My Rookie Season..... A Retrospect

So that's it. The DBacks still have a few games left, but my first season as a 2025 Diamondbacks Golden Glover is done. I "worked" a total of 14 games, and the time just flew by. At this point, I just wanted to take a moment thank The Diamondbacks for giving me this opportunity. I do plan on reapplying next year, but just in case things don't work out, I just wanted to say that this was one of the best things that's ever happened to me, and I appreciate the lifetime of memories. Thank You Diamondbacks and my Golden Glover Teammates.

Speaking of memories, here were a few of the best highlights for me.....

* So, I'm trying out for The Diamondbacks Golden Glovers..... Again. It's actually the 5th time I'm trying out. Prior to Covid, I tried out 4 years in a row, among 150+ others each time, at Mantei Field. It's hard to stand out in such a large crowd, but it's like I told my best friend..... "I'm going to try out again and again, every year until I either make the team, or die trying". I just hope that someday, it turns out to be the former, rather than the latter. 

* Unbelievable! I just got the call..... I MADE IT! I'm a 2025 Diamondbacks Golden Glover!  YAAAAAAY! And get this, they're actually going to Pay Me A Salary! Yup, I guess I shouldn't tell them that I would have done it for free, eh?

* It's my first game by myself. We've had 2 training games with the entire Glovers Team, but this is my first game on my own. We're gathered in the locker room, waiting for the meeting to start, and honestly, I'm freaking out a little, imagining all the things that could go wrong, I'm experiencing high tension for sure. Then an amazing thing happens. One of the Cheer Squad "Rally Backers" named "Rhonda" came over, introduced herself, and initiated a chit chat. About what, I can't even remember, but for those few minutes, she took my mind off of things, and it actually calmed me a bit. She probably doesn't even know what that meant to me. Best Ice Breaker Ever!

* I bumped into former DBacks star, and Hall Of Fame Pitcher, Randy Johnson! Well, not exactly. I was arriving to work a game, and down in the tunnel on my way to the locker room, I see Randy Johnson walking with someone towards me. Now, a "Golden Rule" is, we are not allowed to interact with the players, UNLESS they initiate it. So as we walked past each other he looked at me, and said "Hey", I said "Hey" back. What struck me, is that he's way taller in person than I imagined.

* I made my first error (sigh). The ball came off the bat hot and fast, and I was able to knock it down before it rolled behind me. I got ahold of it in a few seconds, so no big deal right? Well, the next morning during the 8am television replay of the game, of course THAT's the play they showed..... My ego was bruised for sure. I'm consoled by the knowledge that while it's my first, it probably won't be the last. I'm glad though that I got THAT ONE out of my system, and going forward, I will continue to give my best for every play.

* I just set a new personal record for giving away baseballs! At today's game, I gave away 16 baseballs to the fans! The 3rd baseman for the visiting team was tossing me the warmup baseballs in between every inning totaling 9 baseballs plus the 3rd Base Coach tossed me 3 and the rest were 4 foul balls hit to me! By The Way, the rule governing baseballs, is that any baseballs lying around belongs to the team and are off limits, but any foul balls hit to me OR any balls physically thrown to me by any player, are OK to be given away to the fans, because what else would I do with them, right? Plus, the fans always act like it's the best thing to happen to them! Giving away the baseballs is becoming my favorite part of the job!

* I met Bob Brenly! If you don't know who that is, he was a former player, and The Manager of The Diamondbacks during their 2001 World Series Victory! He's also one of the current television commentators. and, he also gave me my baseball nickname Thomas "Chips A" Hoey! When I walked up, he was already talking to one of the other Glovers, and he held out his hand first. I thanked him and told him how much I loved my nickname and wished him well. For me, it was an honor for a few minutes to speak with a Baseball Legend. Being in the right place at the right time pays off!

Well, I guess that's about it for now. I hope to continue to bring you some fun and positive thoughts of The Diamondbacks and The Glovers next season. Otherwise, thanks again to the Diamondbacks Family for giving me this opportunity. I GREATLY Appreciate It.

Thomas "Chips A" Hoey

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