Ever been to a Minor League baseball game? These games are a study of human behavior: survival, passion, struggle, discipline, dedication, loyalty, teamwork, respect for the game. I’ve been to several Minor League games and I see these attributes being common at each game and on a higher level than at the Major League level. After all, these kids are trying to make it to “The Show”.

There are veteran ballplayers working their way back to The Show because they didn’t get a major league contract for whatever the reason. Then there are the youngsters who have not made it yet, but are struggling for survival and fighting to reach higher levels and eventually reach the Majors.

Every time I go to a Minor League game, not only do I see the survival, passion, fight, dedication, loyalty and more from the players, but I see it in the umpires, the coaching staff, the stadium workers, and especially in the fans! It can be quite a humbling experience. But these qualities remind me of how we can approach our affiliations in life, work, co-workers.

Minor leaguers barely make any a decent, liveable salary and only get paid during the season and not in the off season. They sometimes have to stay with host families rather than have their own apartments. I was introduced to a one tradition during a Single A game. These teams are primarily comprised of kids no older than 23 yrs old for the most part and usually range from 18yrs old – 20yrs old. When one of these kids hits a Home Run, a bucket travels around the ballpark where the fans donate a dollar and the kid who hit the Home Run is rewarded with the bucket. Usually the ballplayer treats his fellow teammates to a night out, perhaps a better dinner than Taco Bell. Isn’t this a great tradition? The money goes directly to the player rather than only a portion. 100% commission! I love it!

Ballplayers who are struggling to make it back to the Majors whether due to an injury, past poor performance or hadn’t got offered the Major League contract and working their way back to the Majors all display intense passion and dedication to their craft. You can even feel it in their air. But see, that is what makes attending a minor league game so special. The ballparks are smaller, cozier, less pretentious. The fans show their love by supporting these players and these teams for the love and appreciation of the game itself. There is little hype or flash to these games, especially at the lower levels. It’s the game at its purest form.

Seeing these players, the coaches, the fans, the ballpark workers all dedicate not only themselves but to each other is exactly the kind of workplace I want. The teamwork, the discipline, the respect for each others’ contribution is brilliant. If you’re good at observation, you can see the inspiration feed off of each act. Coaches learn from an 18yr old to better prepare themselves for a higher level coaching job, a young umpire learning from a coach, a young fan learning how to treat others by a kindly ballpark worker.

How can we bring these qualities into our own workplace? How about joining people who want the same success! Working together with others only helps me succeed. Would you like to join my team?

==>> Click here for an exclusive invitation to learn more

Or copy and past this link in your browser:

http://on.fb.me/PPM100

Watch the 2 videos posted there and let me know if you are up to the same measure of quality.

Click here to read the article.

Hello friends and fans of Wild Pitch Marketing. I would like to share a publication with you that I am honored to be a part of, Athletes Quarterly Magazine.  It is a new publication which is gaining momentum amongst the athletic fraternity of professional sports.  It has been created for athletes as a venue to discuss what other athletes do and talk about when they are outside the lines.

Athletes Quarterly (AQ) is dedicated to helping current and former professional athletes to get the most out of life. In addition to chronicling the lives of one of the more elite communities in the world, AQ brings the very best of fashion, automotive, watches and fine jewelry, real estate, home electronics and travel to their community between the covers of every issue. AQ is devoted to help every pro athlete achieve their very best in what they do, what the buy, and how they will transform and create the second act once the curtain falls on their playing career. Drawing on a wide range of contributors from every major sport, AQ is the most authentic publication for the community of professional athletes from all sports.

It has been a great resource for professional athletes during its maiden year of existence and is rapidly gaining popularity.  I enjoy when it shows up in my mailbox during the off-season.  In season, I will find a copy in my locker, laying around the clubhouse, in a bathroom stall or on a card table.  AQ cannot be found at newsstands nor will you be able to pick a copy up at your local book store.

I met AQ’s Editor in Chief, Michael Dolan  back in Spring Training of this 2010 season.  In our discussion, he asked about the things was doing off the field and the next thing I knew I was the subject of an AQ story.   Hopefully, I will one day grace the cover of an ESPN magazine or Business Weekly, but until then I’m very happy appearing in this exciting publication.

