The first team I played for was Tobers Party Store. For some kids growing up, baseball was just another way to pass the time during the summer, away from the routine of public school. For me it was everything. From the moment I opened my eyes in the morning, until the moment I drifted off to sleep, I had baseball on my mind. I loved playing baseball, watching baseball, and talking about baseball. Nothing else mattered. Eating and sleeping were just "necessary evils" that took away precious time from my hobby. I looked forward to the day I would be drafted into the professional ranks after a successful college career. Full of enthusiasm, I would explain my inevitable career path to anyone who would listen. Naturally, the responses were far from encouraging. “Do you know how good you have to be?”, and the tried and true “Go to college and get a real job,” were two of the most popular sentiments the “opposition” threw at me. Of course, in my 10-year-old mind, I knew they were delusional and I would prove them wrong. It was the summer of 1983. Enthusiastic children from all walks of life gathered at the ballpark to be divided into different little league teams. . “That's it,” I thought as I waited patiently for someone to call my name. I scanned the competition, keeping an eye out for anyone who shared my love for the game. After completing a thorough investigation, I determined that there were only a select few who would question my "self-imposed" star credentials. It seemed like most of the kids were only there because their parents couldn't afford summer camp. Then the moment came. “David Ramos, this year you will play for Tobers,” shouted the main organizer. I taped up my… half sheet… to play baseball for a few hours each week. I couldn't wrap my head around the fact that not everyone loves baseball, so I naturally thought I was just better than most kids. Of course, I realized the reality a few years later when I showed that although I was a good player, I was far from being a superstar. However, it was not a crushing defeat, as my life aspirations began to change. To this day I still like baseball, but I don't love it like I used to. I apparently grew out of it, the same way most children grow up with childhood ambitions. However, I will never forget the joy he brought to my life. It has had a profound effect on my life to this day. In times of stress and difficulty, I can always think back to that magical summer of 1983. It was the happiest time of my life, and it's something I will never forget, nor do I want to, ever..