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There are some good people out there. We should focus on them.
For those (like me) who could use some positive news, I bring your attention to The World Series. Specifically, the left fielder for the Texas Rangers – Evan Carter. What a great story.
He’s from our hometown of Elizabethton, Tennessee. He was a classmate of my youngest daughter in high school – they were the can’t miss athletes from their class. She signed for volleyball at Georgetown, he signed for baseball at Duke (when he was a sophomore in high school – Lordy). My kids had his father as a science teacher, and his Mom was the librarian at the junior high school. Evan married his longtime girlfriend (Kaylen) recently – they’ve been dating since the 6th grade. Kaylen was on my daughter’s basketball teams growing up. She was an outstanding point guard – she and my daughter won A LOT of games together, with Evan cheering on from the stands. He’s just a great kid.
He never went to Duke, and instead was drafted in the second round by the Rangers. No one had ever heard of him. He was on nobody’s “Top 500” lists. He is 6’4”, very fast, and an exceptional athlete. He’s famous for having a great eye at the plate (his nickname is “Full Count Carter”). But he was not the best player on his high school team. He has a higher batting average in the Major Leagues than he did in high school. Which makes no sense.
How did the Rangers figure this out when no one else did?
Well, one problem was that Evan’s senior baseball season was only 6 games, due to COVID. Next, the Rangers did have an advantage. Evan’s father was an exceptional athlete, and graduated from Elizabethton high school in 1988. His Elizabethton classmate Danny Clark was also a great athlete. They went to ETSU together, where Carter played defensive back for the football team (no wonder his son is fast), and Clark played baseball. Clark later went into baseball as a career. He is now a scout for the Texas Rangers.
So Clark’s high school buddy from the 80’s calls him up and says essentially, hey – my kid’s really good – you should check him out. And the Ranger scouts liked what they saw. Big athletic kid with freaky speed and great hands. He was also well grounded, extremely hard-working, mature, humble, and valedictorian of his high school class. He’s a devout Christian, and spends a lot of time on Christian charities. He planned to be an endodontist, so he spent his summers shadowing dentists at work, rather than playing in baseball leagues where the scouts were.
Elizabethton is in Carter County, Tennessee. Evan Carter is one of the Carter County Carters. So he’s related to absolutely everybody in the county. It’s hard to overstate just how bonkers Elizabethton is going over their new favorite son. Jason Witten (another Elizabethton High School graduate) is matching contributions to some of Evan’s Christian charities, and they’re raising incredible amounts of money. Everybody is buying Evan’s “Jesus Won” T-shirts, with all the proceeds going to charity.
Two months ago, Evan was playing AA ball for the Frisco Rough Riders. Now, he is one of the best players on a World Series team. His speed on the bases and in the outfield, his rocket arm, and his skill at the plate have led his team through the post season into the World Series. He has reached base safely in every game this post season, which is unheard of.
He turned 21 about 6 weeks ago. And he has somehow managed to stay humble, polite, and gracious to all who want a piece of his time now. I’ve never heard him brag. He deflects praise, credits his coaches and teammates for his successes, and gives thanks to God for his opportunities. In every single interview.
This is not typical behavior for young superstar athletes. I’m not sure how he’s maintained his humility under the bright lights. It’s a credit to how he was raised. He comes from a good family, a good church, and a good school. But still, his humility is remarkable.
So if you think the world is falling apart, and people are simply awful creatures, I suggest you tune into some baseball tonight. Of course, some professional athletes are narcissistic idiots. But not all of them. There are some good people out there. And one of them is playing in the World Series. He has earned our support.
Go Evan!
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I have watched zero baseball this entire year. I rarely watch a lot, but I always watch some. My interest or lack thereof this year is a testament to the quality of the Kansas City Royals baseball organization. They even have the gall to want a new stadium in the downtown area. They are a joke.
But back to your point, Doc, I am going directly to my TV controls to set up the recording for the World Series game tonight. I am excited to see this young man play. There is a lot of hype and jive and ego in professional sports. But there are some very fine people as well. It sounds as though young Carter is one of them.
I don’t watch baseball in the regular season, but I was the Rangers-Astros a bit and I did notice some amazing catches by the Rangers left-fielder. He is fast and big and covers a lot of territory. He is fun to watch. I wish him a long, healthy and productive career. Thanks for the personalized story, Dr. B!
All right! Now I have a favorite in the Series. Thanks for the great post.
You’re so right. This makes no sense. Probably 99% of major leaguers had gaudy hitting numbers in HS. Like slow pitch softball numbers.
I know that athleticism is a great source of joy for most people but I prefer breeding to advance I.Q.s.
This is my shocked face.
Superb.
