Mercer University’s (Ga.) baseball team held its second annual “First Pitch” banquet, the unofficial beginning to its 2010 baseball season. Chicago White Sox second baseman, and Georgia native, Gordon Beckham was the featured speaker for the autograph session and dinner/speech that followed.
The evening began with an estimated 100 guests attending the private autograph party and individual photo session with Beckham.
In his address to the 350 guests at the dinner, Beckham told of his journey to the major leagues. He grew up in the Atlanta area, then attended college at nearby Georgia, had a brief stint in the minor league and then was called up to the White Sox midway through the 2009 season.
Beckham – anticipating the crowd’s curiosity about “big names” he had encountered – recounted his early experiences with several individuals. Inevitably, Beckham’s first story was about his often-intense manager in Chicago, Ozzie Guillen.
“Ozzie is exactly like you see him on television,” said Beckham. “I remember one speech he gave us that should have lasted 10 minutes, but took 30 minutes because there were so many bad words in it. It was a serious speech, and we felt bad because we were laughing because of all the bad words.
“But Ozzie is a great person and manager. People don’t often get to see the other side of him like we do. They only see the fiery manager, but we see that his intensity is a desire to have us be successful”
Future Hall of Famer Jim Thome is another prominent figure who made an impression on Beckham upon his call-up to the bigs in June of 2009. “Not all great players are great people,” said Beckham. “But Jim Thome is a class act.”
The story that elicited the biggest chuckle from the crowd was when the White Sox played the Yankees and Beckham had the chance to visit with a player he long looked up to, shortstop Derek Jeter. Before the game, Beckham had asked Jeter to sign a jersey for him to hang in his house, to which Jeter had agreed to do.
Once the game started, Beckham eventually hit a double that chased New York starter CC Sabathia from the game in what had become a White Sox rout. While standing on second during the pitching change, he began to again chat with Jeter and the star-struck Beckham had trouble making conversation, instead asking Jeter again to sign a jersey for him. “I couldn’t think of anything else to say,” said Beckham.
But while Beckham did share ample anecdotes about some of the trials and tribulations that can befall a rookie in the majors, he also left the crowd – which had a wide age range – with some important “tips” that have worked for him.
Beckham reminded everyone to “live for today” and to enjoy the journey, not getting caught up in their own hype. He also exhorted younger players to work hard to develop and not be full of themselves. His reminder to “don’t forget where you came from” struck a chord for the fledgling star, who never forgets the value of family and those loved ones who have been there for him on his baseball journey.
One reminder that Beckham noted at the outset of his remarks was the October motor scooter accident that left Georgia freshman baseball player Chance Veazey paralyzed. The Mercer baseball team is donating $500 toward Veazey’s medical expenses.
The Bears will begin their season on February 19 (4:00 p.m.) at home versus Morehead State.