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Talking Our Walk

I believe we have played games, and watched games, to imitate the gods, to become godlike in our worship of each other and, through those moments of transmutation, to know for an instant what the gods know.

A. Bartlett Giamatti,
Take Time For Paradise:
Americans And Their Games

Former Commissioner of Baseball
and Past President of Yale University

 

We are now in the “High Holy Days” of the year. They start in April, continue all Summer and conclude in late October, spanning the “trinity” of three seasons – yes, we are talkin’ BASEBALL.

Those of true faith – baseball aficionados – accept this truth. The doubters and nonbelievers need only to look at the numbers. The “stats” don’t lie.

For those who insist on “scientific proof” let’s check the box score. The “Metrics” we’ll be using today is Numerology – the study of the symbolism and significance of numbers.

In Baseball, the number 9 – and its factors – figure quite prominently. This number is loaded with significance as 9 has long been considered sacred by various religions and ancient cultures (Egypt and Greece).

Leading off: 9 is the number of man, as a symbol of gestation (nine months). The number 9 is the number of the one who accomplishes the divine will, and according to the Cabala, it is also the number of achievement. The number of harmony, 9 represents the inspiration and the perfection of ideas. It was clearly Providence, therefore, that Baseball is the perfect game.

Regulation Baseball games are 9 innings long – and are never controlled by the clock (a man-made construct). The game, like the Creator, is timeless. Nine players take the field, and nine players come to bat. Each side is allotted 3 outs per inning, for a total of 27 outs (2+7=9) per game. Even people that have never played the game know “3 strikes and YOU’RE OUT”

The bases are 90 feet apart. 90 feet x 3 bases, plus home plate totals 360 feet (3+6=9) and you’ve come full circle*. Yes, 9 is also the number of completion. In baseball, as in life, we all want to make it “home” safely. *The infield portion of the playing field is actually diamond shaped, which is in itself, fraught with spiritual, metaphysical, alchemical and biblical symbolism. As ol’ Casey Stengel mumbled many times, “You can look it up.”

The distance of the pitcher’s mound from home plate is 60 feet, 6 inches. I’ve long wondered why the additional 6 inches. The “answer” arrived during this rambling, er … writing: 60+6=66 / 6+6=12 / 1+2=3, which is, of course, a factor of 9.

The baseball itself – the very symbol of everything that is good and wholesome about the USA (along with apple pie), is made up of 108 stitches. The Hindu meditation tool, Mala Beads, have 108 beads (1+8=9). The Catholic Rosary contains 54 beads; while only half of 108, nonetheless boils down to a 9 (5+4=9).

To close it out: NY YANKEES = 9 letters. They just happen to be the most successful franchise, not only in baseball, but in ALL of professional sports. Destiny manifesting as Dynasty.

The thread that runs through the majority of our selections in the June-July Issue is Joseph Campbell’s instruction to “Follow your bliss.” So Play ball, AND do whatever else it is that feeds your soul and makes you happy.

 

Blissfully,
Neil

(Andrea is counting her Mala beads)

The Infielders


 

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