SALT LAKE CITY — I've been a baseball fan since 1985, but I saw something Wednesday night I don't recall ever seeing before.
And because of it, Stefan Gartrell is now one of my favorite players.
Gartrell, a an outfielder for the Gwinnett Braves, the Triple-A affiliate for the Atlanta Braves, was in Salt Lake City to play in the Triple-A All-Star Game.
I already knew of Gartrell because he won the home run derby Monday night. I remember hearing his interview after his last round, and how he said he was in awe of Spanish Fork's Kayden Porter. Gartrell said some very nice words about Porter, and was worried he didn't hit enough home runs to beat the local high school star.
There are plenty of big-league egos in professional baseball, so it was refreshing to hear a guy one step from the major leagues say nice things about a high school player. He didn't have to say them, but you could tell it came from his heart through his major-league smile.
It turned out Gartrell did hit enough home runs to win the home run derby.
So when Gartrell came up to bat late in last night's game, I said to my wife I liked him because he was a class act.
Then I saw it.
The batter before Gartrell got four balls and walked to first, but first, he took off his shin guard and tossed it, along with his bat, on the grass near the right-handed batter's box.
The bat boy started running toward the gear to pick them up, but Gartrell bent over, picked them up, and handed them to the bat boy.
I couldn't believe it.
Gartrell didn't have to do that, and most ballplayers don't. I think the bat boy was shocked.
Gartrell was the home run derby winner, an All-Star, and a guy the Braves thought enough of to get him in a trade from the Chicago White Sox this past April.
In that one moment, I realized Gartrell is the classy person I thought he was after hearing his interview from the home run derby.
Wally Joyner was my baseball idol when I was growing up (I'm from New York, and had no idea what BYU meant on the back of his baseball card. I guess I was destined to work at KSL in Salt Lake City), but now I've found a new guy to cheer for.
I hope Stefan Gartrell makes it to the major leagues, because he's already one of my favorite players.