Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Evan Gattis- Oso Blanco


Once in a while, there is an inspiring story about someone in sports, about a nice guy who has struggled with inner demons but triumphs and makes it into Major League Baseball.  Meet Evan Gattis, known as "El Oso Blanco", the White Bear, the nickname he received when he played baseball in Venezuela....

Evan Gattis won a baseball scholarship to Texas A&M  but never showed up.  He went through several years of drinking and drugs and just doing odd jobs ...as a valet, a ski lift operator, a janitor, and working in a pizza parlor  until he heard the counselor and spritual adviser,  Jeannie Zandi, while he was living in Dallas.  (He bounced around from Colorado, Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, and California.)
Evan Gattis decided to go back to his love of baseball and played some great games in Venezuela. (He is 6'4" and weights 230 pounds, perhaps he looks a bit like a bear when he runs around the bases?)  In April of 2013, he played his first game as an Atlanta Brave and he homered on his first at bat!  Since then, he has been a delight to watch.  He has homered 14 times in 53 at bats and he has hit many of them as a pinch hitter straight off the bench.   My Dad loves to watch him...this is what my Dad says about him, "Just look at how he bats...no batting gloves, NOTHING, he just rubs his hands in the dirt and knocks that ball OUT of there!!  He plays ball the way they USED to play...I really like that!" (Most folks would say "old school" but my Dad would not use that expression!)

 You get such a great feeling of JOY from watching Evan Gattis play baseball.  He obviously went through some rough times before he made it to the Major Leagues and don't we all like the idea of cheering for the underdog?

We had a baseball game last night that started very late due to a rain delay.  It started close to 11PM and did not finish until almost 1:30AM. (Freddie Freeman won it in the bottom of the 9th!)  In that game, Evan Gattis was injured and is now on the DL for 15 days.  (DL means disabled list.)  I am sorry that he is out and I hope that he won't be out any longer than that.  I found a video that Evan Gattis made which I thought shows that he has a great sense of humor.  Please notice you can still see his powerful swing that has produced that wonderful TH-WACK sound of a homerun!  (I love that sound, there is nothing else like it!) 

Go  Braves!!  And hurry back, Evan Gattis!

26 comments:

  1. He is an inspiration! I love the video. I've never heard of him before, but now I can't wait to see him play.

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    1. I love his story and he seems like such a nice guy. I'm glad that one more person will be rooting for him!
      Glad you liked the video too, he must get tired of having people talk so much of his odd jobs days when he is so talented at baseball and yet, he seems to accept it with a grace and humor that is quite rare.

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  2. What a great story of someone who chose to live up to his full potential! And that video rocks, LOL!

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    1. Whenever you hear his story, they always speak of "a spiritual advisor" who helped him live up to his potential without ever naming the actual person, and that is why I have her name on my post!
      Glad you like the video too!

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  3. 3 cheers for the underdog! Hurray!

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  4. The video didn't come up on my iPhone but I love baseball and I love this story. I'll be looking for Evan gattis

    Love
    kj

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    1. Yes, be looking out for him, I think he has a great talent!
      xx

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  5. Being a Georgia Girl, I am one of the biggest Braves fans, and love Evan Gattis. I had seen the video but enjoyed it again. Yes, hurry back Evan, we miss you.

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    1. Goodness gracious, when baseball season is over, I am completely LOST!! Haven't the Braves been so much fun, winning so many at the last minute and don't you just love Freddie Freeman giving everyone his famous HUGS!!
      Evan's story has been great, and he is so good about it. If it were me, I might be telling people to watch my SWING rather than to dwell on the past! (He's nicer than I am, I am sure!)

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  6. We're enjoying Gattis too, and of course, Freddie is the best. If only they could get rid of Uggla!

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    1. I make fun of Uggla's "Popeye" arms and then, he will hit a homerun and I have to eat my words! (My son always teases me about Uggla.) But I know what you mean, that time he was going through that slump, boy, I was ready to see the back of him!!

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  7. I rarely watch baseball. It's so time consuming. Lol. Football and basketball are all I watch.

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    1. Oh dear me, all sports are time consuming...I usually crochet while I am watching. I think I have crocheted enough to go to the Moon and back!!!
      I think I enjoy all sports, except golf and basketball, don't know why!! xx

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  8. I hope he continues to do very well. That is, except for when the Braves are facing my beloved Cardinals, of course.

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    1. Well, of course, that is just how it should be!!!

      Please tell me that you have done a post about Stan "the Man" Musial.

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    2. Nope, but I really should have one. For he was the epitome of class in every way, shape and form. Oh how we could do with more like him and Hank Aaron, as opposed to far too many aspiring to be more like Ty (Cobb).

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    3. Oh, I so much agree with you about Stan the Man!!
      Hank Aaron had to deal with so much when he was chasing the Babe's record, but he handled it with such grace and dignity. I love that he broke the record, but I admire HIM, the man behind the baseball player even more!
      Ty Cobb is from Georgia...oh dear, not very nice AT ALL!

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  9. Having been close to lots of athletes and seen some of them crash and burn (and one land in prison for 40+ years), i'm thrilled to see an athlete who overcame and got back in the game. Thank you.

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    1. I know just what you mean. I know someone who worked as an equipment manager for the Atlanta Braves and he told me it was so sad to see these young guys make so much money and then blow so much of it away and crash and burn, as you say.
      That is why I wanted folks to know about this underdog who seems very grateful!!

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  10. Gosh! It's been such a long time since I've been to a game. My favorite times were when our son was pitching in Little League. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you Evan Gattis.

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    1. Oh wow, Little League is fun, but the parents can get out of hand, sometimes, can't they? I just read that they are trying to do something about the "Bad News" parents at Little League games. (I never experienced this myself but I have heard some HORRIBLE stories!!)

      Jonathan was a pitcher! Fantastic!! :-)

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  11. It's been many months since my family and I enjoyed a live game! I miss those days big time! Hope you are fine, Ms Kay :)

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    1. It is so fun to see a baseball game live, instead of on TV!!
      Thanks, I am fine and I hope you are the same. God bless! xx

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  12. Oh dear. Just as cricket is probably a closed book to you so baseball is a complete mystery to me. That doesn't, of course, lessen the inspirational story of Oso Blanco.

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    1. Hey!
      Just seeing your comment today!
      You are right, no matter how much Richard tries to explain cricket to me, I still can't quite see it!
      Glad you like this story too! :-)

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