Some Things Never Change

I watched baseball history earlier this week at historic Wrigley Field in Chicago and I can’t stop thinking about it.

At 45 years old, Rich Hill became the oldest Royal to ever appear in a game, and the oldest MLB player since Jamie Moyer in 2012. Called up from Triple-A to fill a rotation spot and pitching for his 14th big league team, he threw five competitive innings.

This wasn’t a token appearance. He was out there to compete and he did.

The irony? He made his major leage debut at Wrigley 20 years ago, in 2005. He told me about that first outing. He gave up what should’ve been a home run, only for the ball to land in the protective basket above the wall. The basket had a hole in it, so the ball dropped into the ivy and dislodged a hidden hitting practice ball that popped onto the field. Without instant replay, the umpires ruled it a double.

Two decades later, 22-year-old Jac Caglianone made his Wrigley Field debut, patrolling right field for a pitcher 23 years his senior.

The game has changed. The tech, the terminology, the way we evaluate everything. But amidst all that change, Rich Hill is still putting in the work.

When asked why he’s still doing it, he said simply, “I love it.” That’s the why…a love of the game and a desire to help a team win.

As for the how, he gave me something prior to his start that always stands the test of time: You control your effort. It was as true in 2005 as it is today.

He summed up his formula for success to the media after his historic start. “Just keep working…continue to keep giving my best effort. That’s really been the key to this season and every season. Every time I go out there, you’re going to get everything I’ve got.”

That kind of passion doesn’t age. It deepens.

What keeps you motivated to do the work, even when no one’s watching?

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