• Home
  • Diocese
  • Bishop Burns
  • Synod
  • Columnists
  • Revista Catolica
  • Vatican
  • Subscribe
The Texas Catholic
The Texas Catholic

Dallas, Texas

Today is Thursday, March 30, 2023
  • Home
  • Diocese
  • Bishop Burns
  • Synod
  • Columnists
  • Revista Catolica
  • Vatican
  • Subscribe
  • Follow
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Linkedin
    • Instagram
Home
Father Timothy Gollob

Father Gollob: While just a game, we can learn from baseball

Friday, October 23, 2015

Former New York Yankee Yogi Berra stands at home plate before the final regular season MLB American League baseball game at Yankee Stadium in New York, in this file photo taken September 21, 2008. Berra, a Hall of Fame catcher for the New York Yankees whose mangled syntax made him one of the sports world's most beloved and frequently quoted figures, died on Sept. 22 at the age of 90, Major League Baseball said. (REUTERS/Mike Segar/Files)

Former New York Yankee Yogi Berra stands at home plate before the final regular season MLB American League baseball game at Yankee Stadium in New York, in this file photo taken September 21, 2008. Berra, a Hall of Fame catcher for the New York Yankees whose mangled syntax made him one of the sports world’s most beloved and frequently quoted figures, died on Sept. 22 at the age of 90, Major League Baseball said. (REUTERS/Mike Segar/Files)

By Father Timothy Gollob
Special to The Texas Catholic

During the funeral of the great Yankee catcher, Yogi Berra, the archbishop of New York said that Yogi and Pope Francis had three outstanding qualities that they shared. They both smiled a lot. They both liked to talk to real people. They both were humble.

But they differed in their communication skills. Pope Francis is a theological leader who has to address his flock and the leaders of the world in words that need to be studied and pondered. Thus his letter on the care of the earth and the care of the poor has to be studied and dialogued upon with reverence and with openness.

Yogi Berra was a communicator also, but his words were brief and to the point. They, however, are also profound in their implications for the way we lead our lives. Since these words were framed in the context of Yogi’s baseball career, we need to assess them in the light of the recent happenings on the Texas Rangers’ baseball diamond.

Ranger fans were delighted to find their team ahead by four runs as their rivals, the Angels, came to bat in the ninth inning. All was looking up in Ranger-land, but Yogi once said, “It ain’t over till it’s over!” and the Angels scored five runs to win, 11-10. Gloom and doom settled over North Texas (and the angels rejoiced in heaven?)

The next day was the final game of the season. That Sunday neither the Angels on the field nor the angels in heaven had anything to be joyous about as the Texas Rangers won with good pitching and good hitting. Yogi had a saying for this also: “You wouldn’t have won if we’d beaten you!”

Now baseball is just a game. We can learn a lesson for life. There is no reason to pout and to fret over any situation as long as we have breath and God and the angels are in charge of our journey. “It ain’t over till it’s over!”


Father Timothy Gollob is the pastor of Holy Cross Catholic Church in Oak Cliff.

  • Tags
  • Father Timothy Gollob
  • The Texas Catholic
Facebook Twitter Google+ LinkedIn Pinterest
Next article Celebrating 125 years of faith
Previous article Vatican says claims pope has tumor 'unfounded'

Related Posts

Father Esposito: Happiness as the blessed life Columnists
Friday, March 10, 2023

Father Esposito: Happiness as the blessed life

Father Dankasa: Two voices in one Columnists
Thursday, March 9, 2023

Father Dankasa: Two voices in one

Prayerfully using Lenten seeds for Easter growth Columnists
Friday, March 3, 2023

Prayerfully using Lenten seeds for Easter growth

Texas Catholic Classics

A look at the five Dallas law enforcement officers who gave their lives while protecting citizens during a mass shooting in downtown Dallas in July 2016.

 

How a child with special needs inspired a high school volleyball team, community and a family who heeded God’s call to protect life.

 

After a young runner collapsed at a Dallas marathon, grace and providence unfolded for those involved in the valiant effort to help her.

   

In the summer of 2016, 50 students and 25 chaperones from Dallas Catholic high schools traveled to Nicaragua for a 10-day mission trip.

 

Early on a November morning, Kenndrick Mendieta bounded from the gym at Cristo Rey Dallas College Prep toward the campus’ athletic fields as clouds lifted on a fresh new day.

 

Subscribe

Get the award-winning Texas Catholic delivered to your door. Use the menu below to subscribe now.


Subscription length




 

Photo Gallery

Click here to find your favorite Texas Catholic photographs.

The Texas Catholic Newspaper

Catholic Diocese of Dallas
Michael Gresham, Editor

3725 Blackburn Street
Dallas, Texas 75219
(214) 379-2800

Our Affiliated Sites

Texas Catholic Youth

Revista Católica

Legal and Other

Contact us

Terms of service

Privacy policy

Site map

Site powered by TexasCatholicMedia

© 2013-2019 The Texas Catholic Publishing Company. All rights reserved.