These days you have to brand yourself. Create a subject and message to convey to your audience.  If you don’t consider yourself a brand when it comes to online marketing, then you will be lost in the mix of what has happened since the onset of social media.  You don’t need to be a professional athlete or celebrity to have a platform.  Sure it may take you a bit longer to get creative on generating a forum, but taking action and embracing your passion is the only way you will see results.  Go for it with all you have, and I hope you enjoy the article.

Click here to read the article.

As you many of you already know, this season has been shortened for me due to season-ending knee surgery. It is difficult to come to grips with the realization that baseball will go on this year, and I won’t be able to participate. Baseball, for me, has many parallels to many aspects in life. They can be both very hard and humbling at the same time.

The only curve balls I am used to throwing are to opposing batters. A good “Uncle Charlie” or “Hammer” are some nicknames given for a good breaking ball. Whether in Little League or in Major League Baseball, they can be hard to hit. If you lack the confidence and courage to stand in there and track the ball, then trying to hit a curve ball is very difficult. If you do have the courage and confidence, then it becomes easier.

There are two individuals here in my hometown who are inspirations to many. Even many professional athletes, including  soccer star Mia Hamm and Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell, have been touched by these two athletes’ courage. I consider myself a member of their fan club, as well.  These two individuals have stayed in the batter’s box while facing the most biting curve ball that life could snap off and hit their obstacles way outta the park.

First let’s introduce you to my new friend, Breanna McMahon.  I had the blessing of meeting “Brea” at physical therapy downtown where we are both rehabbing. I can’t say enough about this young girl’s spirit and the persevering attitude she possesses after encountering a life changing accident. I guess this story is explained best in this Youtube video. If her story doesn’t move you, not sure anything will.

Nate Winters is another local kid, who isn’t letting a major setback slow him down. I don’t know Nate all that personally, but met him through his father, whom I know very well. Dr. Tom Winters is one of the most unselfish people I have ever met and has always has taken good care of me. Being around the office to see him beaming about, not only that his son is alive, but that he is once again pitching and defying the odds. You can read or watch some of these video posts below which tell the story of  Nate and how he came so close to tragedy.

Nate Winters – News 13 – Truly inspirational
WFTV News channel 9 – Remarkable Comeback!

There is no shortage of press Nate is receiving and deservedly so. Here is an article about Nate and the results of his first game. There will be more to come as ESPN and Sports Illustrated have picked up the story as well.

Nate Winters story in Orlando Sentinel

I have realized that many things in life occur apparently for a reason. They allow us to gain a new perspective of a  bigger picture in the grand scheme of things. I have rebounded a couple of other times to get back to the Major Leagues, and know what it takes to make the commitment to comeback. From getting to know a couple of inspirational teenagers locally here in Orlando, one whom I currently visit with during our physical therapy sessions, I am drawing on their inner strength to get through my trials and tribulations.

These individuals truly exemplify what perseverance is all about. I am so thankful for the blessing of these extraordinary people who have crossed my path.

Nate and Brea,

You both have exemplified what waking up with a good attitude is and demonstrating the true meaning of being “Better, not Bitter” means each and every day! We can all learn from that. I know that I sure have. ~ Grilli

Nicolo Paganini was a well-known and gifted nineteenth century violinist. He was also well known as a great showman with a quick sense of humor. His most memorable concert was in Italy with a full orchestra. He was performing before a packed house and his technique was incredible, his tone was fantastic, and his audience dearly loved him.

Toward the end of his concert, Paganini was astounding his audience with an unbelievable composition when suddenly one string on his violin snapped and hung limply from his instrument. Paganini frowned briefly, shook his head, and continued to play, improvising beautifully.

Then to everyone’s surprise, a second string broke. And shortly thereafter, a third. Almost like a slapstick comedy, Paganini stood there with three strings dangling from his Stradivarius. But instead of leaving the stage, Paganini stood his ground and calmly completed the difficult number on the one remaining string.

As seen on Seamheads.com on Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Eleven year old Elliot Mast at Home Run Derby in 2009

“I hope I can inspire you, no matter what your age, please know that you too can do something to make a difference in your community everyday.”  Elliot Mast

The above mission statement comes from an 11-year-old young man who hails from Altoona, PA.

