Jack Brown ‘23
Sports Editor
If you’ve been on a tour of the Law School, you are guaranteed to have heard about a few things. Of course, there are mentions of “collegiality,” mentions of how much great hiking there is around Charlottesville, and guarantees that if you come here, OPP will find you a firm job (though it might be in Wilmington). But more than any of these staples, you will hear about softball and how much it means to the social scene at UVA.
The first question you might be asking is, “Why?” Why is this antiquated game seemingly as mandatory for UVA Law students as cold calls or having to explain to your parents that UVA is actually ranked higher than Georgetown and Cornell? Why do I have to deal with a barrage of enthusiastic GroupMe messages about our game against Section Whatever? Why should I play?
There is a reason softball has endured for over forty years, despite the clear danger the game poses for unathletic law students and innocent passersby at Copeley. It can inspire section pride, give anyone a chance at glory, and let you enjoy what the American Meteorological Society considers the best weather on the east coast.
You should like the message in your GroupMe to RSVP for softball because—no matter what your level of athleticism, experience, or understanding of the rules—you can have fun. From the cleanup hitter to the fan trying to wrap their head around the infield fly rule, everyone can enjoy the game. Every time someone steps up to the plate, you get a chance to see them become a hero. No matter who they are, when they step into the batter’s box, they have a chance for glory. The general lack of athleticism amongst law students means that any contact with the ball can lead to a runner making it to first. You will hear no louder cheer than that of a section when their classmate, who apologizes to everyone for not being good as they step up to the plate, discovers their hidden talent and whacks that baby past the try-hard shortstop. And if you miss? No one will care; they’ll support you for giving it a try.[1]
“What about when I'm not at the plate?” some of you might ask, your voice doused in suspicion. Well, then you get the most fun part of softball: tastefully mocking the other team with your friends behind you. The most common complaint about softball and baseball is that the games are too boring for our generation’s ADHD-addled mind. That it, like recusals by Supreme Court justices, is something for a bygone era. But it is this slow pace that makes it perfect for Law School. Whether you bring your books, dog, or chess set,[2] you don’t have to hyperfocus on the game to get a sense of what is going on. Outside of Bar Review, it really is the best way to get to know people in and outside of your section.
As you progress in your legal career and meet more attorneys who went to UVA Law, inevitably, many of them will monologue about their own moments of softball glory. While it may be painful to patiently stand there as a partner goes on about his legendary hit to win the 1978 championship, you will be struck by how much those memories mean to an otherwise soulless man. You might even see him smile for the only time when he thinks back to whatever law-related pun his team was called. These UVA Law alumni will rattle off the names of their teammates and shift to talking about how much they miss seeing their friends each week. Softball sticks with people not only for what actually happens on the field, but also because of who they played with and against.
Law School is tough, and 1L is the hardest part of it all. At points, doctrinal classes will feel all-consuming, and it can feel impossible to think about anything other than The Law. It's the friends you make at UVA that make it a little bit bearable—the connections that will help you survive those terrifying exams and will make you one day (I promise) nostalgic for your time at UVA. Softball can be the start of so many friendships. It gives you something to talk about before Contracts, can introduce you to people outside of your section, and can keep your section in touch with one another after this first year. At the end of the day, the only way to lose at softball is to not give it a try.
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jwb4bb@virginia.edu