To the Travel Ball Mom Behaving Badly…
By Sherri O. a baseball mom who rarely speaks her mind, but finds it surprisingly satisfying when she does.
To the mom sitting three bleacher rows down from me, surrounded by your gaggle of adoring clones. Yes, you!
A few months ago, when my son was chosen to fill a spot on the Cyclones…his first travel ball team, we were thrilled…but also a little intimidated. The other kids look so professional on the field compared to my Jeremy who’s only been playing rec ball for a couple of years. So far, his private lessons have consisted of hitting and playing catch with Dad in the backyard. And he’s praying for a growth spurt so he won’t be so noticeably shorter than your son.
At our first practice, I appreciated how welcoming you were to us. You wasted no time letting me know that you’re the go-to gal if we have any questions…. and informing me that your husband is the 12U commissioner for some league I’ve never heard of and that he played college baseball with MVP legend Ryan Browning. I thought it was really sweet when you offered to have your son “work with” Jeremy….because, after all, the Cyclones are a very competitive team, with high expectations for their players.
You were so nice to me…at first.
After a few practices, though, I began to notice a slight change, but my husband told me I was being paranoid. And that women think too much.
And then there was the time our kids were warming up in the batting cages before the first tournament. I stood there beaming as my boy hit bomb after bomb. That’s when you caught my eye and said “Wow, Jeremy’s looking great today! But if y’all are really serious about baseball, he’s gonna need a better bat, one that didn’t come from Walmart.” My eyes burned with fury as you and your clones went back to discussing where the team would eat that night. I continued to stand there with a pasted on smile, fantasizing about beating you to a bloody pulp with Jeremy’s $59.99 Walmart bat.
The following week, I spent $250 on bright yellow, big-barreled, BBCor acceptance into the Cool Kids Club.
Episodes like those helped me realize that Jeremy, and our family, were at the bottom of the Cyclones’ pecking order. But that was okay because he was the new kid. He hadn’t proven himself yet.
It’s been almost a year now. We’ve spent our hard earned money and sparse vacation time traveling to recreation facilities all over the Northeast to support our son as he sits in the dugout, cheering his team and waiting his turn. His turn usually comes later in the game….as long as the Cyclones are winning by a safe margin. The coach is always very encouraging, praising Jeremy’s work ethic and trying him out at different positions. Jeremy’s developed great friendships with the other players and is making huge strides in his confidence and ability. He loves this team. And, in spite of the hassle, we love being travel ball parents.
I’ve made a few mom friends on the team as well. Sitting with them at games helps me to tune out your obnoxious behavior most of the time. But I can’t help but notice how you seem to take it personally on the rare occasions that your son strikes out or misses a play. You bark harsh reprimands at him and then exclaim loudly about the thousands of dollars you’re wasting on private lessons and baseball camps to anyone who will listen. Thomas hears you. We all hear you.
I noticed how you went ballistic that unfortunate evening that the coach benched your son after you posted photos all over Facebook of his swim party earlier that day. Surely Coach Jim meant no swimming for all the players except Thomas….because he’s the star and should be able to do what he wants. Without HIM, the Cyclones wouldn’t be ranked first in the state. You told everyone sitting around you how coaches from other teams are always calling and inviting Thomas to workout with them, practically begging him to join them. You wondered aloud why your family was bothering with a “nothing little team” like the Cyclones. Again, you made sure that we all heard you.
Yes, I’m normally quite good at taking the high road, trying not to judge others, and minding my own business. That’s why I’m sitting here penning this article in my head, rather than smashing your face into the bleachers.
I’ll just say this. How Freaking Dare You!!!!! It wasn’t my or my kid’s fault that your boy, the star, (who’s actually a really nice kid, in spite of you), got taken out of the game after four innings. It wasn’t our fault that the coach chose to put Jeremy in his position and his spot in the batting order. How dare you turn around and glare at me for several seconds when you realized that it was my kid trotting out to shortstop? Who do you think you are announcing to your clones that eight runs isn’t enough of a lead to make a risky move like putting Jeremy in Thomas’s place? And then pointing out that games aren’t won until the final out of the last inning. And that coaches can’t afford to get too cocky. Yeah, how dare Coach Jim try to give all of his kids a chance to play?