As he readies himself for his upcoming baseball season, Elliot Mast is working ambitiously to make a difference in the lives of his peers, who may not be able to participate in Opening Day festivities or other outdoor activities this spring and summer, because the of the challenges that they currently have in front of them.
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I recently learned about what Elliot was doing to support his local community after reading his dad’s post on www.linkedin.com.  It struck me as funny because I had been thinking for the last month or two, that although I have made plenty of professional contacts on the site, it really hasn’t offered much else.  Glad I didn’t give up on it, because I might have missed the opportunity to find out more about Elliot and his lofty pursuits.  I spoke with Don and Elliot on the phone recently and after we wrapped up, I got a few more emails from Don as a follow up.

Don was passing along a message from Elliot that “he wanted to keep the focus on the kids and hospital and the kids that he is helping as much as possible.”

I hope I do that here, but Elliot, sorry buddy, this story is about you too because you deserve to be recognized for your efforts.  Please don’t be mad at me, it’s part of the story.

As the story is told, Elliot and his dad, Don, were out fishing one day and were talking about how the young man could make a difference in his community and with kids his own age.  It seems that Elliot was inspired after seeing a commercial with big leaguer Curtis Granderson, who was promoting his community contributions on a Major League Baseball-sponsored television commercial.

“When I was fishing with my dad, we were talking about Curtis Granderson and he has a charity and website http://www.grandkidsfoundation.org,” Elliot said.

Granderson, who moved from the Detroit Tigers to New York Yankees during the offseason, is considered to be one of baseball’s most influential when it comes to community outreach.

In April of 2007, Granderson represented the Tigers organization prior to the Baltimore Orioles home opener at Camden Yards when Major League Baseball and Cal Ripken, Jr. held a press conference to announce a collaborative effort between the RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) Program and the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation.

“He (Granderson) was involved in community type stuff, kids programs that helped and I asked my dad, why can’t we do something like that?”

Dad’s response…“I told him that baseball players have more money than we do.”

Undeterred, the Mast family, including Elliot’s mom, Angelina, started coming up with some ideas.  Ideas that weren’t simply talked about in a casual way and dismissed, but instead they were crafted and soon carried out with vigor.

Elliot has created his own blog www.elliotmast.blogspot.com to promote the work he is doing this year to support the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and the Child Life Program, which makes childrens’ hospital stays as positive and stress-free as they can be.

“I think it’s really great that someone of Elliot’s age is trying to go out and fundraise for kids his age,” said Shannon Anglero, associate director, of special events for the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation.

“The lessons that he is learning about philanthropy will go with him for the rest of his life,” Anglero said.  “It comes from his parents.  He is the driving force behind this, but they are really supportive.  He is learning a wonderful lesson of how one person’s impact can have on other people.”

Anglero also believes that Elliot is going about his efforts the right way.

“My appreciation always comes when kids want to help other kids,” Anglero said.  “It’s something that is very easy for him to do because he likes baseball.  He is doing exactly what we stress to fundraisers.  He’s doing something that he is passionate about and finding a way to help others.”

Elliot will stay busy playing baseball during the spring and summer months by playing on three different teams, including travel teams during the summer.  Taking a page from big leaguers, he has set goals for himself by donating $2.00 for every hit he collects, $5.00 for every strikeout that he records on the mound and $10.00 for every home run that he hits.

The money will help with Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh’s Give To Children program, www.Givetochildren.org which supplies children with games, toys, and activities to do during their hospital stay.  This program helps the children and their families.

Skeptical that this young man won’t make a dent in his allowance with the numbers he hopes to put up this season on the diamond?  Don’t be!

Consider his 2009 numbers, 105 strikeouts on the mound (over 58 innings), 8 home runs, and a .475 batting average.  Anyone who hits .475 is collecting their share of hits.

Consider as well, that although Elliot has picked up some more chores around the house to generate more allowance, he is also going door-to-door and talking with businesses to help out as well.

“I am vacuuming, tending to my hermit crabs and four dogs, cleaning a lot, mowing the lawn and doing a lot of outside work,” said Elliot.

