Audio By Carbonatix
Here’s Bacsik’s trading card, stamped with the wrong signature. It can be yours for the historically low, low price of $2.95.
Some nine months after Mike Bacsik pitched his way into the history books by dealing Barry Bonds home run No. 756, ESPN’s Gene Wojciechowski profiles the former KTCK-AM intern’s efforts to make it back to the bigs. The 30-year-old Bacsik, a Duncanville boy who still shows up on The Ticket every so often, is now throwing lefty for the Columbus Clippers of the International League — a far cry from his stint with the Washington Nationals, a fact not lost on the son of a former Texas Rangers pitcher.
“I was 22 when I first reached Triple-A,” said Bacsik. “There were some veteran guys on that team who had played in the big leagues. I remember thinking, ‘Man, I’m not going to sit around here when I’m 30 years old playing Triple-A baseball. If I haven’t established myself by then, I’m not going to be here.'”
A short pause.
“So here I am,” he said, “30-years old, sitting on a bus from Toledo to Columbus, trying to make it to the big leagues.”
That doesn’t work out, there’s always a spot for him on “BaD Radio.” –Robert Wilonsky
When news happens, Dallas Observer is there —
Your support strengthens our coverage.
We’re aiming to raise $30,000 by December 31, so we can continue covering what matters most to you. If the Dallas Observer matters to you, please take action and contribute today, so when news happens, our reporters can be there.