Maybe you make this spectacle every time Thomas gets taken out. Jeremy’s just never been his replacement, so I haven’t noticed.
My first instinct is to offer you some words of wisdom about this just being one game, and the importance of humility….and team being bigger than self…and the perils of an entitlement attitude. But I won’t waste my breath because you wouldn’t hear me. After all, I’m just Jeremy’s mom. My husband never played baseball beyond little league. And I had to Google Ryan Browning to see who he is. I clearly don’t offer anything of value in your eyes. So, I’ll readjust my blinders and get ready to congratulate my son on that line drive he just snagged in midair. Yeah, you saw that, didn’t you.
A big thanks to all of you parents who submit articles to share on TBP. And the featured photo has nothing to do with this article. We don’t even know those gals. But they look like nice people.
Calling all 2018 Cooperstown Dreams Park Parents, Coaches and Players

Sadly, this is just too true. There is at least one of these moms (or dads) on every team.
Oh for the love of the game! This troubles me that this is a true story! I too am a travel mom. My son is 12 and has been playing since he was 5.. I know all to well the time and sacrifice travel ball takes. This woman is a disgrace to all the other moms who take care of all the boys on the team. Yes, even the ones at the bottom of the pecking order. My son can easily be batting 500 or drop down to 200.. but he is equally to every child on that team. This woman is doing a huge disservice to her son. God Bless you for having to deal with her!! lol
Waaaaay after the fact I just thought of an incredible job. Hiring people to come to the game and razz the obnoxious parents. Wouldn’t that be fabulous! All the things you kindly kept to yourself could be said by a kind of “My fan Friday” kind of person. They could glare…they could critique fashion….they would make sport of everything. Wouldn’t that be lovely? to all the obnoxious parents….your kids grow up, they aren’t playing baseball any more, but you are still obnoxious. I have some pent up anger on this
Donna recently posted…Vacations Should Be Celebrated!!
I was a team mom for almost every one of my kids’ softball and baseball teams so I could sit in the dugout with the kids instead of in the stands with the crazy parents! This brings back so many memories …
Lois Alter Mark recently posted…“the age of adaline” movie review and giveaway!
Good idea, Lois. Stay away from the drama.
Well written post and yes, I’ve seen this mom on our playing fields, too. Why is it that the other moms flock to her? Is she the cool mom because she’s mean?
Great question, Helene! I’ve never understood this phenomenon. What would attract people to someone who’s obviously not a nice person?
OMG what a nightmare of a sports mom. Honestly. This actually made me ill…that you had to go through it.
Carol Cassara recently posted…Moving West: exiled to Pacific Hell
Thanks for your comment, Carol. It sort of made me ill hearing about it.
OMG!!! I so loved your article. It reminded me of when my daughter played soccer. These women are screaming at these little girls (who are supposed to be having fun) and they are just bawling on the field. I just wanted to knock them out!!! I could never imagine yelling at my baby girl like that. She had problems focusing, so I decided to come up with a code word so that she would know that I am telling her to pay attention at the goal without embarrassing her unnecessarily or being so harsh. I would yell “Butterfly” and she would focus and she still knew that mom loved her and was proud of her. These moms take these little league sports too seriously. Now if it were high school, with scholarships on the line……
The code word is such a great idea! Like you said, it gets the point across while showing your kid that you care about not embarrassing them. I don’t have daughters, but I bet it’s just as difficult if not more so with female athletes.
UGH. Brings back memories of those mean moms, who were no doubt mean girls back in grade school. Some things never change…but I’m always hoping that they will get their comeuppance.
Yep, mean girls grow up to be mean moms. I’ve never understood their mindset. And glad I don’t.
Loved this!! Would love it even more to see this happen in real life to “that” mom!!!! Every now it and then it might humble some to be called out!!
You’re so right, Mi. Oh how I’d love to see a mom like this given what’s coming to her in front of her “adoring fans.”
Ugh.
Want me to come up there and pull some public school move? lol
Kidding.
That lady sounds like trash.
Nicole recently posted…Savoring the Moment, Prepping for the Future
Oh, I’d love that, Nicole!
Epic!
Thank you! I’m really glad you enjoyed it…or could relate to it.
Cracking UP at the mental image of beating up said mom with the $59.99 Walmart bat 🙂
Lol, thanks, Talya! That would’ve been such beautiful irony.