Any time Pat Jordan writes, you must read.

This time, he writes about his memories of spring training as a young prospect for SB Nation Longform. Jordan was a bonus baby pitcher for the Milwaukee Braves. However, it never worked out for him, leading to his classic book, A False Spring, and a sensational career as a sportswriter.

Baseball’s loss, journalism’s gain.

Now 72, Jordan writes of spring training:

Its hope was always false, but still, for 54 years, the first three as a pitcher in the Milwaukee Braves’ organization, and the last 51 as a sportswriter, I still returned to spring training each year, more out of habit than expectation, for as I grew older I no longer believed in miracles. Spring training for me became just a pleasant two weeks in the sun, or maybe not so pleasant as I chased some obnoxious multi-millionaire baseball player across practice fields, waving my notebook, shouting, “JUST ONE MORE QUESTION!” until I caught him, or at my age, didn’t.

This is well worth your time.