Steve Gessell played two and a half years before a shoulder
injury ended his pro career
He’s roomed with Cal Ripken Jr. and rubbed shoulders with some of the game’s top players.
Steve Gessell, who has coached youth baseball for 12 years, feels right at home with his Hollister Little League Orioles cap and uniform. Gessell, 42, was drafted in 1979 by the Orioles right out of high school.
“Back then, the fad was growing the hair long,” Gessell said. “The Orioles would make you keep your hair short. But it was not as bad as the Yankees.”
He played his rookie year in Bluefield, W.Va. before spending the next spring with the parent team during spring training in Miami.
It was during that time that Gessell had the chance to room with one of baseball’s greats – Cal Ripken Jr. That was before Ripken put together his unequalled streak of 2,632 consecutive games with the Orioles.
Ripken played in 17 consecutive All-Star games and earned the nickname “Iron Man” for his consistency.
His roommate
Ripken was drafted a year before Gessell and was originally drafted as a pitcher before playing third base and then shortstop.
Gessell and Ripken roomed together during spring training with the Orioles, but never had the chance to play together on another team.
“They tried to pair you up with someone a little more experienced,” Gessell said. “He was kind of back and forth with the big guys and us.”
Gessell recalls Ripken as being somewhat of a party animal.
“He was a real gentle, friendly guy, but he liked to run around a little bit as single guys do,” Gessell said. “Nothing crazy. But he was a kid at the time too, checking out all the interesting girls. We were on a college campus during spring training, and that could have been a distraction.”
Gessell said he never could have imagined the successful career Ripken would go on to have.
“He was just a regular guy,” Gessell said. “He was just like everyone else at the time except his dad was coaching in the Big Leagues. As far as everyone there was concerned, we were all in the same shoes and all on the same road.”
Several years ago, Gessell had a chance to talk to Ripken before a game but admits, for the most, part he hasn’t kept in contact with his former teammates.
Playing experience
After his rookie year in the Appalachian League, he played with the Florida State League in Miami with the club’s Single-A team.
During his final year with the Charlotte Double-A team, he started to experience some shoulder discomfort, which eventually ended his career.
“I had some nerve damage in my shoulder,” Gessell said. “It is one of those things where you kind of rest it for a while and hope it gets better.”
Gessell had an ultrasound done, but there wasn’t much more he could do at that time.
“We worked on it for about three or four months, but it never really came back to life again,” Gessell said. “Back then medicine wasn’t quite what it is now. If it was these days, they might have been able to help me. I went from about a 96 mile per hour fast ball down to about 82 in a matter of a few months, and that didn’t quite cut it.”
Gessell, who grew up in California, attended Oak Grove High School in San Jose. He was drafted right out of high school by the Orioles.
“I was a little overwhelmed,” Gessell said. “I hadn’t really been on my own before that. Playing high school ball, I played locally and didn’t really go out of town much. It was a little lonely playing out on the East Coast by myself. It was a lot fun once I got there, but I was a little nervous about the whole thing.”
Highlights
While in the Florida Winter League, Gessell pitched a no-hitter.
One of the highlights from his playing time was the first time he faced Darryl Strawberry and struck him out all three times he faced him during the game.
Some of the other professional players he has played against include Kevin Mitchell, Mike Young and Mark Portugal.
Gessell played with former Big Leager Larry Sheets, who played with the Orioles in the early ’80s.
Gessell used three pitches during his career – the fastball, the curve ball and pitch he called the circle change-up.
“My pitching coach told me that all I really needed was two really good pitches, so I worked mostly with the fast ball and the curve ball,” Gessell said. “It was before the split-finger really came into play.”
Post-baseball
After his baseball career ended, Gessell worked for his dad, who owned a glass company.
Currently, Gessell is a superintendent at Silicon Valley Glass in San Jose, where he has been for about seven years.
“It was a short-lived career,” Gessell said. “You got to get some breaks to make it to the Big Leagues. I always thought that I started pitching when I was too young. You only got so many pitches in you, and you don’t want to use them up too soon. Nolan Ryan is the exception to the rule.”
It wasn’t until recently that Gessell allowed his sons to pitch.
But even then he is careful not to overwork them. He is also careful with the rest of his young players.
Coaching
Gessell began coaching when his oldest son, Matthew, was eight.
He is hoping his younger kids may still have a shot at playing professional ball.
They do have some baseball blood in their veins. Gessell’s wife Tami’s grandfather played professional ball.
He quit because there was no money in it at the time and he wanted to get married.
“It is such a long shot these days,” Gessell said. “So many people are competing for the spots. You have to love the game. A lot of kids start to lose interest in high school. You have to stay focused if you want to get to that point.”
In addition to the championship with the Hollister Major Orioles last year, Gessell’s 1999 White Sox also earned a title.
As a coach, Gessell, who stands at 6-foot-3 and has gained about 40 pounds since his playing days, uses a mild mannered and soft spoken approach.
He never raises his voice with players, but he knows how to command their respect.
The Orioles put together a string of more than 30 wins in a row – stretching over three seasons.
The streak was broken this year by the A’s. The Orioles lost their next game to the Cardinals but have won three in a row since.
“It was a pretty amazing run,” Gessell said. “We overcame a lot of close games. We had a lot of good hitting and defense. None of that seemed to be working against the A’s. But we knew it was bound to happen sometime. ”
The Orioles are trying to start a new streak now and are still the team to beat this year.
Career teams
1979 – Rookie with the Bluefield Orioles in West Viginia
1980 – Single A with the Miami Orioles
1981 – Double A with the Charlotte O’s
