Focusing on practice, even for at-stake postseason play, can be challenging for a collegiate player when he knows his professional future is simultaneously hanging in the balance.
Alex Gordon knew he had to give his full attention to Miami for the 2005 NCAA Super Regional. So with the Nebraska baseball team holding practice at an empty Haymarket Park, and Major League Baseball beginning its amateur draft, Gordon devised a plan.
"I told my oldest brother, Eric, to show up to the ballpark and sit in the stands," Gordon said "and once he heard what pick I was, just give me a whistle and throw up fingers for what pick I was."
Of course, only one hand would be necessary for Gordon, the consensus national player of the year. He had figured on going No. 3 to Seattle, given he had talked to the Mariners more than any other team.
"When the time came and he whistled and held up two fingers," Gordon said, "I knew that was Kansas City."
The Royals. His favorite team as a youth. A city close to his hometown of Lincoln.
"It was definitely one of the biggest moments of my life," Gordon said.
Coaches stopped practice, and players huddled and congratulated their teammate.
"Not only with that going on," Gordon said, "but preparing for the Miami Hurricanes in the Super Regional, made it that much sweeter. It was a cool moment."
Gordon, whose decorated career with Kansas City is nearing its end, told that story during a Thursday webinar featuring former Husker student-athletes answering questions for Nebraska donors. Isaiah Roby, Kelly Hunter, Chantae McMillan and Jaime Seeman also participated.
Gordon said that while playing in the College World Series obviously represented a top moment in his collegiate career, the story of his draft selection may be his fondest memory.
Similarly, in his professional career, winning the 2015 World Series is "a pretty big accomplishment," said Gordon, a three-time All-Star, but earning his first Gold Glove in 2011 is just as meaningful, given the challenges he faced, and met.
"I almost started crying," Gordon said. "It was a big moment for me. It just meant a lot for everything I went through and all the hard work I put in. That was the turning point in my career."
Gordon began his career at third base, where he excelled at Nebraska, but by 2009 and 2010, "it was almost like I was a defensive liability," he said.
He changed positions, moving to the outfield – and back to Triple-A.
"It was a big adjustment for me and a big moment in my career," Gordon said, "where I had to either stay positive, keep working hard and try to get back to where I knew I belonged, or go another direction. Thankfully I picked that direction I usually do."
"I never would've thought that I would end up turning next year into winning a Gold Glove."
Gordon now has seven Gold Gloves as he waits for the beginning of the Major League Baseball season, on hold, as with all sports, because of the global pandemic. He's hopeful the Players Association and Major League Baseball will iron out some plan, and the season will start soon. In the meantime, he's training, staying in shape, in rhythm, knowing that games will likely begin with little notice.
"I've kind of looked at this as a positive, even though it's so unusual and it's so crazy times," Gordon said. "Just being home with my family – I've got three kids, two boys and a little girl – and I've never really been home during these times. To be able to spend a couple months with them full-time has been a blessing on my part."
It's given the 36-year old Gordon a taste of what retirement will be like.
"Once my career ends, whenever that happens – I've been doing this baseball thing for a long time, and I definitely know that it's a blessing to do what I've done," Gordon said. "But family time gets taken away. I'm always on the road, living out of a suitcase. I definitely want to take a year, maybe two off, just enjoy the family time and catch up on things that I've missed for years."
Gordon said after a personal break, he'd like to return to baseball in some capacity, or perhaps training athletes in sports in general.
The host of the webinar, former Nebraska football offensive lineman Jeremiah Sirles, asked Gordon his three favorite ballparks, aside from his home of Kauffman Stadium. They are:
1. Fenway Park, Boston. "The history, the atmosphere, they always have a good team. Playing left field, I always get to stand in front of the Green Monster. Pretty amazing."
2. Camden Yards, Baltimore. "In the playoffs, I would say the best environment as far as the fans. When that team is going well and the ballpark is full, the energy just amazes me. The fans had their chants altogether and everything. The atmosphere was amazing."
3. Coors Field, Colorado. "I like the city, I like the ballpark. It probably helps that the ball carries a lot farther than usual."
Reach Brian at brosenthal@huskers.com or follow him on Twitter @GBRosenthal.
