Celebrating America’s timeless love of baseball

America has had an enduring love affair with baseball. It has been the country’s favorite pastime for centuries, capturing the hearts of millions from every corner of the United States. One of those hearts belongs to CBS Mornings co-host Tony Dokoupil. He felt a connection to the game from a young age.

“I think when you’re a kid, your dad throws you a soft toss, and then you get that first contact, the ball just does something, your heart pounds a little bit and you want to do it again. It’s like falling in love,” Dokoupil told CBS Mornings co-host Nate Burleson during a drive to Citi Field, home of the New York Mets.

A former standout outfielder at George Washington University, Dokoupil still ranks among the school’s all-time leaders in hits, runs and stolen bases and has had no trouble showcasing his skills in the batting cage.

Dokoupil said his earliest memory of playing baseball was when he was five or six years old and watching the Mets at Shea Stadium. He vividly remembered watching Darryl Strawberry and Lenny Dykstra on the field and aspiring to be like them.

“When Darryl Strawberry hit a home run at the old Shea Stadium, the apple came out of the hat. And I remember my heart almost breaking. I just thought, ‘This is a dream. I want to do this,'” Dokoupil said.

Burleson’s experience as a baseball player differs from Dokoupil’s. Burleson, who has been a star athlete his entire life, admitted that he suffers from performance anxiety, which is why he preferred to play wide receiver on the football field since he didn’t have the ball in his hands on every play.

Burleson said he doesn’t like being the center of attention, recalling that he was a good basketball player but had trouble shooting free throws because of the pressure.

“Just throw it to me every now and then and I’ll do my thing,” he said.

Insights from the pros

The hosts met with New York Mets coaches Eric Chavez and Jeremy Barnes, who discussed some of the complexities of baseball hitting.

“It moves in different directions. It changes speed. I mean, the throw can go up to 10, 15 miles an hour,” Barnes said. “And then there’s the component that it could hit you. And it’s a hard ball that comes at extreme speed.”

“Baseball has a certain fear component to it. That little white thing can hurt you pretty bad,” Chavez said of a baseball.

But even if you’re not a baseball fan, watching the game with peanuts, hot dogs and beer while enjoying the fun of America’s favorite pastime is a special experience.

“This is a recipe for success,” said Dokoupil.