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Sep 2023
1h 4m

James Outman On Why Baseball Is Stoicism

Daily Stoic | Wondery
About this episode

Ryan speaks with James Outman on why he believes that baseball and Stoicism both promote the same practices, why baseball players are uniquely prepared to deal with failure, how practicing the Stoic mindset helps him survive “the yips”, why Lou Gehrig’s story is the perfect example of Memento Mori, and more.

James Outman is a professional baseball player who plays centerfield for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Since being called up to the Majors in July of 2022, James has amassed a batting average of .260 with 18 home runs and 81 RBI (as of September 2023). The highlights of his rookie season included hitting the Dodgers’ first home run of the 2023 season, and a go-ahead grand slam in the ninth inning against the Chicago Cubs, as well as winning the National League Rookie of the Month award for April 2023. James credits much of his MLB success to the mental fortitude that he has developed since reading The Obstacle Is The Way during the pandemic and studying Stoicism ever since. You can follow James on Instagram @jamesoutman and Twitter @james_outman.

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