Chip off the block

When Chad Tracy was a Little League catcher in Sarasota, Fla., his father noticed two things: His son had good hands and he liked being involved in every play of the game.

His father, Jim Tracy, was right about what he saw, because more than a decade later Chad, still a catcher, was taken as a third-round draft pick out of Pepperdine University by the Texas Rangers, the major league affiliate for the Spokane Indians.

Of course, Jim also knew what he was talking about as a former major league player and current manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was selected in the fourth round by the Chicago Cubs in the 1977 draft out of Marietta College, made his major league debut with the Cubs in 1980 and had a short stint in Japan. After retiring as a player in the late ‘80s, he moved into coaching and managing. Chad, along with his two brothers, had been exposed to baseball since the day they all were born. Chad said he fell in love with the game as a toddler from following his dad around.

“They got a real genuine introduction to what the game is all about to be successful,” Jim said. “They got more than I was able to get.”

Chad’s grandfather, Jim Sr., played in the minor leagues for the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Giants from 1948-51, but did not pursue a career in baseball after retiring, unlike Jim, who has been involved with MLB for the past 30 years.

“There hasn’t been anybody who’s been more of an influence,” Chad said of his father. “He’s taught me pretty much everything I know in this game since I was a little kid. He’s taught me things at a very young age that a lot of people don’t learn until they’re in their 20s.”

Jim’s wife, Debra, was pregnant with their first son, Brian, when Jim was playing baseball in Japan for two years in 1983. Four years later Jim started managing in the minor leagues and moved on to manage the Los Angeles Dodgers for five years. He was hired by the Pirates in October 2005. He said he loves what he does, but it was hard not being at home with the family as much as he wanted to be.

“The most painful part in working in this industry is the sacrificing of any number of days for those you love the most,” Jim said.

He said his wife focused on how their sons grew up as unselfish people rather than thinking about them becoming professional ball players, which Jim thinks carries over to Chad’s game.

“Whatever (Spokane manager) Mike (Micucci) wants him to do, he’ll do because he’s an unselfish teammate,” Jim said.

Chad arrived in Spokane a day after the season started, and while it may be hard to adjust to playing with a lineup of strangers, Chad recognized one face: infielder Thomas Berkery, a former Sarasota Little League teammate.

When Chad isn’t behind the plate catching, he can be found in the middle of the lineup as the designated hitter. He is batting .293 with five home runs and 18 RBIs.

“He brings an energy to the team that seems to pick everybody up,” Micucci said. “He’s got a real good bat, so he’s able to sit there in the middle of the lineup and drive runs in and create opportunities for guys who hit behind him.”

While Chad wishes he could catch more, he understands the nature and demands of having a career in baseball.

“I’d prefer to catch, but at the same time you have to realize that when you’re playing every single day, you’re not going to catch every day,” Chad said. “If I were catching every day, I’d probably be breaking down right about now.”

Like his father, Chad was drafted out of college before he could finish his degree.

“Chad has a burning desire to play baseball,” Jim said. “The time was right for the time being and he’ll continue to do the things that made him successful up to this point. If he wants to finish, he’ll go back.”

Chad had a career batting average of .334 with 30 home runs and 154 RBIs when he left Pepperdine and was a finalist for the Johnny Bench and Brooks Wallace awards this year.

“By God, I was given some gifts and it was up to me to take those gifts and use them,” Chad said. “I took the gifts and the knowledge that my dad and these coaches give me and I put it to use.”

With the Indians, Chad is working with the coaches on every phase of the game, whether it’s on his throwing mechanics, hand positioning, catching stance or his hitting.

“In the future he’s going to be a real good balanced player,” Micucci said. “He does a lot with his bat, but he’ll do a lot with his glove too.”

Chad isn’t the only third-generation Tracy to have a future in baseball. Brian was selected by the Dodgers in the 21st round of the 2002 June draft, but chose to pitch at UC Santa Barbara. His younger brother Mark will play his first year as catcher at Pepperdine this year.

With his parents now in Pittsburgh, Chad continues to talk to his family daily. Jim said when he gets home from work his wife is already listening to the Indians games on the computer.

Chad said during his summer with the Indians he wants to improve in all phases of the game to become better on offense and defense.

“You can never be satisfied in baseball,” Chad said. “Hopefully, by the end (of the summer) I get to a point where I feel like everything’s clicking on all cylinders and I’m right where I need to be.”