How to get your girlfriend/wife to like baseball

Sharing your likes and dislikes is a part of being in any relationship. But when it comes to the sports you love, it can end up becoming a detractor and hurt the relationship. You may suck it up and go to Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and then expect her to stick out an entire nine inning game, fair is fair right? But how could she enjoy herself without knowing whats going on? She can't, there are only a few people out there that love baseball without understanding everything going on in the field of play. Well instead of trading off painful experiences, let her know why you love the game. With some help from my girlfriend I am going to let you know how I got my LCG to enjoy baseball almost as much as I do. The 9 steps, after the jump.

1. This is probably the most important step of all, don't talk down to her because she doesn't love or understand every thing about baseball. You will get nowhere and the rest of the steps will be deemed useless.
2. Don't barrage her with information, build it slowly. You didn't understand all the intricacies of baseball the first time you watched , so why would you expect her to understand it all right from the get-go?
3. Ask her why she doesn't love baseball, and listen. This will be very useful, as you can use that information to show her why she is misinformed. Ex., most women I have come across say it moves to slowly. So tell them that the action is in the inaction, and explain why. Maybe by showing them how the defense is shifted because the batter always pulls the ball.
4. Does your girlfriend enjoy history or politics? Thankfully mine does, so I explained to her how baseball and America will always be tied together. My information was based on my love for the Dodgers, so my history lessons were focused on them. First I told her how Jackie Robinsons' signing was the start of the battle for Civil Rights. Then I told her how the continental United States were not united as a people until the Dodgers and Giants moved out west.
5. Most woman don't understand all the possibilities of a single at bat, they believe its only three strikes and your out. But we all know it goes deeper than that. Show them how each pitch could change an entire game. Ex; I did this by playing catch with my girlfriend, showing her all of the different types of pitches there are. Showing her my curve ball, slider, and knuckle ball. With that she understood how a batter being paid millions could end up looking stupid due to a simple change up.
6. Watch a couple baseball movies with her. She may end up seeing why you have love for the game and get some appreciation for the game herself. My LCG had it all backwards, she loved baseball movies but not baseball. Not anymore. She always had admiration from her childhood watching The Sandlot, but I brought her to the bigs with The Natural. Try watching Field of Dreams, Eight Men Out, and Bang the Drum Slowly. If those don't work you can go to "For the Love of the Game", the quintessential baseball chick flick.
7. Two words, Vin Scully. The heart of the Dodgers will make anyone a baseball fan. His voice brings thoughts of what it was like to live in the fifties. His voice resonates with the game and makes you feel at home where ever you may be. His stories can make anyone a fan. I know for me when I watch a Dodger game without him, it seems incomplete.
8. Teach her how to keep score. Keeping score can bring you to closer to the game. Thankfully my LCG picked it up faster then some of my buddies. She now knows the difference between a 4-6-3 and a F7.
9. Make a date of it. Make her a dinner that revolves around the game, and couple that with her favorite cocktail. If she can see it as a plausible date, move on to the last step by bringing her to a game.
   

These steps can bring the two of you closer and will help build your relationship. If you follow all of these steps, she will become a fan. If not, she may understand you and your love for the game better. Helping you to enjoy the game in peace.