I’d like to introduce you to a wide-eyed kid that always dreamed of stepping on to a baseball field one day with thousands of fans all screaming his name. He knew from the first time he picked up that baseball and felt the smooth leather and the bumps of the red stitching that wrapped around it. The first time he picked up a bat that was too heavy for him but still he heaved it above his shoulders and swung for the fences.
I’m sure any athlete who has ever played a sport can remember these memories. From their firsts to their lasts and all those in between. As an athlete we never know when our last swing, pitch, basket, goal, or game will come. Most of us push to keep that date as far ahead in the future we possibly can. Unfortunately for this wide-eyed kid, my career ended shorter than expected. I’ve always dreamed of playing Major League Baseball, specifically for the New York Yankees. So, I do apologize in advance for all the Yankees bias I will be writing about in the future, but I do love all things sports and I would like to discuss them as well. There are so many wonderful, beautiful and inspiring stories out there, I would love to share as many as I can.
Before I can get into that I would like to introduce myself. My name is Chris Piteo, but you can just call me “Pit.” I have played baseball my whole career, although playing a little bit of basketball when I was younger, baseball has always had my heart. My love for the game definitely started because of my Dad who at the time was the president of one of our local little leagues, RGMVM. I spent many days and nights of my childhood stepping on to those fields to play home run derby or running bases. Along the way I’ve met and played with so many amazing people who have pushed me throughout my career to be the best possible player and teammate I could be. People who I can call my best friends for life I’ve battled in between those lines with. Travel ball also had a major impact on my sports career, including the teams I went with to the Ripken World Series in Aberdeen, Maryland. Hands down one of the more surreal experiences I have ever had in my life. It’s basically like the Little League World Series but for travel baseball teams. Instead of being restricted to playing with kids from your own town, you were playing with the best of the best from their respected regions or countries. It was a beautiful sight not only to see kids from all over the United States, but the world come together and compete. I was a rather “big boned” kid around this age but my main position was third base and pitcher. Not to mention I could hit some absolute nukes. I’ll attach a video of “fat Pit” at the end to give you a good laugh, so you’ll have something to look forward to after reading this. By the time high school rolled around I was a frail kid. I had hit my growth spurt and gone was that bulky build. I lost a ton of power and didn’t really feel the same strength I had when I was younger. I never realized the drop off would be quite significant, but I still had that same swing and arm action. I had to basically build myself back up and it was frustrating.
A lot of this growth during this time can be attributed to a great friend and coach Greg Modica. If you grew up in the Queens area and played ball you mostly likely heard his name along with someone trying to imitate his voice. 100% sounding like Kermit the Frog. But for those that don’t know Greg, he has helped so many young ballplayers in the city by creating workouts, giving instructional lessons and helping them with the whole college recruitment process or MLB aspirations. He also takes no shit and will make sure you are fully prepared for the next level. Greg was a major factor that lead to me getting a scholarship to play DI baseball at The University of Maine. At my high school, Archbishop Molloy, my junior year I was able to be play for one of the most legendary and successful coaches in the country, Jack Curran. Unfortunately, my senior year Coach Curran passed away, but he left a legacy that was unrivaled in the country, having the most wins in basketball and baseball at the high school level. Although it wasn’t for long, it was an honor to be in his presence and you could tell how respected he was from all the kind words from his former players after his passing.
My time at the University of Maine didn’t last long only having spent two years there but there was so much about the university that I enjoyed. The facilities were amazing and there were many people I met there. And yes, in fact Maine was the coldest place I have ever been but there was something about having to deal with all those elements and obstacles in order to be able to compete against other teams. The fact that you had to grind harder than anyone else because of the circumstances, in that sense you felt that you could overcome anything or anyone. Including a win my freshman year on a muggy Friday night in Florida against the University of Miami after an unbelievable performance from one of our players who was both a pitcher and hitter. Unfortunately, my failures outweighed my successes at the university and as hard as it was to leave the people I loved, I had to find a place that was going to help me grow.
