Gio Urshela has been one of Major League baseball’s shining bright lights. He came to New York four years ago as a utility player and became one of the reasons why the Yankees would have success. He did things that the Yanks brass had no idea he could do.
He played third base like Graig Nettles and swung the bat like Lou Piniella.
If that wasn’t enough, off the field he was by far their most valuable player because of the many people in need that he reached out to. The many schools that he visited and his hospital visits with David Jurist became legendary. As a matter of fact, he is still the Athletics Ambassador at Hackensack Medical center because David can’t accept anyone else.
I always said that Gio reminded me of Thurman Munson in that he would get upset with me for always promoting his good deeds. Thurman paid more quiet visits to children who needed their day brightened than any player I have ever seen in my almost 50 years in baseball. When Gio got to the big apple and would never say no when I would ask him for help with kids it always reminded me of my hero and big brother Thurman Munson. When Gio won the Thurman Munson AHRC Humanitarian Award it was one of the happiest days of my life. If that wasn’t enough, one the great days was when John Gungie Rivera who is the head of the Cristian Rivera Foundation called to tell us that Gio had won their Humanitarian Award. If you saw the previous winners, it reads like an incredible who’s who.
As Frank Sinatra always said about New York… If can make it there you can make it anywhere!
Then one of the saddest days of my baseball life happened. Gio got traded to the Minnesota Twins. This was very difficult for me because Gio had become my go-to guy. Whenever there was a kid in need Gio had become the answer.
I knew that I would never be able to replace an individual of that magnitude. When I called Gio after the trade was announced, I literally cried. However, I also knew that the legend of Gio Urshela would follow him to Minnesota.
I am happy to report that Gio has continued to be the great philanthropist that he has become. Just yesterday John Rivera had Gio visit a young lady who has been dealing with cancer. Her name is Maria Kuenster and she has been fighting like a champion. Gio had her come to see him play against the Kansas City Royals and he proceeded to have his best game as a Twin by getting four hits in five at-bats and then dedicating the game to her. The thing that touched my heart was that after the game Rivera called me like a little kid screaming and crying about what Gio had done for Maria.
Even though Gio is with the Twins I can’t help but think about how he still is doing wonderful things in the way a Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, or Thurman Munson would do.
Way to go Gio and way to go Maria Kuenster.
By the way, It’s no coincidence that Gio wears number 15 just like Munson did.
