MLB stars share their appreciation for Mom on Mother’s Day

11:31 AM ET

Being a mom is a wonderful thing. There are times when your heart is so full and overflowing with love and happiness for your children you think it might burst. But, in between those moments of joy, there are countless hours filled with unglamorous chores. Vacuuming Goldfish crackers off the floor, driving kids to and from games, making meals and removing grass stains from white uniforms, these are not exciting tasks.

A friend once told me, being a mom, you are slowly getting fired from the most wonderful job on earth. The only job you ever wanted to do. Because, with motherhood, the entire goal is to raise independent, loving, kind and productive adults who can take care of themselves. To accomplish this goal, much of motherhood becomes countless hours doing menial tasks no one really notices.

I recently asked several major league players about the impact their moms had on their lives. Their responses were so heartfelt, we are going to let them tell their own stories word for word. As you read them though, notice one thing: No one mentioned the type of car their mom drove, the way she dressed or how big her house was. The most important thing was very simple; their moms were always there for them. Whatever and whenever they needed. Here, you will see how the seemingly smallest gestures of love and care from moms made the biggest impact in the lives of their children.

Mike Trout, with his mother Debbie, after receiving an award in September 2013. Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports

Mike Trout, Angels center fielder, about his mom Debbie Trout

My mom influenced me a lot, growing up as a kid, just teaching me and leading me in the right way. Obviously, both parents [helped] but it’s special to play on Mother’s Day, and to know she is there to support me and to support me throughout my career.

When I was a kid [we’d] play whiffle ball in the front yard or play catch. She’s always there. It doesn’t matter if you get four hits or if you go 0-for-4 and had a bad game, she’s always there to support you, to keep your confidence up and to stay positive. It doesn’t matter what you are going through, she’s always the same person. She doesn’t change and she loves me.

I just want to tell her that I love her, and thanks for what she’s done. I wouldn’t be in my position today without her.

Jake Arrieta, Cubs starting pitcher, about his mom Lynda Arrieta

I grew up in Plano, Texas, outside of Dallas. We were driving to Fort Worth or Houston or Corpus Christi or Oklahoma City or Tulsa every weekend for baseball. We’d pile in the van and the troops would head down for five games in three days and then back to school for the week, and then on the road again.

When I was younger, basically Mom was the brain of the entire family. I slowly transitioned to being organized and very collected and composed when it came to school, practice and homework. I learned it from her, her ability to get me to my games and practices.

She cooks. She makes chicken parmesan and a really good beef stroganoff. Everything is really, really hardy because she had to feed four extremely large men. So we needed a ton of food. What I love and what I miss about being at my parents’ house is, I feel like she always had a pot of soup ready if somebody was hungry. She loved to feed people.

She was highly competitive. She wanted me to be the best and viewed me as the best on the field. She expected really good things from me. She was very vocal and loud, and animated. Anytime I did something positive, not just something like throwing a strike, but a big out or a home run, I could definitely pick her out of the crowd without looking. I could hear her and differentiate her voice from everyone else.

She was very influential in my ability to stay consistent with being at practice and being at games and falling in love with the game at an early age. She was one of the biggest components to my ability to stick with it. Obviously, the support she provided over the years is unmatched.

Brandon Phillips, Reds second baseman, about his mom Lue Phillips

I have two brothers and one sister. My mom, she let us all play sports because that kept us off the streets and out of trouble. It’s the best thing that ever happened to me because the majority of people I grew up with, they have …

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