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Major League baseball player returns to roots
Published October 23, 2004
The greatest Major League baseball player in Marshall County history, Albertville’s Rusty Greer returned to his roots Thursday night by speaking to approximately 60 coaches, players, parents and supporters of the Aggie baseball program.
The event was held inside the Aggies’ indoor practice center, which is named the Rusty Greer Hitting Facility. A significant contribution from the Texas Rangers outfielder enabled work to be completed on the structure.
In an entertaining and informative question-and-answer session, Greer spoke for more than 90 minutes.
Greer, who carries a lifetime batting average of .305, hasn’t played in two seasons because of injuries. He’s had nine surgeries during that span, including four elbow surgeries.
Greer becomes a free agent following the World Series, and he hopes to re-sign with the Rangers, the only organization he’s ever played for.
Following spring training, if he’s faced with the decision of accepting a Minor League assignment or retirement, he said he will retire because he doesn’t want to return to the Minors after spending 11 seasons in the Majors.
“I spent almost five years in the Minors, and I never want to go back,” Greer said.
If he returns to the Majors, Greer plans to play two more seasons and then retire. The players’ collective bargaining agreement expires following the 2006 season, and he said he doesn’t want to go through another strike.
Will Clark, Dave Valle and Mark McLemore are teammates Greer praised for taking him under their wings and truly showing him how to be a professional when he first came up to the Majors.
He said Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez are the two best hitters he’s ever seen, and that Roger Clemens and Randy Johnson are the best pitchers he’s ever faced.
Greer told his audience his favorite parks to hit in are The Ballpark in Arlington (Texas’ home stadium), Fenway Park in Boston, Kauffman Field in Kansas City, the Metrodome in Minneapolis and Safeco Field in Seattle. His least favorite parks are Camden Yards in Baltimore and Yankee Stadium in New York.
“Yankee Stadium has the thickest clay in the batter’s box that you’ll ever want to step in,” he said. “If things like that get on your nerves early, it’s tough to recover.”
Greer shared three tips he’s learned that are essential to being a productive hitter.
“No. 1, you have to believe in yourself. The biggest thing that can help you as a hitter is to believe in yourself.
“No. 2, you can’t hit what you can’t see. You need to keep your eyes on the ball and keep your head down when you’re swinging through the zone. And No. 3, you need to keep your hands back.”
To lessen a slump, Greer said a hitter should “go back to the basics and do what you’ve done all your life.”
Greer said he knows his swing so well that if he takes a bad swing, he can make an adjustment between pitches.
A member of the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame, Greer was asked about the amount of gloves, bats and other equipment he goes through in a season.
“I like to start with a new glove every spring training. I wear out a set of spikes every two weeks because I wear them during batting practice too.
“You use a pair of batting gloves every two weeks, unless you’re doing well, and then you stick with them until they really wear out.
“As a hitter, you don’t like to go through a lot of bats. I’ve used a bat as many as 60 days and as little as one pitch. Our clubhouse guy orders 75 dozen bats a year for our team.
“I use a Louisville Slugger C 271 that’s 34/31. I feel that’s the bat all good hitters use, and I’ve used it for probably 3,300 of my 3,500 at-bats in the Majors.”
Greer had endorsement contracts with Nike for shoes and batting gloves and Rawlings for his glove.
“The most money I ever made in one year wearing Nike stuff was $28,000,” he said.
Some of Greer’s greatest memories of playing in the Majors are Kenny Rogers’ perfect game in 1994; clinching the Rangers’ first division crown in 1996; and a two-day span in Chicago when he slugged four home runs and collected 12 RBIs.
“I dove and caught a ball in the ninth inning to preserve Kenny’s perfect game, and I’ve never let him forget it,” Greer said with a laugh.
Aron Spurlin, president of the Albertville High School Diamond Club, said it was great to have Greer return to his alma mater and share his wisdom and experience with the current Aggie players, many of whom dream of following in Greer’s footsteps.
“I think the kids will really absorb what’s here over the next few weeks, and I think it will be a good thing for them,” Spurlin said. “I think it’s something they can take with them for a long time.”
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