Elliot’s pursuit to help out also includes encouraging kids to become pen pals and to develop crafts that can be sent to the children in the hospital.  All craft items must be new and help provide children with activities during their stay.

“The Child Life Program tries to make kids’ hospital experience fun and not scary,” said Elliot.  “It’s also about the kids in the hospital where they have created the Doctor Free Zone, where kids keep their mind off surgery and everything else that is going on.”

Craft item donations can include magazines for kids and adults, pencils, colored or plain crayons…small glue bottles, unfinished wood shapes that can be colored and finished, baby rattles, sports cards, Nerf ball sets, journals, and pillows.

Crafts and Pen Pal Letters may be sent to:

Ms. Shannon M. Anglero’
Associate Director, Special Events
Elliot’s Craft Campaign For Child Life
Children’s Hospital Of Pittsburgh Foundation
1251 Waterfront Place Floor 5
Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Don’t be discouraged if you don’t live in the western Pennsylvania region.  Elliot’s first donation came from a generous person in Denver, Colorado.

Monetary Donations (Checks Preferred) can be sent to:

Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation
C/O Elliot Mast
1230 22nd Avenue
Altoona, PA 16601

Don and Elliot are using every social media outlet you can think of to get the word out about their pursuits and it’s paying off.

“The Social Media background, it’s huge,” said Don Mast.  “We are able to get to more people and it gives Elliot a chance to contact a lot of people in baseball and to get the message out quickly.”

Major League pitcher, Jason Grilli, a Twitter master with over 6,000 followers, tweeted recently about Elliot’s endeavors saying, “If this kid isn’t inspiring, then I don’t know who is: Let’s help him raise more than his $200 goal!”

“I also got help from Jason Grilli,” said Elliot.  “He is promoting it on his Twitter and Face Book page and his blog.”

Other outlets and groups are contributing to getting the word out as well, including the American Women’s Softball Association.

Opening Day for Elliot is April 24.  Here’s to big year!  Hopefully he can put up the kind of numbers that an agent would love to take to arbitration.  And let’s do our best to help Elliot reach his ultimate goal.

“I am trying to inspire other kids to care and to get them, and adults involved too,” said the 11-year-old from Altoona, PA.

Please visit Elliot’s blog www.elliotmast.blogspot.com and watch his videos.  Check out his baseball photos too, just from the photos, you can tell he’s got a good approach at the plate.

Steve Lenox has written for Boston Baseball Magazine and was a contract host for MLB Home Plate (XM 175) and XM Sports Nation (XM 144) at XM Satellite Radio. He also served as a play-by-play broadcaster for the Aberdeen IronBirds before moving on to Lexy.com, where he serves as a Lexycaster.

Over the past several months, one of my wildest baseball dreams has been realized. Not blessed with an overabundance of skill on the baseball field, it is beyond my greatest expectations that I’d ever have the chance to rub elbows with one of the chosen ones who has been dually blessed with extraordinary baseball skills.

As surreal as it seems to me, Cleveland Indians pitcher, Jason Grilli, and I became buddies last November through our work with the award winning children’s baseball book, A Glove of Their Own, and have become good friends over the six or so months that have passed.

Nearly every morning, the phone rings at my house in rural Massachusetts, and the name “Jason Grilli” pops up on the Call ID. I scratch my head in amazement that a “real live baseball player” would be calling ‘lil ol’ me, answer the call and hear the voice of a bonafied major league pitcher the other end of the line.

“It’s time for Coffee with Grilli, man,” chuckles the big right-hander calling from either his home in Florida and his hotel in Arizona. “On my way to the field and figured I’d give Civ a call.”

I joke with Grilli, that the only thing we have in common is that he wears Number 49 on the back of his jersey and my left handed fast ball tops out at a high of 49 miles per hour. In truth, however, we share a lot of the same beliefs and ideals about baseball, family, business and life and it has become a valuable friendship for both of us.

Grilli keeps my spirit high as I continue to try to solve my own personal unemployment crisis and I try to motivate him as he pitches towards his next big league roster spot with the Cleveland Indians. At the same time, we work together on his blog, Wild Pitch Marketing, where Grilli shares his keen business skills and I use my wordsmithing abilities. A win/win for both of us.

