Out of the Park: Adversity
Adversity - or more importantly, learning to handle it - is one of the most important ingredients of an excellent baseball player.
I always tell attendees of my speaking engagements not to measure their achievements by the same numbers that make baseball hitters successful. In the big leagues, a favorable result 30 percent of the time could easily lead to an All-Star season. In business, the same performance would be considered dismal.
Over the years I’ve watched Salvador Perez overcome adversity time and time again. His ability to remain positive whether he’s on a winning streak or not is one I’ve written about before. In June, Salvy was mired in a slump, but he never panicked. Instead, he stuck to his process, trusting things will turn around.
The mental fortitude he shows dealing with the trials and adversity of baseball is what makes him one of the best. He is committed to continue learning, even in the 13th season of what will likely be a Hall of Fame career.
It showed during a recent series in Los Angeles. My seat at the end of the dugout was a prime location to watch Salvy and his teammates come off of the field. Some celebrated successes while others lamented the opposite. The constant was a team of athletes who is able to move on quickly from adversity, something I spoke with Dodgers advisor Chris Woodward about as well.
Woodward is former manager of the Texas Rangers, and handed the ball to Royals left-handed pitcher Cole Ragans before his big league debut in 2022. He spoke to me about the anguish of Ragans suffering elbow injuries that required the young pitcher to endure two Tommy Johns surgeries. Woodward was also unsurprised by Ragans’ success now with Kansas City. His skill is tremendous, but more importantly, he refuses to give up during the toughest times. Because of it, he has become one of the best pitchers in the game.
The thing about adversity is that it can strike at any time. The Dodgers were painfully reminded of that during the final game of our recent series. On June 15th, I chatted with superstar Mookie Betts. He may be one of the most feared hitters in baseball, but he’s also one of the nicest. Unfortunately, the very next day a pitch hit him in the right hand, breaking bones and forcing him out for weeks.
Los Angeles will pick up the pieces and move forward. They have no choice. So too will Mookie, who is wired to handle adversity. The best in any profession always are, inside and Out of the Park.
Stadium standout
Fenway Park in Boston is always my response when people ask what my favorite stadium is. Fenway and Wrigley are in a class of their own, having opened in 1912 and 1914, respectively. Nothing compares to walking into those venues, which is like stepping back in time to when my late grandparents were born.
The only other stadium that evokes a similar feeling is Dodger Stadium, the third oldest in MLB. While the blaring music and modern amenities very much reflect today’s world, a visit still feels like walking into 1962 when it was built.
Lending to that notion is memorabilia from greats like Don Drysdale and Jackie Robinson (who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers) that can be found all over. There are photos of Sandy Koufax’s perfect game in 1965. And could anyone forget Kirk Gibson’s historic pinch hit walkoff home run during the 1988 World Series? Definitely not me, who vividly remembers watching it on TV as a teenager.
Dodger Stadium is iconic for reasons beyond baseball too. It played host to legends like Pope John Paul II and The Beatles. It’s even one of only a handful of buildings in the US to have its very own zip code, an elite class reserved for true institutions like the White House and Willis Tower. It has truly stood the test of time.
Dodger Stadium remains vibrant, and regularly draws crowds of 50,000 fans to the venue steeped in history. In sharp contrast is the Oakland Coliseum, which opened just four years after the Southern California landmark. To cover the opposite worlds of these stadiums in back-to-back series is an experience I will never forget.
The Coliseum can hold equally massive crowds. Through the years, it was the stadium called home by superstars like Catfish Hunter, Rickey Henderson and Mark McGwire, not to mention the Oakland Raiders. It’s also where the movie Moneyball was filmed. Unfortunately, its incredible history will soon come to an end.
Beginning next season, the team will play in Sacramento until it’s new home is built in Las Vegas. Few if any fans show up to the games anymore…and why would they? The A’s are the first franchise in MLB to change markets since the Expos departed Montreal in 2004.
I was surprised to feel emotional while working my final Royals game at the mostly desolate and dilapidated venue. But more than anything, I felt empty.
Sports brings people together, helping them deal with - or at least offering a reprieve from - life’s adversity. The thought of a fanbase losing such an important part of its community is what resonated with me the most. The good people of Oakland deserve better.
Local flavor
An off day in a great city on the road is always welcome because there are so many places to explore. It’s just what happened following the series in Los Angeles, when the Royals made their way up the coast to face off against Oakland from June 18-20.
The team stays in San Francisco, which meant I had time to explore one of my favorite cities. I’ve worked so many events in the Bay Area over the years that I’ve visited typical spots like Fisherman’s Wharf, Alcatraz, the Golden State Bridge, Napa and more. This time, I wanted to do something different, so I decided to check out Muir Woods.
