HOMETOWN HERO HITS HOMER
Koonce Called up to Spring Training by Oakland A’s
by Jim Evans

Graham Koonce playing for the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats.

For the past 10 years, Julian’s Graham Koonce has toiled in baseball’s minor leagues waiting for his chance to play in the majors. Like Dennis Quaid in the movie "The Rookie," he finally reached his goal at the ripe old age of 28, when he was called up in September to join the Oakland Athletics.

Koonce hit 1 for 8 with a double in six games in his major league debut. He now has been invited to participate in the A’s spring training, starting Feb. 26, as part of their 40-man roster.

Originally drafted out of high school in the 60th round by the Detroit Tigers in 1993, Koonce was subsequently drafted in the Rule 5 Draft from the San Diego Padres by the Oakland Athletics in December 2001. He recently won the prestigious Old Navy Home Run Award, given annually to the top home-run hitter in Minor League Baseball, with 34 homers. He was selected to both the Pacific Coast League All-Star Team and USA Today’s Sports Weekly’s Minor League All-Star Team after helping to lead the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats to the Pacific Coast League title and winning MVP honors.

Along with his 34 homers, Koonce batted .277 for the season with a league-high 115 RBIs and a team-high 98 walks, which earned him a spot on Team USA for Olympic qualifying. While the team did not qualify for the games in Athens, Greece, it was not for want of Koonce’s outstanding .624 batting average in just nine games with 12 RBIs in 26 at-bats. During the 2003 season, he also established new club records for home runs, runs batted in and bases on balls (Sacramento River Cats Online, www.rivercats.com).

Koonce’s favorite baseball movie is "Bull Durham," starring Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon, and Tim Robbins — probably because he can relate to the gypsy-like existence portrayed in the film. He played for Bristol, Fayetteville, Rancho Cucamonga, Mobile, Portland, and Midland during his decade-long career. In fact, he was playing baseball in Panama at the time of the recent Cedar Fire, which ravaged his hometown of Julian.

Fortunately, his parents’ home was spared, but Koontz has been shaken by the devastation he has seen.

"Many of the things that were familiar to me as a youngster are gone now, but the fire can’t take away the memories," he said.

Born in El Cajon, Koonce grew up in nearby Cuyamaca and started playing baseball at age 10. He didn’t realize until he was 13 that he might have some real talent in the sport.

"I owe so much to my parents (Ross and Anna Koonce), because they coaxed me, prodded me, and encouraged me in such a positive and supporting way that I didn’t lose my enthusiasm for the game," Koonce said.

He played football, basketball, and baseball in high school, "but basketball and baseball were always my favorites."

Like many small-town athletes, Koonce had little exposure to sports outside of his immediate community, but "my folks drove me to see games out of town, and I played with several teams in tournaments out of the area — even as far as Los Angeles — to get better," he said.

"Tony Gwynn was my hero," he said of the former San Diego Padres outfielder, "and he was always such a great role model."

His long spell in the minors has not dampened Koonce’s enthusiasm, even when so many other good players have called it quits after just a few years.

"Most of them will set a certain time limit, and if they have not graduated to the majors within that predetermined limit, they move on with their careers. But I still enjoy the game, and I feel that I have continued to improve every year to help prepare me for the opportunity to play major league ball.

"I would encourage young people who want to play professional sports to not be discouraged by those who doubt your ability or commitment and try to discourage you. You have to believe in yourself and keep trying to improve. Even if I had to stop playing baseball today, I would appreciate what I have accomplished and go on from there, but at least I would know that I had given it my best effort. And, besides, I’ve enjoyed every minute of it!"

Koonce now lives in Alpine with his new bride, the former Aubrey Livermore, and — yes — she is a hometown girl from Julian.

"She’s my biggest fan and supporter," Koonce said, "but she has also given me a greater sense of life outside professional baseball."

This is one first baseman who has hit for the circuit in more ways than one.