Grilli’s road to that roster spot, took an unexpected detour last week, however, when he injured his quad muscle while running a drill towards the end of a practice session at the Indians Spring Training facility in Goodyear, AZ.

His emotions have run the full gamut from disbelief to heartache, to a brief period of why me to acceptance and inspiration. His career has in many ways become a lesson in overcoming obstacles and his recent injury presents him with yet another chapter. As his Facebook status read last night on the eve of his anticipated surgery, “Ready for my wheel alignment tomorrow. Ready “Steady” for your healing hands.”

As he prepared for this morning’s surgery in Vail, Colorado, we enjoyed our morning ‘cup of joe’ and Grilli shared his thoughts on his off-season preparation, his injury and his continued commitment towards pitching next season in the Major Leagues.

Todd Civin: You seemed to work harder during this off-season than ever before. Why was this camp so important to you?

Jason Grilli: This season was a new beginning for me.  The past two years were hard off the field more from the standpoint of moving my family around the country.  We were ecstatic to be going close to home with a familiarity of a division I have spent a lot of time in.

I worked my butt off because I knew that I could help this team and mold my career to be one place for a long time.  I was so focused and still am. Just refocusing my energy into other things that I can control right now.  Getting healthy is priority one, but thankfully I have already started a backup plan with my company Perfect Pitch Marketing Group.

TC: How do you think you were progressing regarding gaining a roster spot?

JG: Even though I signed a minor league contract, I felt that my chances of breaking with the club were pretty solid.  The Indians were aware of what I was capable of.  For years they have seen me pitch against them.  The fact that they have seen plenty of me from the other dugout in years past, and filtering other opportunities during my off-season, I felt great about being apart of an organization that I held in high regard before signing there.

TC: Explain how the injury actually occurred.

JG: My day was almost complete.  We were on our last two sprints and when I decelerated and stopped, my leg didn’t.  I was on the ground and was praying that my season wouldn’t be lost after all my hard work.  All I could think of was my family too and how this would affect us all.

TC: Your first thought when you went down and did you realize the severity of it?

JG: My season flashed before my eyes. I was in some serious pain and my leg was cramping really bad.  I didn’t know the severity of it until the doctors revealed what had happened after my MRIs and X-Rays.  I am forever an optimist, but that was a big blow to take to see that yet another challenge lay ahead of me.

TC: You were one of two players that was injured that day, how did the training crew react? Was yours the first or second injury?

JG: I actually saw the trainers carrying Jordan Brown in as I was walking to the conditioning field.  I was the second man down that day.  The training staff was incredible and took great care of me.

TC: What is the actual diagnosis and plan for recovery?

JG: The diagnosis is an extensive quad injury and I am going to see the best specialist for knees in the world.  Dr. Richard Steadman in Vail, Colorado.  He has worked on Joe Montana, Kobe Bryant, The U.S. Olympic ski teams to name a few.

He is world renowned and I am lucky to be seen and fixed by the best.  My recovery will begin after he does his part and the rest is on me.  I have been here before and know what work load is involved.  My goal is to pitch some winter ball before next season.

TC: Why you? How has your attitude changed as each day has passed since the injury?

JG: I don’t know why me.  I feel that God has a plan for everyone of us.  Some people scoff at that throwing out God references and all these cliches.  I am so fortunate and would take this injury over some of the daily struggles that so many other people are going through.  The sun comes up each day and I have to have a strong outlook.

Baseball is my passion, but there is so much more to life than just that.  I battle each day and go through the emotions, but know that this is fixable.  I just am looking forward to getting the surgery over so I can get to work on my recovery.  I will be in the Majors again next year!

TC: What has been the response of your fans, family, teammates?

JG: Everyone has been so supportive.  They have shed tears and felt bad for me, but they know the strength that I have and are feeding from it too.  I have a great support team and collectively will get through it.

TC: Every cloud has a silver lining…have you found it yet?

JG: This is a time that I can be with my family while I rehab to perfect health.  I have my business to keep my mind off of missing an entire season.  I know that this time can be and will be put to good use.

TC: I know you are a spiritual person. How has your faith in God helped you make sense of this?

