Confessions of a Ball Girl

Written by Steve Adler
Posted in Interviews - Interviews

In an effort to bring the inner workings of the Padres to light, we we able to interview someone on the inside, Kari. We talk Bee conspiracy, mutants, kids that spit and Franken Friar.

(FH) What is your official title with the Padres?

(KBG) BALL GIRL

(FH) How long have you been a ball girl?

(KBG) 11th season:)

(FH) What really happened that day of the infamous bee incident?

(KBG) Ha! I was actually a fan at the game and the Queen Bee just landed on one of the girl's jackets and all the bees took to the jacket! It was crazy, but hey, at least the Ball Girl, Lisa got some TV time:) and we got some recognition out of the whole thing!

(FH) What is your fondest work memory?

(KBG) Ah, being drilled in the arm by a Woody Williams wild pitch, while he was warming up in the Q. As a pro, I thought he would hit the glove? Um, the catcher missed the ball, deflected from his glove to my shoulder, as I was running by to get a ball. Left a gnarly bruise and the seams of the ball made an imprint on my skin.

Also, there was a pitcher for the Marlins a few years back, I forget his name, but he was huge and they called him the mutant because he has six fingers. Anyway, he came over to talk to me while I was working and leaned down to tell me something, placed his hand on my knee, and yup, 6 fingers!! AH....it was funny!

Other memories always include how many balls I have missed, working the World Championships, fans on the field:)

(FH) What are your thoughts on Frank'n Friar? Man or Machine?

(video provided by gaslampball)

(KBG) Really, I have no clue what this is, sorry.

(FH) Word on the street is, the best way to get a foul ball from a ball girl is to pay a cute kid some cash to go ask you for one. True?

(KBG) Ha, so true! Kids are always first and we always get booed by fans for not giving them (an adult) the ball. Kids can be brutal as well, as kid spit on me one time for not giving him the ball.

(FH) For any aspiring ball girls out there, how can they join your exclusive crew?

(KBG) Well, is it an intense process. I tried out 11 years ago in the Q (seriously). They hit me grounders, watched me throw and then I had an interview:) Hard to find openings, nobody ever leaves. Too good a gig!

We want to thank Kari for taking the time out to give us a perspective from the field.

< Prev		Next >

Comments

# taliaspadre 2010-04-18 01:34

I can't believe that you have footage of Frankenfriar. We were at the Padres-Cubs game Friday of 2009 Memorial Day weekend last year and my kids loved him. They are always afraid of mascots but loved him. Saw Gwynn Jr.'s first home game as a Pad same night.

Reply | Reply with quote | Quote

Refresh comments list
RSS feed for comments to this post.