Ryan J Faer, CSCS@ryanjfaer
A brief story about selflessness, humility, and never being too big to "sweep the sheds" ⬇️💭
Every Spring I get a chance to see and visit with a former teammate of mine from my time with the Dodgers, Bobby Cuellar.
We usually chat for a few minutes and reminisce a bit. Every time I see Bobby (📸⬇️) however, I am reminded of this story:
In 2015, I was in my first full season as a Minor League S&C coach, assigned to the Ogden Raptors, then the Short-Season-A Rookie Ball affiliate for the Dodgers.
As a first-timer in professional baseball, I could not have asked for better role models two people on our staff:
1⃣ Our Manager, John Shoemaker, with his 30+ years in coaching,and...
2⃣ Bobby, our Pitching Coach, with both playing and coaching experience at the game's highest level -- the 'big leagues'
It is not often that you get such esteemed figures on a Rookie-Ball staff, so we were all very lucky that year.
While I learned an awful lot from these two gentlemen that season, one story that stands out has nothing to do with baseball.
In fact, it actually involves towels. Shower towels, to be specific.
That season, we did not have a steady clubhouse manager or "clubby". The clubby is responsible for a lot of the tougher jobs around the clubhouse, most of which involve helping to support the players and staff with basic daily "life functions" while we go about our work on-field.
Despite most days not having anybody there to serve as our clubby, somehow things were still getting done, and I never thought twice about how it was happening.
That is, until I showed up to the stadium early one day. For whatever reason, that day I showed up at 8 or 9am (games are at 6pm). Bobby and Shoe were there too; apparently they were actually there that early most days.
What were they there doing there so early?
They were folding towels. Our towels.
They were there each morning (not even 10 hours since the previous night's game ended) washing, drying, and folding the players' and staff's shower towels from the night before.
We did not have anyone to do it, so they stepped up and did it. And, they did so with zero fanfare. As Bobby put it this spring when we reflected on it: "It's no big deal. You do what you need to do."
I learned so much from watching these two men work and coach that season. But, this moment will stick with me forever. It was selflessness and humility at its finest.
If these two gentlemen – with their combined coaching experience totaling ~70 years – could come in each morning to do the dirty work without anybody else whatsoever even knowing... well then, in my book, nobody is ever too 'big' to sacrifice for and serve others.
Chances are, Shoe and Bobby are too humble to ever share this with others. I am hopeful, however, that after 8 years they would not mind me sharing it. Because, not only does their work over the years deserve as much recognition as possible, but I also believe it can be a tremendous lesson for all of us -- young, old, experienced, novice, players, and coaches.