JG: It is easy to blame God and wrestle with being upset with God as to why stuff in life happens.  I don’t know the reason yet, but will find out down the road.  This is something that will draw me even closer to Him again.  Life moves so fast and we take things for granted and tend to forget really what is important. I just want to take a negative and create another positive from it again. There are people who are dying from wars, cancer, other serious diseases.  I feel blessed to know that this is a fixable thing.

TC: What will your season be like and how will you prepare for next season?

JG: The baseball season will be slow. I will follow how the Indians are doing and will surely root for them. There were so many great guys I was hoping to share the season with. I am focused on keeping my arm strong and get over the rehab portion so I can start where I left off. My mind is strong. I have already made the choice to deal with the cards that have been handed to me.

Todd Civin is a freelance writer who writes for Bleacher Report, Sports, Then and Now, and Seamheads. He also shares his top stories on his blog The ‘xoxo’ of Sports. He is a supporter of Team Hoyt, the father/son marathon and triathlon team of Dick and Rick Hoyt. He encourages you to support their movement of “Yes, I Can” by visiting their Web site at www.teamhoyt.com .

With Opening Day only four weeks away, it doesn’t get any better than hearing Jason Grilli talk about the ticket that got him here. Grilli sits down with Cleveland Indians beat writer, Nick Camino, on WTAM 1100 AM Cleveland Indians Radio, aka The Big One in this up close and personal talk about Spring Training 2010.

Listening to Grill Cheese talk about topics including, his chances of making the 2010 version of the Cleveland Indians, his off-season preparation and pitching for Team Italia in the World Baseball Classic makes it nearly impossible to think of anything, but Opening Day.

Grilli and fellow Italian, Camino, share some good ol’ Pisan humor during this candid and entertaining interview at the Indians Spring Training facility in Goodyear, AZ.  Grill and Camino even break away from baseball for a bit and discuss Grilli’s business, Perfect Pitch Marketing and the new CU3000 Globalinx Video Phone.

So sit back, relax, oil up the mitt and listen to Grilli talk baseball on WTAM 1100, The Big One!

The Jason Grilli Interview on Radio WTAM with Nick Camino

Read Jason Grilli’s blog daily at www.wildpitchmarketing.com or visit his website at www.jasongrilli.com. Grilli speaks about social networking, baseball, business opportunity and shares stories of inspiration through his daily blog posts. You can also follow him on Facebook, Twitter or Linked In.

As a fan of the game, as well as, a blogger of the events that make up life in the bigs, I am repeatedly amazed when I have the opportunity to climb inside the game with the players. The fans only get a two-hour glimpse into the every day events that make up baseball. The on-stage event. But how cool is it, when we get some bonus time into the lives and events that make up the other 22 hours of the ball players’ day.

Aside from being a fly on the wall or the mud stuck inside of the players’ cleats, we can’t get much closer than those gems we are afforded when a player agrees to being mic’d up. The following is not only GrillCheese at his finest, but one of those rear and elusive baseball points of light that allow the fat boys and the wannabes to capture a moment inside the game.

Watch Grilli while he shagged flies and kept things loose for himself and his fellow Rockies’ teammates last season, during this priceless you-tube moment.

We hope to capture more of these as the 2010 season takes shape and plan to bring you some version of Grill Cheese with Grilli as the season progresses. In the meantime, sit back and enjoy, Jason Grilli- Mic’d Up on FSN Rocky Mountain.

Guidepost Magazine is always filled with the most heart-felt and motivational magazine and has a wonderful section filled with baseball stories. Whenever I am in need of a pick me up, I venture over to the site and instantly realize that life is good.

Founded by Norman Vincent Peale and his wife, Ruth Stafford Peale in 1945, “they envisioned an organization that would help people from all walks of life achieve their maximum personal and spiritual potential. The Peale legacy continues powerfully today in our vision for the future, which is to offer people products and services that inspire, encourage, and uplift.”

I found the following story by Los Angeles Dodger catcher Russell Martin entitled Saxophone Man. The story is about his father who served as his guide, his mentor and his strength. I hope you enjoy it and that it leaves you a bit more prepared to find the joy in each day.

