Ben Zobrist - Double Play

Double Play, Digital Edition

Based on Print Edition

Copyright 2014 by Ben and Julianna Zobrist

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

978-1-4336-8331-2

Published by B&H Publishing Group

Nashville, Tennessee

Dewey Decimal Classification: B

Subject Heading: ZOBRIST, BEN \ BASEBALL PLAYERBIOGRAPHY \ CHRISTIAN LIFE

Scripture is taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

This book is dedicated to Zion and Kruse, Gods gifts to us through our love for each other. We wanted you to have these stories in detail so that you would know how God has orchestrated the love between us. It is never perfect, and often difficult, but we enjoy the story God has given us to proclaim His grace in our lives. He truly holds all things together (Col. 1:17).

Acknowledgments

This book has taken some serious teamwork to come into fruition. Many, many thanks to Mike Yorkey, Dawn Woods, Dave Schroeder, and Jay Schield for your creativity, your love for our family, and your dedication to excellent work. Much love from the Zobrist fam.

Introduction

Ben

Nearly three hundred times a year, I leave the on-deck circle and approach home plate at Tropicana Field, the domed stadium thats home to my team, the Tampa Bay Rays.

My gait is slow and purposeful as I carry a 34-inch, 32-ounce F165 Louisville Slugger, weighted and balanced to my specifications. Toward the top of the flame-tempered bat, my name is etched into the wood. For a kid who grew up playing backyard Wiffle ball games in a small Illinois farm town, thats pretty cool.

During the five seconds or so that it takes me to reach the batters box, a song plays loudly on the huge speakers suspended from the rafters. Every home team batter who comes to the plate gets to choose a walk-up song that plays in the background.

I know my walk-up song well because I know the singer even better. Every time I step up to the plate, I hear the soaring, angelic melodies of my wife, Julianna. Out of the 750 major league baseball players, Im sure that Im the only batsman who takes the plate with his better half singing in the background.

Thats pretty cool too.

Ive been using Juliannas songs as my walk-up music since the 2009 season. I got some good-natured teasing in the clubhouse for bringing my wife onto the field, so to speak. Is that a girl singing? one of my teammates asked. The typical walk-up song has a big bass-driven beat, a manly kind of feel with growly vocals. Think heavy metal or hip-hop. Juliannas music has a beat but with more of a rock pop sound.

Yeah, thats Julianna, I said. Isnt she great?

Just as its my desire to use my God-given talent on the baseball field, I want Julianna to use her God-given gift for music to impact others.

One of the first songs she wrote, The Tree, was my walk-up music for the 2009 and 2010 seasons, followed by Only You in 2011 where Juliana sang, I want you and only you and no one else will ever do . She wasnt singing about me but rather our Lord and Savior. In 2012 and 2013, I chose Behind Me. (Sample lyric: Im going crazy/trying to find my way again/gotta leave it all behind me... )

Singing is something my artistic-minded wife loves to do, just as I love playing baseball. Shes been singing in public since junior high when she joined the worship band at her fathers church.

I like being in a supporting role for Juliannas musical aspirations, which is why we live near Music CityNashville, Tennesseeduring baseballs offseason. Nobody recognizes me on Music Row or in downtown Franklin, our hometown, which is fine by me. If folks do, they leave us alone. Thats quite a contrast to Tampa Bay, where things can get pretty intense during the baseball season.

Julianna and I have been married eight years, and were a close-knit couple. I admire how Julesas her close friends and I call herputs herself out there, baring her soul and her artistic side on stage. She has a passion for performing as well as letting her creative juices flow when she gets into a recording studio with a producer.

How God brought together two pastors kids from the nations heartland to form a double-play combination, if you will, is a unique story that we love to share. We both come from large families: Julianna grew up with five siblings in Iowa City, Iowa, and I come from a family of five children that planted roots in the checkerboard farmlands of Eureka in central Illinois.

Now were teaming up in Double Play . As youll soon read, there were too many coincidences and God things that happened along the way not to believe that the Lord brought us together as part of His plan for our lives.

Julianna

My husband is the greatest, and hell do anything to support me, as our story will illustrate.

A couple of years ago, I was in my snowy hometown of Iowa City, Iowa, visiting my parents with Ben, and our two children, Zion and Kruse. The month was January, and we were a month away from the start of baseballs spring training. Ben was preparing for his seventh year playing for the Tampa Bay Rays.

Whenever were in my hometown, my dadJeff Gilmore, the pastor of Parkview Churchoften invites me to lead the singing with the worship band. Ever since Ive been a little girl, Ive loved to perform in front of others, especially when I can sing about Gods love and glorious nature.

On this particular Sunday morning, before the first of three services, I stepped off the stage and found a quiet place to be by myself. I always have this private moment, especially in a church, so that I can pray and ask the Lord for wisdom on how I should sing that day. If I am not familiar with the church, I dont want to perform in such a way that people are uncomfortable. At the same time, I like to be... energetic and exuberant. Its all about finding the right balance sometimes. My main goal is to share the message of Christ in an entertaining and compelling way, so if the way I performor even dresshinders that goal, then I want to be careful.

I prayed, and I felt like the Lord was directing me to perform like I always do. In other words, have fun doing it. Throw caution to the wind.

I went out there and sang my heart out. I had a blast leading Dads congregation through singing worship songs. Even though I was pretty spent after the third service, my energy was revived when an excited woman sought me out afterward.

Youre such a wonderful singer and fantastic performer, she exclaimed. Im a producer with the MovieGuide awards show that takes place in Los Angeles in two weeks, and we just had an artist cancel on us. Would you be interested in singing in her place?

My heart sank. Were going to be in Dallas, I replied. My husband is committed to speaking at a baseball banquet at his old school, Dallas Baptist University. Im supposed to be there.

Oh, thats too bad, but I understand. Its short notice and everything. Maybe next time...

Wait a minute, I said. Let me talk to Ben. Maybe something could be worked out.

When I told Ben about the opportunity, he didnt blink an eye. Yeah, you need to do this. Itll be a great experience. He was just as thrilled as me that Id get to sing in front of a star-studded audience on national TV.

The logistics of going out to the West Coast for an awards show were a bit difficult, but what we worked out was that our three-year-old son, Zion, would stay with Ben in Dallas, where my sister Liz and her family lived. Then my mother, Cheryl Gilmore, and I would fly from Dallas to Los Angeles with my five-month-old daughter, Kruse, on my lap. The welcome news that the MovieGuide folks would provide first-class tickets was another indicator that this was a big deal.