The World’s Best Catch Player

by Jennifer Kaufman

His mom often wonders if she shouldn’t have named him Joseph – after another famous believer in dreams – because for Ethan Bryan, it all started with a dream.  As in, the kind you have while you’re sleeping.  He woke one morning with the vivid images of playing catch for a cause with some of baseball’s finest.  Once he got his thoughts on paper, he began to wonder just how he could make his dream a reality; he knew just what cause he wanted to support.

As this feature goes to press, Ethan will be in the middle of what he hopes is a record-setting game of catch just outside of Kauffman Stadium, home of Major League Baseball’s Kansas City Royals.  A long-time baseball player himself, Bryan clarifies, “These throws have nothing to do with ego.  [They] are more than just for the sake of fun and community.  These throws are to make a difference in the world.”  Everyone that participates will be encouraged to donate at least $1 to raise money for Team Not for Sale, to fight modern-day slavery.

Not for Sale is an organization with a presence in various countries around the world, using business creation, supply chain evaluation and aftercare aid, creating enterprise opportunities in vulnerable communities, offering social services to survivors and those at-risk to human trafficking and working to ensure that no one is for sale.¹  Ethan had the pleasure of meeting a missionary who works in Romania near a NFS location, and will be donating 100% of money raised at today’s event in his honor.

Ok, but why baseball?  Bryan has always had a passion for the game.  After playing most of the way through high school, he recalls with pride a coach who told him that, despite having a good deal of talent, he made the team first and foremost because of his heart.  He eventually realized his size might keep him from playing in the big leagues – but that didn’t stop him from being “the best benchwarmer the team has ever seen”.  He says he feels fully alive when playing a game of catch, and wants to connect that passion with another.

In 2010, Jeremy Affeldt, pitcher for the San Francisco Giants, reached out to Not for Sale to see how he could make a difference.  Today, Team Not for Sale has over 30 professional baseball players – in addition to other athletes around the world – using their on-field achievements to pledge monetary donations to the cause.  Many of them also feel called to use their platform to further engage their fans and communities.

Ethan has absolutely no indication of how many people might show up to play catch today.  The Kansas City Royals are in the playoff hunt for the first time in over 10 years, forcing his game of catch to a much more obscure location to make extra room for parking.  There are many hurdles that they’ll have to overcome to reach his goal of 1000 participants, but that’s not stopping him.  His passion and dedication for this project has led to a bit of “who’s who” (or who-knows-whom, more accurately) and he’s even received some interest from a current player who hopes to stop by.  Perhaps that dream of his that started it all might be coming true!

His goals have changed a little with time, but all with the same end result in mind.  In addition to today’s world record attempt, Ethan has high hopes of playing catch with the president and with any celebrities he can track down, with goals to sell autographed balls to raise more money and awareness.  His current story – the quest to become the world’s greatest catch player while working to end slavery – will “end”, at least on paper, in December.  It’s both exciting and terrifying though that he isn’t quite sure how it will end… or where the road will take him after his book hits the shelves.

Ethan says his throwing skills may have gotten a bit rusty since high school as he has instead been “sharpening [his] husbanding skills, parenting skills, writing skills and rhythm-guitarist skills” but that he always has gloves with him just in case someone wants to play.  In the meantime, he will continue pursuing his newest dream of being the best benchwarmer Team Not for Sale has ever seen.

^{1 Source: http://notforsalecampaign.org/about}

Ethan Bryan is currently working on his fourth book, The World’s Best Catch Player.  His previous books are available on Amazon or at his favorite bookstore, Hearts & Minds Books.  Follow his journey and get the latest updates at ethanbryan.wordpress.com and follow him on twitter @ethan_bryan.

Jennifer Kaufman is a musician, Disney aficionado, wannabe runner, writer and – most importantly – wife of an amazing husband and mom of three incredible kids. Come say hello (and maybe find your story!) atJenniferKaufman.net or connect with her on twitter @jnkaufman.