Wendell Kim

Growing up an Oakland A's fan I didn't pay a great deal of attention to what was going on across the Bay with the San Francisco Giants. Like many boys in my neighborhood I dreamed of one day playing for my home team and was over the moon when Oakland won the World Series in 1989 against none other than our local rivals.

Over time, one person who did get my attention from that team was a gentlemen named Wendell Kim. He was a professional baseball player, coach, and manager. In his 15 seasons Kim coached four Major League Baseball teams and was once a player himself. He played as an infielder in the minor leagues as well as three years of varsity college ball at California State Polytechnic University. Perhaps most remarkable, he stood just 5'5 inches tall and weighed about 160 pounds.

I never saw Wendell play professionally, but I do recall him coaching third base for the San Francisco Giants. It's a role that's far from glamorous, even thankless at times. Still, I couldn't take my eyes of him. Why? Because every single time he went to his position he ran as if being chased by a pack of crazed wolves. He HUSTLED. 

Conversely, there were players literally making millions of dollars to play a game I'd see "dog it out" to their positions. They almost seemed ambivalent at times. But NEVER Wendell. 

His hustle became so well-known that on occasion I'd even hear people cheer him on as he graced the field. His refusal to never "phone it in" left a profound affect on me. 

Wendell, passed away two years ago. He was only 64 years old. Thankfully, the example he left for a little boy who once dreamed of playing professional baseball still hasn't left. 

I suspect it never will.