With the help of some friends back in New York I was able to get in contact with a tiny Division II called the University in Montevallo in Alabama. The summer when I was looking for a team to play for, I wasn’t playing any summer ball, just working out and throwing pens so it was harder for me to get attention. I was kind of taken there on a recommendation and promised a spot on the team. That’s all I needed, just a place that was willing to take a chance. It was the best decision of my life and it was in this small town that I found my home. A blink and you’ll miss it type of place but despite its size, it was filled with a beautiful campus and people. The most fun I have ever had on a baseball field came from playing with those teammates and coaches. Who would have thought a city boy could love the south so much. The bonds I formed there can never be broken, and this year I had the privilege of standing next to my best friend who I roomed with as he got married. When you look back at your career you won’t remember the home run you hit in the 9th or that last strikeout you recorded to win the game but all those laughs and smiles with your friends. Well, maybe that nuke you gave up on a mid-week game too. It was at the University of Montevallo that I was able to obtain my B.A. in Marketing and was lucky enough to spend a 5th year earning my MBA. Everyone there pushed me to be the best possible version of myself and I am forever grateful for every moment I spent on that campus. Unfortunately, my senior year got derailed with two labrum surgeries and I was never able to get back on the mound and compete 100%. The last time I stepped on the mound was our senior day in my last year and I got to throw out the first warmup pitches. I was greeted out on the mound by two of my best friends. We later went on to be make a regional tournament that year, first time since 2009 for our program. It was a special year that I’ll always remember. Okay, I’m sorry I’ll close the yearbook.
Fast forward to today and I am down in Florida still trying to take the first steps towards creating my own new path. It’s scary, not knowing what’s next. If I could look back at that wide-eyed kid wanting to be a Yankee, I’d say “Continue to dream big and don’t ever let anyone tell you different.” I know through God’s grace that my journey doesn’t end there. Be happy that you got to spend all that time playing a simple game that you loved. And don’t forget to thank every single person that you have crossed paths with on that journey, especially your parents. You never know how much they had sacrificed for you to compete and be happy. It hurts my heart every day knowing how much they wish I was still out there competing, but I know they will support me 100% on where I decide to take my life from here. I can’t wait to make them just as proud for my successes in the coming future.
I’ve played with so many amazing players over the years and have met so many people who have impacted my life. In reality when you look at it, not everyone is meant to make it on that stage. I root every day for the people who I know who are still grinding to get to their chance. It is that type of bond that unites us athletes. For a number of us, that dream just isn’t going to happen and where do we go from there? It’s hard, I’ve went back and forth on where I should take my life from here. It’s hard to train at something for 20 plus years to ultimately find it abruptly end. It hurts and it’s frustrating. Don’t get me wrong, there are some people who know exactly what they want to do if playing a sport doesn’t work out and to those people, I wish them all the best luck. To the athletes who are washed, who don’t know where to go from here, I say to you, you are not alone.There are thousands of people out there like us that are still looking for their next passion. My best advice, try new things, find something you love and enjoy doing. Don’t be afraid to step out of that comfort zone to get somewhere you may not have thought you would end up. I know the type of mentality you have, that relentless drive to become successful. Use everything you’ve learned from your sports career into the real world. It’s going to suck; you are going to feel completely lost. I created this page because I love sports, specifically baseball and I know I still hold enough knowledge to spread to everyone out there. Writing and sports are something I’ve have always found to comfort me, so I will continue to dive into this newfound passion and spill everything I have into it. I also wanted to create this platform in order let other former athletes tell their stories. If you have a story you would like to tell, do not hesitate to email me and we can get working to get something published. I want athletes all around the world to know that they are not alone and with the end of your sports career, there’s a start to a whole exciting world out there. Us athletes, we will always hold that love of the game.
Thank You, “Pit”
The Washed Up Athlete 