lucky enough to win my fantasy football league and the sense of fun and accomplishment I got from the competition was addicting. Additionally, I am hopeful that being part of a fantasy baseball league might improve my overall knowledge of the league as a whole rather than focusing just on the couple teams I follow. Surprisingly, I have never taken part in a fantasy baseball league despite being an avid baseball fan for my entire life. If you have any suggestions for a platform or would like to take part, please comment below!
3. Attend a game at a new (to me) stadium
Like many baseball fans, I hold a dream of someday attending a game at every stadium. That becomes a little more difficult over time as stadiums close or teams inexplicably move because their owner systematically prioritizes profits over the health of the franchise or the fan’s enjoyment – also known as the Oakland A’s. Unfortunately, as someone who grew up on the East Coast and now lives in the Midwest, attending a game at a stadium that I haven’t already been to is a bit more difficult. I am still missing many of the stadiums in the South including the new Atlanta stadium, any of the Florida stadiums, and either of the stadiums in Texas. Even still, I will try to find a way to attend a new stadium and bribe my wife to come along with the promise of good snacks.
4. Read at least one book on an under-researched history of baseball
I have recently rediscovered my childhood love for dreaming in this past year and while I have no shortage of books on my to-read pile, I know there are plenty of books detailing some of the underappreciated histories of baseball. I am well aware of the limitations my knowledge is regarding both the Negro Leagues and women’s contributions to baseball so I would focus on those larger areas, but I am open to suggestions on any part of baseball history!
5. Go to a baseball game with a bat dog
Does this really even need an explanation? Bat Dogs are some of the best contributions from the minor leagues over the last decade and seeing one in-person would be extremely fun. As a dog person and baseball fan, it’s difficult to find a better combination.