By Josh:
So after writing my 8 part series on who is ruining the game of baseball, I really felt like I needed to give credit to individuals who are giving so much to the game. For some it is giving time, some it is money and for others it is just making an impact in a positive way. So here is my own personal rebuttal to the series I wrote.
MLB Players
I have been so lucky to have a ton of great experiences with Major League Players in my life. Not every experience has been great, and the bad ones do stand out at times. However, when I really started thinking about the guys I’ve met and the interactions I’ve had I have to honestly say those times have helped me with my love for the game.
Guys like Steven Souza, Joe Panik, Joey Gallo, Ken Griffey Jr, Jamie Moyer and dozens more have helped me create memories that I love. Even though I can’t list off every major leaguer current and past that is doing great things for the game I wanted to talk about a few.
Mike Trout
The best player in baseball, best player of this generation, and may one day go down as one of the 5 best (if not THE best) players of all time. His talent level is off the charts and that alone draws fans in.
Trout though is more than just a great ball player. From everything I have seen he seems like an awesome guy. Yeah he doesn’t go around promoting himself like the MLB wishes he would do, but what he does do is make fans feel special. So many times I’ve seen him treating young fans with a level of respect and joy that it is fun to watch.
You see him playing catch with fans, taking time to meet with fans around the ballpark and many times just sharing a moment.
Aaron Judge
I am not a Yankee fan. I respect their history but don’t like them (or the Red Sox). However, I am a HUGE Judge fan and not because of his talent but because he more do more to interact with fans than just about anyone I’ve ever seen.
It seems like it is almost daily that he is doing something above and beyond for young fans, military families, and even adult fans. He truly strives to give back every game it seems. I honestly love seeing the videos of Judge doing things for fans. So even if he is a Yankee for life, I’ll still be a fan of his.
Brock Holt
Cheering up people who are hurting physically, mentally and emotionally is a gift that not everyone has. Professional athletes and celebrities have the ability, just with their notoriety can make someone feel special with a visit or even just a message sent via social media. This is why I love seeing player taking time to go to children’s hospitals or to visit veterans.
When I watched this video of families and kids saying thank you to Brock and what he has done for them I instantly knew that he needed to be on this list. Those stories weren’t just about someone taking a photo with a fan and moving on to someone else. These stories were about relationships that had been built and love that was shown.