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August 8, 2007
A’s Kotsay: First Passion was Football
By : Pete Liebowitz
On a recent Sunday morning at the Oakland A’s clubhouse, I chatted with Mark Kotsay, the A’s team leader and fine centerfielder. We talked about the career of this topnotch man whom others call “The Professional.”
How did you get started?
“Well, I played Little League in Santa Fe Springs, east of L.A.
My dad was an officer in the LAPD. So there was definitely alot of discipline going on in the home.
“I wasn’t just a baseball player, though. I played football and basketball through high school. Actually, my first passion was football, but I wasn't big enough to play professionally.
“Fortunately I was able to play baseball in the L.A. area and got recruited by Cal State Fullerton. Freshman year, I actually sat in the bullpen as a relief pitcher! I was able to win over my coaches to let me play outfield. Then I was lucky enough to win the Golden Spikes Award as the No. 1 collegiate player in the U.S. my sophomore season. We won the College World Series and I was voted MVP.
“So I was somewhat of a real ‘Cinderella Story.’ Had a successful junior season and was drafted by the Marlins in 1996. Played three years and was traded to the Padres.”
You were on the World Series team, right?
“Yup. I was in for 19 days when Devon White was on the disabled list. It was an amazing experience for my first professional season! “Great experience being around Devon White, Gary Sheffield and Moises Alou, and got to play for Jim Leyland. Then onto San Diego.
“I was traded for Ramon Hernandez and Terence Long to the A’s for the ’04 season. It was my first full season winning team since I joined the league in 1998!”
What are the special qualities you bring to the team?
“I just try to be as professional as I can. Come in prepared so you can be successful day in and day out. Obviously, at this game success is measured at a 30 percent rate (batting .300). You fail 70 percent of the time and yet can be a great player, so the game is all about dealing with failure.
“You try to stay positive. This is my 10th season in the Big Leagues and I am one of the leaders on our team from the experience standpoint.
“I try to lead by example and show the young guys the right way to go about playing the game of baseball.”
“Individual accomplishments in MLB don’t mean much of anything to me. I play the game to earn the respect of my peers and to hopefully influence the younger players to play baseball the right way.”