Life in Minor League Baseball without a car
Having a car is almost essential to a baseball player when he arrives to his home city. Despite it being almost a necessity some players are able to survive without a car. Many of these players are from foreign countries where it is virtually impossible to have your car sent to them. But just like ordinary people having a car gives you many freedoms that others without a car do not have.
Most players live in the same apartment complex thus allowing them to find a ride to the field. As long as everyone is together it is easy to find a ride. But in other situations such as a host family you live by yourself. This type of living arrangement makes the car essential. With gas prices the way they are these days, you will have a hard time finding someone willing to drive 10 or 15 miles out of their way everyday.
Simply finding a ride to the field is not the only time you need a car. If you sit in your apartment and go to the field and come home and that’s all you do, then you will be in for a long season mentally. It is the freedom to go to the mall, or go to the gym that makes having a car so nice. Being able to do these thigs throughout the year is what helps keep a player from going insane.
Lastly, what some baseball players are forced to do is buy a car in the city they live in. This becomes difficult because you never know how long you will be in that city and you could be forced to move at anytime and your car is stuck at your old city. It also becomes difficult to sell your car at the end of the season. Used cars do not always sell quickly so sometimes you are forced to sell your car for a bigger loss than you anticipated.
In conclusion a car is essential for a baseball player in most cases. There are ways around not having a car but it limits you and your freedoms. So if you want to be able to have freedoms and transportation on your own, then a car is highly recommended.
Your baseball pro, Steve Holm
P.S. In general, the host family doesn’t provide transportation…we have our own lives and baseball player schedules don’t mesh well with normal work and school schedules. Host mom, Jean
Filed By: Jean Bedord | July 23, 2006 |
