Kenny Rogers: Baseball Song Meaning

Baseball Song Lyrics

Little boy, in a baseball hat,
Stands in a field, with his ball and bat,
says "I am the greatest, player of them all"
puts his bat on his shoulder, and tosses up his ball.

And the ball goes up, and the ball comes down,
he swings his bat...

1. anonymous

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   Aug 25th 2021 !⃝

   I'll admit I'm a dummy, but the first time I heard the song I always took that last verse as he was finally in a game and struck someone else out (another kid saying he's the greatest). Like he grew up and learned he can't be the greatest hitter, so he became the greatest pitcher instead. And even though that's not the reality of the song I have held onto that meaning the whole time. Because no matter what, the kid didn't quit. he just adjusted his eyes until he saw it the way he was supposed to. Either way the Gambler did it again with this gem of a tune.
2. anonymous

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   Apr 1st 2020 !⃝

   It's about a little boy who calls himself the greatest. He is trying to hit the ball by tossing it up and hitting it. He eventually strikes himself out, but instead of feeling down that he couldn't hit, he realized he struck him self out, and that he must be a pretty good pitcher because he struck out the greatest hitter. It could be seen as the little boy only looking at the positives in life, or it can be seen as the little boy joking with himself to shake off the fact he couldn't hit a ball when he tossed it up to himself.
3. anonymous

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   Jan 29th 2020 !⃝

   He’s a great pitcher! Never gave up on his dream of playing, even as he struggled hitting...... it turned out he was a great PO!!!!! Teams can’t win without their pitchers!!!
4. anonymous

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   Jan 13th 2019 !⃝

   The little boy is a typical little guy. Always wants to be a winner. He couldn't hit the ball so in his little mind he figured how to win by being the pitcher. The little boy was just doing what little boys do. They try to be the best they can at what ever it is, I know because I was a little boy like that once upon a time.
5. Jerrypacemaker

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   Nov 17th 2018 !⃝

   For sure ,the meaning is this. Most assume that the boy who said Iam the greatest player ever, that he was a great hitter.To paraharse the lyrics said swing, batter strike three your out repeatedly. What you don’t realize the boy was a great pitcher not a great hitter. He was basically striking out the sides.
6. anonymous

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   Nov 20th 2017 !⃝

   That little boy grew up to be Mark Mcgwire.
7. anonymous

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   Dec 8th 2015 !⃝

   I see it as the little boy is playing by himself. He is in the field imagining a cheering crowd. It reads "he puts his bat on his shoulder and tosses up the ball". Unable to hit the ball he strikes himself out. He doesn't give up and doesn't get upset when he strikes himself out instead he looks at his great ability to pitch a an out.. I really love the meaning behind this song.
8. anonymous

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   Nov 29th 2015 !⃝

   I believe that the song is about a little boy who tried to hit the ball and couldn't.. He kept being struck out. However, not giving up playing baseball he tried pitching and realized that's where he excelled at...PITCHING!!!
9. Rich

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   Oct 2nd 2014 !⃝

   I took it that the song is about a little boy who's is the greatest. That's it !!!!! He kept striking himself out. That's what he meant when he said " even I didn't know I could pitch that good." Great song by kenny!!!
10. anonymous

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    Jul 2nd 2014 !⃝

    Having the outlook on life that the glass is always half full. He was not a good batter but he could pitch.
11. anonymous

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    May 24th 2013 !⃝

    It's about resilience and not giving up.Even if the ball (life) always lets you down,you always strike back with your bat (hope,courage,faith,etc.) And you always say "I didn't know I have passed through all my problems" (I didn't know I could pitch like that)
12. anonymous

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    Feb 23rd 2011 !⃝

    Im pretty sure that its not about the boy swinging and miss - the little boy is the pitcher... so as you go through the song, thinking that he is struggling and can't connect with the ball, he's actually the pitcher and he's awesome because he keeps striking everyone out.
    
    End of the song, "Even I didn't know I could pitch like that"
13. kellydipshit

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    Jul 7th 2010 !⃝

    I thought the song meant that the boy sucked at baseball when he was young, but as he got older he realized there was more than hitting and pitching a ball. There is always the chance you could strike someone out or hit a homerun!

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
14. anonymous

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    Dec 1st 2009 !⃝

    This is a meaning full song, and I had the same experiences the boy he is singing about had. I can still remember when I first tried to hit a ball... I to swung the bat all the way around. I tried and tried. To this day I still have confidence I am the best there ever was.

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway

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