From Protecting the Plate to Protecting the Streets
April 26, 2013 - American Association (AA)
Wichita Wingnuts News Release
Catcher Jessie Mier began his professional career in 2007, but has decided to trade in his bat and glove for a nightstick and sidearm.
Mier has announced his retirement from baseball and will make a career transition into law enforcement. Mier--who is set to join the Orange County Sheriff's Department in California--believes that his time in baseball guided him down his new career path.
"I am excited about it just because you still get that sense of working as a team with everybody around you. I see a lot of similarities between law enforcement and baseball," Mier said. "Baseball helped me get through my early 20s, which I believe is when you really begin to become a man. The game of baseball taught me a lot about life, how to go about your business, and how to handle responsibilities. I played ball from 18 to 27, and I think those are the times when you take a turn for the better or for the worse. I am very thankful for baseball."
Mier played his collegiate ball at Lewis and Clark State in Lewiston, ID, and was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 12th round in 2007. He reached the Double-A level within the Dodgers' organization before playing for the Wingnuts during the second half of 2012.
Mier played in 42 games with the Central Division champion Wingnuts, collecting 45 base hits and 19 RBI. He finished the season with a career-high 10 doubles, nine of which came in a Wingnuts' uniform. The backstop also ranked second in the American Association with a 37 percent success rate in throwing out base stealers. Mier gave credit to the winning season and the winning atmosphere in Wichita for making his decision to retire a little less stressful.
"The last thing I wanted to do was retire on a bad note or with a negative outlook on baseball. Being a part of the Wingnuts made me at ease about leaving the game. I was able to go out with a bang. I don't think I can put into words how special it was to me," Mier said. "You could tell that their goal was not only in building a winning team, but also in putting good guys in the clubhouse. It was always fun to walk into the clubhouse. In my whole professional career, I have never had such a good time playing the game. I have been on some good teams and bad teams, but as far as the clubhouse and just playing the game itself, I have never had that much fun. I loved it.
"You look at someone like 'Rosie' (Brian Rose) and what he was going through, and he was still out there supporting us every night. To me, that represented what the organization was all about."
Wingnuts' skipper Kevin Hooper appreciates the hard work that catchers put in night in and night out, and understands the impact that the position can have in a game.
"Jessie was a big part of our staff and the way we did things. He was a heckuva defensive catcher. He was probably one of the best arms we have ever had behind the plate. He would 'back pick' runners at second that turned into game changers. He single-handedly got us out of jams when he did that. I take a lot of pride in that position, and we have been fortunate to have a good line of catchers," Hooper said.
Mier made one of those outstanding defensive plays at the plate in Game Two of the 2012 Division Series at Laredo. In that playoff contest, the Wingnuts had built an early 4-0 lead. In the Lemurs' half of the second inning, Laredo started a rally putting runners on first and second with two outs. A double was hit to left field, which led to a play at the plate as the trail runner, Laredo's Anthony Scelfo, tried to score. Mier received a perfect relay throw from shorstop Ryan Khoury, and then held onto the ball after absorbing a major collision with Scelfo. The hard-nosed play recorded the final out of the inning, and prevented Laredo from bringing the tying run to the plate. Jake Kahaulelio--a longtime friend of Mier's--led off the top of the third with a home run, and the Wingnuts cruised to a victory and a 2-0 series lead.
"That stopped Laredo's momentum at that point in time. It takes a tough guy to play the catcher position, and Jessie Mier fit that mold perfectly," Hooper said.
"This last season, I really got the big picture of what I was playing for," said Mier. "That one moment for me, it really decided that it is either now or never. It was a situation where taking that hit had to be done. There was no doubt in that situation because of the atmosphere in the clubhouse and the whole organization."
Mier is thankful for the way that his career ended, and will remember his time with the Wingnuts.
"I want to thank the Wingnuts' organization as a whole. The fans, Josh (Robertson), Kevin Hooper, and everyone working hard in the office. You could tell that everyone was committed to the organization, and it was really nice to work for," Mier said.
Mier won't completely stop paying attention to baseball as his younger brother Jio has started the 2013 season with the Houston Astros' Double-A affiliate in Corpus Christi, TX.
"Baseball still lives in me through my brother and I will live vicariously through him," Mier laughed.
The 2013 season of Wichita Wingnuts baseball begins Thursday, May 16th against the Kansas City T-Bones at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. Prior to the game, a ceremony celebrating the life of bench coach Brian Rose will take place.
Beginning this season, fans can use cash at all points of sale in Lawrence-Dumont Stadium. Debit and credit cards will still be accepted. Fans can resolve outstanding balances on cash cards from previous years until June 1st, 2013.
For season tickets, group outings, or party packages, call the Wingnuts' main office at (316) 264-NUTS, or visit the Wingnuts' official website at www.wichitawingnuts.com.
American Association Stories from April 26, 2013
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- From Protecting the Plate to Protecting the Streets - Wichita Wingnuts
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