Saxophone Man

By Russell Martin, Jr., Los Angeles, California

I’m a professional baseball player. That means I’ve heard the national anthem performed before games thousands of times, by solo singers, military choirs, marching bands, the occasional recording star.

I place my cap over my heart, stand at attention at the top of the dugout steps and listen. We all do. But honestly, you don’t always pay strict attention. It’s hard to when your mind is on the game.

But this night was different. That was my dad out there, playing. He stood near home plate in Dodger Stadium last September, blowing into his old, tarnished saxophone (“Don’t want a new one,” he’d always say. “They don’t make them like they used to.”), playing to nearly 55,000 fans before our game that night against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

I watched anxiously from the top step of the dugout and followed every note, praying for him to do his best. A few bars into his performance, a funny thing happened. I realized our roles had reversed.

All my life he’d rooted for me, prayed for me to do my best. Now I was rooting for him. For most of his days he’d been a street musician, but thanks to him, I was the Dodgers catcher

Sports and music have been the mainstays in my life for as long as I can remember. Sports, because from early childhood that’s what I loved—and did—best. Music, because that was as vital to my dad’s life as, well, breathing.

Our time together was important to me. He and Mom split when I was almost two, and during the school term I’d stay with Mom. She lived in Ottawa, Canada, two and a half hours from Dad’s home in Montreal. Every other weekend I spent with Dad, plus the entire summer.

Dad’s place wasn’t like Mom’s. Mom worked as a government analyst and lived in a comfortable home in the suburbs. Dad moved around Montreal a lot, from apartment to apartment, according to what rent he could afford. He couldn’t afford much. The biggest place he ever had was four and a half rooms. “Don’t you want a place like Mom’s?” I asked one day.

Dad sat me down. “Material things have never been important to me,” he said. “What’s important is happiness, fulfillment, chasing your dreams. My dream is music. Yours is baseball.”

It’s true. When I was just two, Dad tossed a ball in the living room. I caught it in two hops. “Did you see that?” he yelled, turning to his brother. “I think we’ve got a ballplayer here.”

Dad knew what he was talking about. He was more than a musician. He was also an athlete, an excellent baseball player who was quick and strong, and who loved the game. When he was a kid he’d talk his way into pickup games with older boys. “I’m Jackie Robinson’s son,” he’d say, and he was so good, they believed him.

From the time I was two, we spent every day we could at the local park, me with my little red bat and Montreal Expos cap, him with a bag of baseballs and two fielders  gloves.

“Man!” he’d say when I got into one. “You really hit that ball!”

At home we turned on the Expos game. Dad is a great storyteller, and all through the game he’d talk about Robinson—how he’d dance off third base, drive the pitcher crazy and then swipe home.

Most of all, I loved it when he went into his announcer’s voice: “Now hitting for the Expos, Russell Martin,” he’d say. “Bottom of the ninth. Here comes the pitch. There’s a shot to deep right field. That ball is…out of here!” That’s when I knew what I wanted most in life: to be a major-league ballplayer, to hear my name for real over a major-league stadium’s booming PA.

Dad worked me hard, putting me through countless drills. Weird stuff, stuff he’d just make up. “I’m going to throw the ball over your head,” he’d say. “I want you to dive for it, whether you reach it or not.”

Sometimes he’d hand me a broomstick and toss a badminton bird at me. “Let’s see you hit it,” he’d say. Or he’d put a towel over my bat and tell me to swing, to strengthen my hands.

Dad rose each morning before dawn and headed to the subway. There, he’d pick a spot on the platform and play his saxophone, the case open at his feet for donations.

When rush hour was over he returned home and we headed to the park to practice. We broke at lunch, then returned to the field and practiced all afternoon. I’d be all tuckered out, but Dad went back to the subway station to play for the evening rush-hour crowd.

I never really thought much about how Dad earned his living. There was always food on the table—Dad would cook up a batch of stew or his fantastic chili, and we’d be set for the week. Each night we’d fill our bowls, turn on the tube and watch the Expos play. And we’d talk about life.

Dad grew up in tough times. He had to make his own way. “You want to be a ballplayer, you’re going to have to earn it,” he’d say. “You’re not a big guy. Nobody’s going to hand you anything. You’re going to have to work, work, work. And believe.”

