Baseball’s Hottest Game

Probably the hottest game in professional baseball was a game between the Boston Beaneaters and Baltimore Orioles on May 15, 1894 in Boston. The fireworks started in the third inning when Tommy “Foghorn” Tucker slid safely into third base. At that point John McGraw of the Orioles kicked Tucker in the face and a brawl broke out, both on the field and in the stands. The umpire finally got things settled down and Tucker contemplated how he was going to get back at McGraw for his injured jaw.

          That was never to happen. With the Orioles set to bat, the Beaneaters right fielder, James “Foxy” Bannon, spotted a fire under the right field bleachers. As everyone watched he ran over to stamp it out. Everyone thought it would be put out soon and were more interested in how Tucker would avenge the third base incident and the now loud mouthed Orioles.

          Then a gust of wind came up causing Bannon to abandon his efforts. The fire spread quickly sending the bleacher spectators tumbling onto the field to get relief from the heat. The fire spread to the outfield fence and then to the main grandstands. The players ran to the locker rooms to attempt to salvage their belongings. Firefighters were called in, but soon the South Ends Ground ballpark was destroyed causing $80,000 in damage. Firefighters came from 20 miles away to fight a 9 alarm fire that spread to 12 acres, burning 200 homes and causing $300,000 in damage. The fire was determined to be caused by a carelessly tossed cigarette.

          As the firefighters rushed to the scene and hooked up the hose there was no water from the hydrant. The city had installed the hydrant, but the team owners to save money had failed to pay the $15 to have the water turned on.  The failure to pay $15 had done nearly a half million dollars in damage.

          Sometimes it’s that way in churches as well. A lot of time and effort is spent on the big things, the big events, the major efforts and the things that we see from the outside. There are times that the little things are forgotten or not given as much importance and it the scheme of things are just as important as the big even though they are not seen. What seems of little importance can often be of great magnitude down the way.

          An example is when I recently sat through a missions meeting working on a contract for some new missionaries. The congregation knows they are going and will be supported. They know they are going there to save souls. That’s the big thing. But the team had to look at a lot of “what if” or “little things” that had no impact now but could be greater down the line. What if there was unrest in the area? What if one of them became deathly sick or died. What if a family member passed away? What did it take to get settled? What would it take to bring them back? The team did a good job addressing these. They paid the “$15” to provide for the future.

          There are these little things in every part of the church work. They may not seem that important at the time, but somewhere along the way they may be necessary. No one likes policies, but you have to have them “just in case”. No one wants to worry about the little details, but without them a project can be successful or fail. Details test our patience and stamina.

          People will look to us as leaders to see how we handle the little things. Are we prepared when that time comes to face a crisis or handle a tough situation? People will follow leadership that pays attention to the little things, because they can trust them to be there for them in every situation. When they see a leader serve communion, when they watch a leader teach a children’s class, when they notice a leader serving on the pizza line or wiping tables or helping someone who is sick or praying with someone in private it’s then that they know that leaders cares for them. It’s the little things that are done that form the bonds between leaders and those who follow.

          A mere $15 in 1894 would have save hundreds of homes. It was a little thing, but like that small amount would have made a great difference in many lives, it can remind us that it’s the little things that make the life of the church grow in love and unity.

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Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.

Colossians 3:23