Garth Brooks was a standout college athlete, but as any standout college athlete will tell you, that doesn’t necessarily translate to success at the professional level. Garth will tell you that too.
Garth’s level of fame gave him an opportunity few earn: two invitations to Major League Baseball Spring Training, for the San Diego Padres and the New York Mets. Garth was never a threat to make the roster of either team, going a combined 1-for-39 at the plate. But it was his presence in the field that made one major leaguer totally rethink the way he batted.
Craig Counsell, former major leaguer (and now manager of the Chicago Cubs) tells the story of how he himself was in a very “Garth-like” slump at the plate in spring training, going an abysmal 0-for-44 at the plate. In the 44th plate appearance, Counsell hit a sharp line drive down the left field line. “I hit a line drive in spring training, and I was like ‘yes, first base hit.’ I put my head down and started running to first. The crowd in Port St. Lucie goes crazy. They go absolutely crazy. I look up and Garth Brooks had made a diving catch in left field to extend my ‘o’fer’ streak. I was released the next day. I had a talk with myself and said ‘why can’t you get any hits?’ And that led to me putting my hands way up in the air (for my batting stance). So I like to blame Garth Brooks for a horrible batting stance.”