I took an Uber to the entrance of what is considered a National Monument and went hiking among the redwoods. What a breathtaking escape it was.
The area has been federally protected since 1908 and all I can say is if you enjoy nature or hiking to any degree, this is a must. The pictures don’t begin to do it justice, but the serene break from the grind of the game was just what I needed.
From there, I went to the city of Sausalito to explore, eat and continue my relaxing day. I’ve been to this picturesque area before, and enjoyed soaking in some views of downtown San Francisco before taking a ferry ride back to the city.
A few days later I was able to pay a quick visit to the outside of Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants. It’s one of the best stadiums in baseball and I strongly recommend attending a game if you’re ever in the area. The team was out of town, but I wanted to stop by the Willie Mays statue.
The legendary Giant passed the day before and I wanted to pay my respects. He’s a man who overcame plenty of adversity, most notably in the form of racism. He began his career with the Birmingham Black Barons. Four years after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers, Mays made his debut for the then-New York Giants, going on to become arguably the greatest player in the history of baseball
Dugout dialogue
Two of my favorite interviews this month took place in back-to-back Kansas City Royals home games. They were separated by a short road trip, but were thrilling displays of what is possible even in the face of adversity.
The first could not have been more fitting. It took place on June 2nd, which was significant because players throughout baseball wore a number four patch on their jersey for the 4th Annual Lou Gherig Day. The day began with me interviewing my friend Sarah Nauser, a former police officer who is courageously battling ALS…otherwise known as Lou Gherig’s Disease.
I’ve written about Sarah several times over the years. She and her husband Lonnie have become good friends to me, my family and dozens within the Royals organization. So many of us, including players past and present, are proud to wear t-shirts with her image on it or bracelets that honor her battle.
The game ended when Kansas City beat San Diego with a dramatic walkoff. I know she was in tears watching from a suite as Nick Loftin acknowledged her at the end of our post-game interview.
Five days later, the Royals returned home and somehow, someway beat the Seattle Mariners on a walkoff after being down 8-0. While this pales in comparison to the adversity of terminal disease, the resilience shown by the team allowed them to win 10-9.
Superstar Bobby Witt Jr., who has become very close to Sarah, struggled to keep his composure as the crowd chanted his name. It was one of the most electric interviews I’ve been a part of in quite some time.
Once again, Sarah was watching with pride from the suite. “I just had a feeling,” she texted me. “What a great game!”
The topic of adversity carried over nicely to this month’s discussion with Chief of Staff KC’s Casey Wright as well. Watch below for our thoughts on dealing with it in business and in baseball.
speaking engagements
Baseball season is in full swing. It does not mean that my speaking is on hiatus, only that availability is more limited.
During the down time, my team has been hard at work finalizing materials to complete our rebrand. I’m proud to give subscribers a first look at my new speaker sheet, which has been redesigned for the Game Changer Speaking Series.
Select dates remain available though September, but we are already booking events into October and beyond. I’m thrilled to announce upcoming keynotes for the 2024 Sweeper Summit in Las Vegas, the Bank of Tescott in early 2025 and several other engagements, locally and around the country.
Do you or your client need a game changing speaker for your upcoming event? Game on.
Rounding the bases rewind
June brought another incredible month of programming on my podcast Rounding the Bases. In an unusual twist, all of this month’s guests were from outside of Kansas City, with perspectives and professions as diverse as the places they call home.
Each is worth a listen, but one in particular that stands out is Dustin Portillo. He’s a former circus clown who leveraged his performance skills to an illustrious career in hospitality. His view on customer service resonates in any industry, and the behind the scenes insights from life under the big top were an added bonus. If you missed its release earlier this week, be sure to listen here.
As always, I want to extend another tremendous thank you to everyone who joined me on the show this month:
Our schedule is already being booked into summer, but we are always looking for interesting guests with standout stories. Would you or someone you know make a great guest on Rounding the Bases?
To discuss sponsorship opportunities, please email my Executive Producer Ashleigh Sterr: ashleigh@joelgoldbergmedia.com.
Keeping the score
Every week on my podcast Rounding the Bases I get the opportunity to interview business leaders, athletes and everyone in between. No two experiences are alike, but each conversation tells a significant story and provides an enlightening lesson.
My blog Keeping the Score rounds the bases with a single, double, triple and home run from one recent guest on the podcast. This month, it featured my interview with Kelly L. Campbell, a deeply intentional person with a revolutionary - even rebellious - approach to leadership.
Using a trauma-informed lens, they are raising a discussion about self awareness in business like has never done before…and it begins with taking ownership for the adversity of our youth. It’s thought-provoking, it’s timely and it’s definitely worth the read. I hope you’ll check it out.
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