Being a baseball player is simple. You show up to the field and play. Yet, the true ingredients of a spring baseball game are mixed together in the dead of winter. In early January, the Yawkey Baseball League of Boston held their initial winter meetings, and I got a sneak peek inside.

Senior baseball leagues give older players more opportunities to extend their ball careers, and Paul Harrington from Boston’s BABL is no exception.

I didn’t want to do it again. I could have given you a hundred reasons why. It’s hard to raise money from a charity baseball game. The novelty of playing a marathon game wears off. It’s tiring to play two straight days of baseball. But people kept pushing to play. And so we did it. Again.

Many amateur ballplayers have absolutely no idea what national affiliation means, and many others don’t even know if their league has it. Yet, about one-third of the 69 amateur adult baseball leagues in New England are affiliated nationally – 25 of them, to be exact.

It’s just quite possible that Little League is more for the parents than for the kids. The tryout and draft are the real deal, and coaches are there to get a competitive advantage to win during the upcoming season – even they’re only doing it for the kids.

It’s tough to hit .400. Just ask Mike Ganley, founder of 400Hitter, a baseball statistics application used by amateur baseball leagues across the country.

Amateur baseball players keep the game alive while serving as Army specialist in Middle East. Kevin Bell (center) recruited fellow New Englanders and members of his 530th Engineer Detachment, including (from left) Joey Blais, Rusty Chesanek, Chris Elliott and Mike Bellizzi, to play ball.

Alberto Collado is a baseball umpire in Greater Boston who earns respect with strong on-field relationships. Even when his calls are wrong, it’s alright.

Created by Steve Buckley, for 18 years, the Oldtime Baseball Game has been a charity game that showcases local talent — and old time uniforms. Vintage baseball is hardly new. This summer, the Oldtime Baseball Game continues to honor the national pastime.

Dave Joseph didn’t begin playing baseball until he was 39 years old. Now he’s 54, and pitching for the Brockton A’s with his son, Steven Joseph. They’re living the dream.