That I did.

By the time I reached high school age, I was getting pretty good. That summer I asked Mom to let me live with Dad full-time. I didn’t want to leave her, but there was a high school that had a great baseball program in Montreal where I could go to refine my game. Mom—who was always there for me, and who helped Dad out with my expenses—said okay. She even paid a bunch of the tuition for me.

The school was across the city, an hour-and-a-quarter subway and bus commute away. “You’re going to have to make breakfast and get yourself to school,” Dad said. “Before you get up, I’ll be at work.”

One day, passing through the station, I heard the mournful wail of a saxophone. I’d known for years Dad played in the subway, but I’d never seen him perform. The haunting notes poured out, like the instrument itself were crying. Songs by Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Coltrane—my middle name. That must be Dad! I rushed to where he stood on the platform, and watched and listened.

The rush-hour crowd elbowed by. Some paused a minute to listen and drop coins into Dad’s saxophone case. Most had their minds elsewhere, and brushed past. Dad never batted an eye. He had an intent look on his face, like his whole soul was wrapped up in his music. Wow, I thought. Dad is really good.

“I saw you in the subway today on my way to school,” I told him that night. “How come you just play during rush hours?” It occurred to me that he could have made a lot more money by playing there all day.

“I do it so that I can spend the day with you and help you practice,” he said. “Like I told you, money isn’t what’s important in life.” That’s when it hit me how much my dad had done for me, how much he’d sacrificed for me, believed in me.

I guess that when you have two people who believe in the same dream, it’s twice as likely to come through. I could never pay my dad back. All I could do was be as passionate and devoted to my work as he was to his.

The day I made it to the Dodgers, I figured he’d be even happier than I was. But I couldn’t get ahold of him. When Mom finally did, he was standing by the Saint Lawrence River, practicing his second instrument, the flute. He had a hard time talking. He was just too emotional.

I flew him to Los Angeles as soon as I could. We were playing the Mets that night. Pitching for them was one of Dad’s heroes, Pedro Martinez. I hit a double off of him. As I rounded first, I heard Dad screaming, “Yeah, that’s my boy!”

The Los Angeles Times did a story about me and Dad. After that, it seemed everyone in the city knew Dad played the saxophone in the Montreal subway.

One day he got a phone call from Frank McCourt, the Dodgers owner. “I want you to come back in September,” he said, “to play the national anthem.” The night he performed, I was walking in from the bullpen, through the clubhouse, when he started playing. I raced to the dugout.

There he was on the field, playing that sacred song. He played it slow and soulful, giving it a kind of deeper meaning. I watched him with awe and an indescribable pride.

My dad.

He got a standing ovation when he finished. Both dugouts too. The Pirates players came up to me, saying, “That was your dad? Man, he’s amazing.”

Yeah, but not nearly as amazing as the two of us standing on the brilliant green grass of Dodger Stadium, sharing one dream together.

Find more inspiring baseball stories in Guidepost/Baseball.

The Cheese Man while pitching for Team Italia in WBC

Jason Michael Grilli is a right-handed pitcher who currently plays for the Cleveland Indians. He was born November 11, 1976 in Royal Oak, Michigan. Grilli’s professional baseball career started out when he was a first round draft pick of the Major League Baseball draft by the San Francisco Giants in 1997. He was selected fourth overall by the Giants out of Seton Hall University, where he majored in Business Marketing.

Later in 1999, he was a key component of a mid-season trade that brought Livan Hernandez to the Giants, and sent Grilli to the Florida Marlins. In 2004, Jason was picked up by the Chicago White Sox and in 2005; he signed a contract with the Detroit Tigers, where he participated in the 2006 World Series.

Jason is the son of former Major League pitcher, Steve Grilli, who pitched for four seasons in the late 1970s, including three with the Detroit Tigers. Jason wears number 49 in honor of his father and carries the nickname “Cheese Man” as dubbed by his third-base coach Gene Lamont. In the off-season, Grilli trades hats and operates his private corporation, Perfect Pitch Marketing Group. For more information go to www.JasonGrilli.com.

Jason recently shared a few things about himself and his life as a baseball player with Extraordinary Living Magazine: Click here to read the article