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Google the name and you'll find articles from all over the country giving much respect to Bacsik,nice to see that and great how he handled giving up the home run to Bonds,Richard Justice in the Houston Chronicle wrote a typical piece about Basick,the Times has a similar one today....
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Aug. 9, 2007, 12:44AM
How about a tip of cap to Bacsik?
By RICHARD JUSTICE
Mike Bacsik Jr. was wrapping up one of the dozens of interviews he did in the 24 hours after giving up 756 when a thought popped into his head.
"I'd really like to thank my dad," he said.
How perfect. The journeyman pitcher gets on the big stage for the first time and still has the presence to thank the people who are really important. Talk about having your priorities in order.
"My dad is the one who taught me how to give up long home runs," he said.
Oops. Upon hearing his son's comment, Mike Bacsik Sr. shot back: "That's right. Did you see how he didn't turn his head too quickly? He could have hurt himself trying to follow the flight of that one."
Perhaps more than any other person at AT&T Park on Tuesday night, Mike Bacsik Jr. got it. He came off as so instantly likable and so classy and gracious that it's impossible not to root for him.
Don't mistake his humor for not getting it. He was raised in a baseball family. His dad pitched for the Rangers and Twins during parts of five seasons in the big leagues. Mike Jr. knows the game's history about as well as any active player.
He knows that no matter what else he ever does in his career, a lot of people will remember that on Aug. 7, 2007, Barry Bonds crushed one of his 86-mph fastballs to take over the top spot on the game's all-time home-run list.
So he did what we'd all like to do at such a time. He was funny, self-effacing and smart. He reminded us all that sometimes it's not about winning and losing, but simply being in the arena. He went to the mound determined to challenge one of the greatest offensive players of all time.
If he got caught up in some history, so be it. As the ball sailed out of the park, Bacsik tipped his hat to Bonds. He retreated to the visitor's dugout during the celebration that followed and thought to himself: "What have I done?"
He recovered quickly. Recalling Al Downing, who gave up Hank Aaron's record-setting 715th, Bacsik said: "I hope I go on to have the kind of career he had. That wouldn't be bad."
When asked about being forever linked with Bonds, he said: "Yeah, I imagine Barry and I will be hanging out together now."
He had his picture made with Bonds and got an autographed bat. He did every interview.
"You either have to be a really special player to be remembered in this game, or be part of a special moment," Bacsik said.
He's 29 years old and has 10 career victories during stints with the Indians, Mets, Rangers and Nationals. He was very nearly out of baseball a year ago and began the season in the minor leagues. After not pitching in the big leagues in either 2005 or 2006, he entered Tuesday's game with three solid starts in a row.
He may be one of those guys who bounces around forever, but guys like that always believe they're one new pitch or one mechanical adjustment away from making it. His father had faced Aaron in the great slugger's final big league days in 1976. He kept him at 755.
"If my dad was so gracious to give up a home run to Hank Aaron, we could both be at 756 right now," Mike Jr. said.
It's funny how moments like this one bring out the best and worst in people. On a night when a lot of people attempted to resolve what Bonds had done with how he'd done it, Bacsik reminded us why we love the games.
We love them because of underdogs like Mike Bacsik, a guy who took a batting-practice fastball to the mound and challenged one of the greats. Beginning today, life goes on for both of them.
"It's pretty special to be part of history like that," he said. "As a kid, you always dream of this moment. Unfortunately, as a kid, you dream of being the one hitting the home run, not giving it up."
Life occasionally takes a cruel turn. Not everyone gets the parade. And some people are able to make themselves proud anyway. |
BTW Bacsik apparently is serious about doing shows with Downing.
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