The Adventures of a Baseball Vagabond: Have Glove, Will Travel

The story of a man who’s chasing his dream to play professional baseball, no matter where it takes him.

Introduction

It all started with a glove.

I was 12 years old when I got my first real baseball glove. It was a Rawlings Heart of the Hide, just like the ones the pros use. I loved that glove. I took it everywhere with me. I even slept with it under my pillow.

That glove gave me the confidence to try out for my school team. And although I didn’t make the team, just having that glove made me feel like a part of the game.

So when my family moved across the country before my freshman year of high school, I didn’t want to leave my beloved glove behind. But my parents said that we couldn’t take everything with us, so I had to choose between my books and my baseball equipment. Of course, I chose the baseball equipment. My books could be replaced, but my glove was one-of-a-kind.

That decision changed the course of my life. Because taking my baseball equipment with me meant that I had to find a new team to play on. And that’s how I became a vagabond ballplayer, crisscrossing the country in search of a game to play in.

The early years

I was born in 1951 in San Francisco, the only child of parents who were both schoolteachers. We lived in a small apartment in the Mission District, and my father had season tickets to the San Francisco Giants. He took me to my first game when I was five, and I was hooked. From that day on, I wanted to be a professional baseball player.

Playing in the minor leagues

I played three years in the minor leagues, mostly in the Carolinas, Virginia, and Maryland. I wasFinally, I was released by the Pirates and picked up by the Montreal Expos. Although I never made it to “The Show,” I met some amazing people along the way and had some great experiences.

Being traded

The first time I was traded was during the 1988 season. I was with the Milwaukee Brewers then, and they had just acquired infielder Jim Gantner from the Atlanta Braves. To make room on their roster, the Brewers dealt me to the Oakland Athletics.

I had mixed feelings about being traded. On the one hand, I was leaving a team that I had been with for parts of three seasons, and I would miss my friends on the Brewers. On the other hand, I was excited about going to Oakland, which was a contending team that was in first place in its division.

I reported to Oakland and found that I liked my new teammates and coaches. The A’s were a close-knit group, and I quickly felt like I belonged. We went on to win our division and advance to the World Series, where we lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games.

Getting released

In baseball, getting released is when a team ends your contract and you are no longer part of that organization. It’s pretty much the worst thing that can happen to a player, especially if it’s done mid-season.

I was first released in 2006 by the Atlanta Braves. I was playing for their Triple-A affiliate in Richmond, Virginia, and I got the news after a game. My manager called me into his office and broke the news to me. I was devastated.

I had been with the Braves organization for four years, and I thought I was on the verge of making it to the big leagues. But instead, I was back to square one. I didn’t know what to do or where to go.

Luckily, my agent was able to find me a new home quickly. The Detroit Tigers signed me to a minor league contract, and I finished out the season with their Triple-A affiliate in Toledo, Ohio.

Getting released is never easy, but it’s especially tough when it happens mid-season. You have to uproot your life quickly and move to a new city, all while trying to keep your head up and focus on getting back to the big leagues.

The present day

It was a hot, sticky day in August, and I was at my home away from home, the baseball diamond. I had just finished my last game of the season with my summer team, the Langley Blaze, and was now ready to embark on my journey. I had my glove, my cleats, and my bat bag packed, ready to go. I was a baseball vagabond, and I was about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime.

Playing independent ball

The 2018 season was my first experience playing independent ball. I played for the Winnipeg Goldeyes in the American Association. The American Association is one of three independent baseball leagues in North America, along with the Atlantic League and the Can-Am League. There are also several other regional independent baseball leagues, but those are the three main ones.

The life of a baseball vagabond

In the present day, there are very few players who spend their entire careers with just one team. Free agency, salary caps, and the simple fact that baseball is a business have all conspired to create a culture of transactions, where players are always on the move in search of the best opportunity.

This can be tough on players, especially those who have families, but it’s simply the reality of the game nowadays. For some players, it’s a chance to see different parts of the country and experience different styles of play. Others might not like all the moving around, but they understand that it’s just part of being a professional ballplayer.

Whatever their feelings on the matter, most players have simply come to accept that this is the way things are and that they’ll just have to make the best of it. So whether they’re traded mid-season or sign a free agent contract with a new team in the offseason, they’ll pack their bags and head to their new home, ready to take on whatever challenges await them.

Conclusion

I would like to conclude by saying that I have enjoyed telling my story and reliving some of my experiences as a baseball vagabond. It has been a great ride and I have met so many wonderful people and made so many great friends along the way. I want to thank all of the people who have helped me along the way, including my parents, coaches, teammates, and friends. I also want to thank all of the fans who have supported me and followed my career. I hope that you have enjoyed reading this book as much as I have enjoyed writing it.