2012 Sawamura Award for Most Wins…Madashi Settsu: “Being able to play baseball is not a given.”
Gloves, bats, spikes, uniforms… For children to start playing baseball, they need equipment and it costs money. The recent rush to raise prices, including for daily necessities, has had a ripple effect, and many alumni of professional baseball have voiced their concerns about the barrier to entry into baseball becoming too high. Former SoftBank pitcher Tadashi Settsu, who participated in the event “DREAM BRIDGE DAY” (sponsored by the NPO Baseball Legends Foundation) held in Yokohama last December, also said, “We have to change as a baseball world. “part,” he says.
[PR]Professionals in various fields provide video explanations Baseball training and skill improvement program “TURNING POINT”
“DREAM BRIDGE” is a project that donates baseball equipment to baseball players (fourth grade of elementary school to third grade of junior high school) living in single-parent households, children’s homes, and foster parents. In order to reduce the number of children who give up on playing baseball due to financial reasons, current and former players from Softbank, including pitcher Takeshi Wada, continue to provide support.
As a professional with experience, I was thinking about doing some kind of social contribution activity, when Mr. Wada approached me, said Mr. Settsu. After reading essays written by children who said they wanted to play baseball and couldn’t give up on it despite the difficulties caused by their home environments, they said, “Although I was able to play baseball, which I wanted to do, I felt that it was not something I could take for granted.” “It’s sad for parents not to be able to let their children do what they like. I think these kinds of activities will be a relief for parents as well.”
Amid calls for a decline in the number of players, he says that in order to prevent players from quitting and widen the range of players even a little, “the barrier to entry for equipment has become too high. This is something that the baseball world needs to change.” In addition to donating equipment that is no longer in use, the idea is to create opportunities for people to experience baseball by distributing and sharing equipment, similar to how Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers) donated approximately 60,000 gloves to elementary schools across the country. There are means. “I hope we can think of ways to lighten the burden on the team and the parents and children,” says Settsu.
When he first got the glove, he said, “I was so happy that I slept with him.”
He is one of the people who has put into practice “Continuity is power” more than anyone else. He was already 26 years old when he was drafted in 2008. He finally achieved his dream in his eighth year as a member of society (JR East Tohoku). There is no need to mention his great success during his 10 years as a professional player, with his outstanding ball control and sinker as his weapon, winning him the Sawamura Award for the most wins as well as the Best Intermediate.
“Even if it takes a long time, if you don’t give up, opportunities will always come your way.” I’ve been able to continue playing baseball because I love baseball, and if you continue to do what you love, you’ll never regret it. There isn’t.”
He says that the joy he felt when he first held his glove and “slept together” when he was young is still etched in his heart. That’s why I hope that children will always cherish the feeling of “love” and acquire the strength to continue, even when faced with difficulties. “I hope to continue to help boys and girls in the future,” said Settsu, in order to keep their potential alive.
(Koji Takahashi)
2024-01-13 04:08:06
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