AGRR - November/December 2007 - AGRR Magazine

Avocationslife beyond the auto glass businessCassata Goes to BatName: Chris CassataDay Job: Sales Manager, Glass Doctor,Daytona, Fla.Alter Ego: Batboy for the DaytonaCubs, a minor-league baseball team.How did you get involved with theDaytona Cubs?One of the guys on my high schoolbaseball team was hired by the DaytonaCubs, but I didn’t realize it until Iwas there one day working on our advertisingwith them and noticed hewas there. He told me he was workingthere and he wanted to know if Iwanted to help out around there.There was an opening there as batboy.And how long have you been withGlass Doctor?I’ve been with Glass Doctor steadyfor three years, but before that Ihelped out on and off for approximatelytwo years.How long have you played baseball?Pretty much since age 6. I still playnow. It’s been about 22 years now. It’sbeen a long time.Where do you play now?I play on a Men’s Adult BaseballLeague (MABL). The team is the Crows.I’ve been playing with them since I gotout of high school, nine years ago. It’s awood adult baseball league.How is that different from otherleagues?We use wood bats, just like theMajor League guys. You usually seethe guys in high school and collegeusing the metal bats, and wood makesit a lot more challenging.What position do you play?Outfield, left field and right field,Those are my main two positions, butthis past year I also played first base,second base and caught a game.How do you find time to work forthe Daytona Cubs as a batboy, keepCassata has been working withthe Cubs for three years.up your day job and play in anotherleague?I come in [to Glass Doctor] at8:30 in the morning and I workuntil 5:30 at night. When it’s theCubs season, I leave here at 5:30 andhave to be there at 6. And, I play in theMABL on Thursday nights and Sundayduring the day. Some days I play mygame, and then go over to work withthe Cubs.What does your work as batboy entail?If I get there early, I set up thedugout. I take out the team’s Cub stuff,their helmets, their water coolers andthe trainer stuff and get the stuff setup for batting practice.During the game, I sit on the Cubsside, and I’m in charge of taking care ofthe umpires—keeping up with foul ballsand such. When the umpires are at awaygames, they say it’s a little challengingbecause others don’t pay as much attentionas I do. Also, I’m in charge on, on theCubs side, after the batter gets done hitting,I’ll go out and get their bat and putit on their spot in the rack.Are there any other duties?There’s a net behind the homeplate, and we try to catch foul balls offthe net. When we catch them, thecrowd applauds, and when we don’tcatch them they’re not as nice.What’s the best part about being abatboy?You’ve got the best seat in thehouse. You’re right outside thedugout. I’m not fenced in. I get thebest seat and I get to see everythingup close. It’s nice getting to know theplayers, too.Can you name some of the playersyou have met?Matt Murton of the Chicago Cubs,Scott Moore of the Baltimore Oriolesand Sam Fuld, who as just promoted tothe Chicago Cubs. It’s nice to see. ■60 AGRR November/December 2007 www.agrrmag.com