Me too! This essay makes me weepy with relief and pleasure – it started when you said he and his wife were sweethearts from the 6th grade. THAT is what community is about. Knowing people your whole life and growing rich with life with them. We should focus on community and family formation and support to keep them together.
He’s hardly stopped growing – I don’t know why you’re surprised a kid had lower “stats” in HS than he has had in the Rangers. He’s just getting started. Imagine what he will be as an athlete when he gets his full power and strength.
@drbastiat Doc you made my day.
I am utterly un-athletic due to childhood asthma…not being able to breathe is a strong disincentive. But I appreciate baseball for its unique qualities. You don’t have to be born twelve feet tall (basketball) or built like a refrigerator (football). Little things make all the difference, and everything can change at the very last moment. The sport has its share of dunderheads, but there are more well-educated players in baseball than other sports…who was the Orioles pitcher who had a doctorate in geophysics? Name slips my mind. Finally, consider George Carlin’s routine, “Why Baseball is Better than Football” for the frosting on the cake.
“so you believe in social engineering?” @henrycastaigne
Not much of that on R.
Ya think maybe Jesus had anything to do with it?
My experiences tell me that professional athletes – taken as a class of people – pretty much reflects society as a whole. They range from the humble and the nice to the flaming idiots with napalm clusters. And like society they reflect their own personal upbringing.
One problem is his great eye. He doesn’t swing unless it’s a strike.
The umpires in high school aren’t as good at recognizing strikes as he is. The pitcher would throw a ball a bit outside, Evan wouldn’t swing, the umpire mistakenly calls him out. Evan shrugs & walks to the dugout…
And a lot of those pitches are hittable and turn into hits for those good high school hitters without such a good eye. Sometimes those hitters don’t do quite as well in the majors. Juan Soto is a good example of what a batter can do with a good eye. Getting on base is good for the team.
As an ex-umpire I never understood how people believe that someone standing to one side of home plate has a better view of the strike zone than the guy standing right behind the catcher. Up and down, maybe. Inside and out? Not so much.
I do not approve of the state mandating genetic engineering. I think a free market of genetically advancing people is going to be great. Like most scientific advances, governments cannot improve on what the free market can do. However, the free market rapidly changes societies in unexpected ways. Usually for the better.
I’m not sure I agree with that, at least with respect to Baseball Players. Maybe the time spent in the minor leagues humbles them (even for those who shoot through in a hurry).
The Milwaukee Brewers currently have a whole crop of young budding stars coming up, starting with Garrett Mitchel who made his MLB debut late last season. To a man (if you can believe the PR machine anyway) they seem to be good people.
The most important physical attribute in baseball (for a batter) is having a strong eye that is opposite to your handed-ness. Most righthanded people have a dominant right eye, but the best righthanded batters have a strong left eye and vice versa. In your hitting stance, a right-hander’s left eye faces the pitcher.
The game itself is humbling. It is primarily a game of failure. To only fail 70% of the time is to be considered being good at one’s profession. To only fail 60% of the time is to take on God-like status. (Yes, Teddy Ballgame, I’m looking at you.)
Having athletic ability and obtaining baseball success is an elusive thing. Ask Michael Jordan. Take a round bat, swing it at a round ball and hit it squarely. And then when you fail please go play defense and don’t think about your failure.
I remember playing in my youth and having the time of my life. And then as we got older the kids were allowed to start throwing curveballs. Good night, sweet Prince, Uncle Charlie has entered the chat and he’s here to separate the men from the boys.
You hear about that phenomenon now and then — someone whose batting average goes up as the quality of play goes up. I hadn’t thought about umps being a factor but now that you mention it, sure, that could be a big part of it.
Part of improving as you go up in levels is the ability to adapt. Because Big Data has taken over baseball, players have to keep adapting. Every team is searching for your weakness and will exploit it ruthlessly unless you figure out how to adapt. Players who can adapt easily will improve over time.
Some players also reach physical and emotional maturity later than others. They may have been spotted for raw talent but only learned later to put all that talent to use.
True.
Once you hit the pros, the coaching gets A LOT better.
Great story, Doc.
And thanks for starting a discussion of something other than the sorry state of the world. Very refreshing.
It is nice that sports give so much hope and sustenance in difficult times. I prefer videogames but it is harder to bond with family members over videogames.
Sounds like a great young man. But I still have to root for Arizona. I spent 5 wonderful years there.
Lest we forget, Tom Brady was drafted in the sixth round. A good player at Michigan, he became a great player in the NFL. Sometimes a person excels when put in the right enviornment . . .
When you’re blind, it doesn’t matter if you’re standing behind the catcher. ;-)
Great post about sports and meritocracy!
Thanks Elizabeth!
And welcome to the zoo!
Thank you and for FWIW, I’m all in on sports posts. :)))