So I’m in Baltimore over a week ago and I’m wandering through the souvenir store at Camden. At the checkout, in a ‘discount’ bin, there are player pins. You’ve probably seen them. They’re set up to look like a driver’s license. Players photo in the upper left corner and his stats next to him. All the pins were of the same player and they were marked down from $8.00 to $3.00.
I collect pins. Not just baseball-themed pins. Been doing it for a while. So I looked at the pin and thought, $3.00, why not? I have nothing against this player. Guy got booted from the team and now he’s been discounted at the souvenir store. So, along with a bagload of other items, I bought the pin.
The player was Jay Gibbons. I didn’t really give it much thought. I did tell John and Kelly that I bought it because I felt bad that he was being marked down. Threw it in my bag and didn’t look at it again until tonight.
Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Baltimore Sun
The reason I looked at it tonight was because I read this article about Gibbons (and other players mentioned in the Mitchell Report) today. It seems that, since the Orioles let him go in March, Gibbons can’t get a team to look at him. Not even with a minor-league contract. No one wants to touch him. Gibbons went so far as to send a letter to every MLB team. I was only going to post an excerpt, but I’ve decided to post the entire letter. I think it’s worth reading in full.
Writing this letter is both painful and humiliating. It has been almost six weeks since my release from the Orioles and I am still unable to land any opportunity at a second chance to play the game that I love.
I am young, healthy and determined. I have acknowledged and apologized for the mistake that I made and writing this letter should be proof enough that I have indeed suffered for my mistake.
I have faith and hope that some team will give me the chance to prove that I can not only be a productive player but also be a stellar member of their organization. My faith in a second chance has inspired me to work harder than I have at any time in my life. My faith has gotten me through this most difficult period in my life.
All I need is a chance — any chance — anywhere. I am more than willing to begin the process of proving that I can and will be a productive major league player by playing in the minor leagues.
As you know, I have played seven seasons in the big leagues and have hit 20-plus homeruns in three seasons and have hit .277 in three seasons (2003, 2005 and 2006). At 31 years old, I have NO DOUBT that my best baseball is ahead of me.
I know that my agents at ACES have tried to land me an opportunity in the minor leagues but have been met with negative responses by each and every Organization. I am not blind to the fact that I have made a mistake and that mistake has raised doubt about my character and ability. It is important that you know that my indiscretions, while regretful, were made in an effort to heal a nagging wrist injury. I would encourage you to speak with anyone in this game, including players, coaches, front office etc. who know me. I am confident that everyone you speak with will vouch for my character.
I respectfully and humbly request that you grant me the chance to play for your organization.
I am so willing to prove myself as a player, and a person, that I will donate ALL of my minor league earnings to your Club’s charity. In the event that I earn the right to play at the major league level, I will gladly donate a significant sum to that same charity.
Once again, all I need is a chance and I will prove that I can be an extremely productive player and a great addition to your organization.
Please feel free to contact me directly [phone numbers redacted].
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Jay Gibbons
I’m still trying to work out why this letter struck me the way it did. No one wants to give Barry Bonds a job and I’m not crying over him. (Gibbons’ letter and the final line of Buster Olney’s piece both brought tears to my eyes.) Hell, I’m not crying over Nook Logan (also mentioned in the Olney piece) either. So what is it about Gibbons? I suppose it’s the fact that he’s admitting he did something wrong and acknowledging that people will be wary of him but wants a chance so badly he’s willing to play WITHOUT GETTING PAID. (That and the fact that the only story Olney really shares is Gibbons’.)
I look at an Andy Pettitte. A guy who lied, then told a little bit of the truth, got caught in another lie and was forced to come clean. How is it that he still has a job in baseball, but a guy as forthcoming as Gibbons doesn’t?
Maybe there’s something I don’t know? Maybe Gibbons isn’t the great guy he wants us to think he is? He could be some clubhouse cancer that no one wants to play with and the mention in the Mitchell Report is just the excuse folks need.
I’ve been fairly vocal about how I feel about steroids. But I admit to having gray areas. (Relief pitchers. Someday I’ll go into detail about how I can forgive most relief pitchers for using.) Still, in general, the idea of players who don’t want to cheat having to compete with those who do will always piss me off. But occasionally I have to step back and look at these things on a case by case basis. And with Gibbons I’ve done just that. (Unintentionally, I promise you. No one is more surprised than I am that I feel such strong…What? Sympathy? Empathy? Both I suppose.)
I don’t pretend to know if Jay Gibbons deserves a second chance. Maybe he doesn’t. But there are plenty of guys playing (Hello Pettitte…Hello Giambi) playing that got that second chance. What makes them more deserving than Gibbons?
(Fake Edit: While writing this piece and Googling Jay Gibbons, I came across this article. Gibbons is going to be joining a team in the independent Atlantic League. ) Here’s Jay in his own words (again!):
“I just wanted to make sure the GMs knew if they were interested in me and my past issues, I’d have no problem talking about them,” said Gibbons, who is being paid a guaranteed $11.9 million by the Orioles for the 2008 and 2009 seasons. “I got some responses that were positive, but I never received a firm offer.”
He said he didn’t anticipate the letter would be made public and wanted to “make sure people don’t think I am looking for pity. I have lived a blessed life and still am. I am just looking for another opportunity to continue my career.”
Well, Jay, you’re still making some good money and now you’ll be able to play ball. You might not have been looking for pity, but your letter certainly touched me. And, maybe, will make me look at the other guys listed on the Mitchell Report just a little differently. In any event, I’m really happy that I decided to buy that pin.
Good luck.
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