Country's king of hits finally gets one at plate
Monday, March 22, 1999. San Diego Union-Tribune
Story by Story by Bill Center

PEORIA, Ariz. -- A man who knows something about hitting yesterday morning told Garth Brooks his 0-for-spring was about to end.

"I just have a feeling," said Tony Gwynn as the Padres prepared to face the Chicago White Sox. "We were all over Garth this morning. So I figure this is the day."

And it was.

A hit with teammates and fans all spring, Garth Brooks now has a baseball hit to go with all his song hits.

Pinch hitting in the second inning, Brooks bounced a Mike Sirotka fastball back through the middle for a single -- that elusive first hit in a major league uniform.

As the ball bounded under the glove of second baseman Ray Durham and trickled onto the outfield grass, the pro-Brooks crowd of 7,069 rose in tribute.

As the singer/utilityman stood at first, first baseman Frank Thomas presented Brooks the ball and gave the Padre a bear hug.

"I thought that was sweet of Frank to give me the ball and a hug," said Brooks. "When I reached around him, he's so big I thought the man does go on . . . He's like a big old oak tree."

The White Sox players seemed to delight in Brooks' first hit as much as the singer, the Padres and the fans.

"I was happy for Brooks," said Thomas, who was around when Michael Jordan tried his hand at baseball with the White Sox. "Garth's a class act and it was a proud moment.

"It's hard to get a hit at this level. The way he's hustling and working hard, it's something I can't fathom. He's changed a lot of people's minds about what he's doing. I think everyone thinks it's great. The fans are coming out in droves, the same way they did for Michael."

Even Sirotka, whose musical interests go toward the alternative rather than country-western, enjoyed the moment.

"I guess I might be in one of his songs now, but I'll never hear it," said Sirotka. "I probably don't realize the scope. But I have no problem with him getting the hit."

Actually, Brooks had trouble placing the significance of his first hit. He had been 0-for-10 in official Cactus League games and 0-for-18 counting intrasquad games and "B" games when he walked to the plate to pinch hit for pitcher Heath Murray.

"I got a letter from George Brett today that said, 'Don't hit it far, just hit it hard,' " said Brooks. "And being around (Padres batting coach) Merv Rettenmund) is a real thrill for someone trying to hit."

On Saturday, Brooks even asked for divine intervention in his quest for a hit.

"I think (the Lord) got the message," said Brooks. "You keep doing things right and hopes it falls."

Brooks' teammates were kidding him yesterday morning about driving to the wrong ballpark in Tucson on Saturday. When Brooks arrived in the clubhouse, there was a road map of Arizona and a spring schedule in his cubicle.

"We were on him so hard, I just knew this was going to be his day," said Gwynn.

After getting his hit, Brooks led off first as Thomas played behind him.

"Yes," said Brooks, "the thought to steal came into my mind."