Fans of the New York Yankees will know that phrase.
Longtime radio announcer John Sterling, having witnessed a play that was puzzling, lucky or decided by inches would reliably turn to his broadcast partner and sigh, “That’s baseball, Suzyn.”
The unanticipated and sometimes disappointing twists and turns of life are mirrored in the game of baseball, and if you will indulge me, the balance of this column will be bound by the analogy.
I am a die-hard baseball fan, and it’s provided me with valuable lessons that are applicable to life and, as I’ve come to find out, to politics.
A batter who makes an out three times in every five at bats will have a plaque in Cooperstown. A team that wins 100 games will still lose 62. And on any given day, the weaker team can beat the stronger.
Knowing how to lose is as important as knowing how to win.
In T-ball, Little League and sandlot games, it’s expected that the losing and winning sides congratulate each other with two passing rows exchanging handshakes, and “Good game. Good game. Good game.” Professional baseball doesn’t do that, but they should, and I wish they would.
We gave it our best effort. But, on May 6, we lost.
The city’s comprehensive plan provided the goal, and we had a good game plan and fielded a solid lineup to achieve it.
Leading off… The national crisis of affordable housing. It’s also a regional and local problem, and our city is equally impacted.
In RSS, we had an experienced veteran, and a long-time player in Oneonta.
They offered 35 apartments that would have been affordable for the graduates we are desperately trying to keep here, as well as for struggling families who can’t find housing.
The lack of mental health services is an issue nationally and regionally. Again, Oneonta is no exception. We brought to the plate the promise of a dozen apartments in a welcoming new home, with a trained support person on premises, 24-7, to assist those battling difficulties including depression, PTSD and other challenges.
Batting third, was our vision for Market Street as a vibrant new neighborhood that could be a destination for visitors and an asset in our efforts to attract and retain a younger demographic.
We were excited to have a commitment from the developer to pursue an engaging, entertaining and publicly connective use of the ground floor.
Finally, batting cleanup, was the community’s shared desire to add to our shrinking, aging population; to welcome new residents to staff our businesses, shop in our stores, support our services and organizations and help take us to a more successful future.
Anyway, they don’t play the game on paper. It’s played on the field. And we lost. That’s baseball, Suzyn.
There are no extra innings. No double header. The Common Council voted 5-3. The motion was defeated. RSS will pivot to its next project. I hope it’s in Oneonta, but it won’t be at 27 Market Street.
I have rooted for many more losing teams than champions. But hope springs eternal. There’s always next year.
Where previously no developers had interest in our city, the vision for Market Street’s potential is gaining traction. There’s reason to hope.
And just like baseball, the care of our city offers a new game every day.
As we move on from this loss, we rise to other challenges.
I guarantee, we will win our share before the season’s over.
Adding market rate housing, providing a boost to our local businesses, creating a more welcoming, safe and attractive downtown experience, integrating our students in meaningful city planning, addressing homelessness and food insecurity, changing the narrative around parking, determining creative new funding streams to ensure our long-term quality of life, keeping our young people and welcoming new neighbors. There are no shortages of contests before us.
So, let’s pick ourselves up, and dust ourselves off.
Grab a bat. Grab your glove.
Yesterday is yesterday. And together we make a great team.