Well now, let me tell ya, if you ever heard of GF Baseball, it ain’t no fancy thing, but it sure brings people together, don’t it? Now, when we talk about GF, folks usually mean ‘games finished’ when it comes to pitchers in baseball. That’s when a pitcher steps in and finishes the game for their team, but they ain’t the ones who started the whole thing. The last pitcher to take the mound gets the credit for finishing the game, simple as that. So, if you ever hear someone say “GF”, now ya know they ain’t talkin’ about a girlfriend or nothin’, but about a baseball stat!
Now, back in my day, baseball was all about the heart, not the numbers, but let me tell ya, these days folks are all about stats. I reckon the young ones get all excited over stuff like “batters faced”. That’s just a way of countin’ how many times a batter has to stand in the batter’s box and face a pitcher. Simple enough, huh? If a pitcher’s got a perfect game, then they’ve faced 27 batters. That means no one got on base, no strikeouts missed, and no errors in the field. If you ask me, that’s somethin’ real special, though I don’t know how many folks can even do it anymore.
Groundout-to-Airout Ratio, well that’s somethin’ too. It’s a fancy way of sayin’ how many ground balls a pitcher gets compared to how many fly balls. Ground balls are when the ball hits the dirt and stays down, while fly balls are when the ball goes up in the air. You got a good pitcher if he gets them ground balls more than the fly balls, that’s what I always say. But, let’s be honest, sometimes a good fly ball can win you the game too.
Now, over in places like Grand Forks, they got their own little league going on, and boy, that’s where the real action is. Not too many folks travel far for these games, and they don’t need to. These leagues are competitive enough right there in town. They’ve got teams and folks who put in their two days a week, just enough to keep the love of the game goin’. They got them jerseys and hats, and while you’re at it, you might just need your own mitt. It’s all about the community and the pride of your team, ain’t that right?
But lemme tell ya, when we talk about the big league, like the Grand Forks Royals and their fancy tournaments, that’s where the real history is made. Now, this all goes back to 1968, when a fella named Larry Seminoff started the Grand Forks International Baseball Tournament. Ever since, it’s been a big deal. They bring in teams from all over, and it’s more than just a game—it’s a tradition! I reckon they do things a little different these days, but it’s still all about baseball, the heart of the game, and that small-town pride.
So, when it comes to numbers and stats, well, I reckon there’s a place for all that, but I’ll tell ya, there ain’t nothin’ like watchin’ a good ol’ game of baseball. Whether it’s local teams playin’ just down the road or big tournaments with folks from all over, the love for the game don’t change. Folks get out there, they play hard, and they give it their all. That’s what baseball’s all about, and that’s what makes it special in places like Grand Forks and everywhere else where folks just want to play the game right.
So, whether you’re talkin’ ‘GF’ in terms of games finished, or the pride of a local team, remember this: it’s all about gettin’ out there, playin’ hard, and enjoyin’ the game. Ain’t no numbers or fancy stats that can take away the joy of a good baseball game on a warm summer evening. Now, that’s somethin’ to be proud of!
Tags: [Baseball, GF Baseball, Grand Forks Baseball, Baseball Statistics, Games Finished, Groundout-to-Airout Ratio, Local Baseball Teams, Grand Forks Royals, Baseball History]
