Many athletes perform what appear to be bizarre rituals based on superstitions they believe aid their performance. For example, before pitching a game of baseball, Jason Grodsky, 18, eats “a lot of tuna sandwiches,” a habit he said began when he was twelve.
Moreover, he said he “also likes to sit around all day before I pitch [in order] to not think about it. If I do, I get psyched out.”
Whatever his reasons, his rituals seem to help. Grodsky was named Player of the Year for CNI’s 2001 North Shore All-Conference Baseball Selections.
Grodsky has been described by CNI as having “deceptive speed with two types of fast-balls, an outstanding curve-ball and change-up.” His coach of two years, Dick Sykes, said Grodsky is “the best pitcher I know in putting the ball exactly where he wants it, and he can throw everything for strikes.”
Grodsky has a combined record of 23-0 over his last two seasons playing for Nicolet High School’s varsity team, including 10-0 this year. He has a 1.47 ERA in 62 innings, with 64 strikeouts and 10 walks.
Standing five feet, five inches and weighing 160 pounds — perhaps much of it from eating tuna — Grodsky has been playing baseball since he was five.
“Nobody ever really pushed me [to play]; it just came naturally since my older brothers played,” he said. “My oldest brother Eric played second base and my middle brother Mark is a catcher. We played catch when we were younger, but it is a little hard now to find the time [to play].”
Grodsky, whose family belongs to Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun, said he began playing organized baseball in the Glendale Minor League when he was eight. At that time there were no pitchers because “they used a pitching machine. It wasn’t great baseball, but it was a start.”
By the time he turned nine, he was able to play in the Glendale Little League. By 13, he had progressed to the Glendale Senior League. At Nicolet, Grodsky easily made the junior varsity baseball team, and by his junior year was playing varsity.
Though he began pitching regularly at age nine, Grodsky’s skills did not begin to shine until he reached high school. Around that time, he began to phase out batting, focusing instead on his pitching.
Grodsky constantly works to keep his arm strong and flexible. He also does a lot of running. During baseball season he said he practices “six days a week for two-and-a-half hours” at a time.
“Most people’s arms get sore,” he said, “but mine doesn’t because after I pitch I take two days off, then pitch again.”
Although Grodsky would love to play college baseball, he said he has not been recruited. He plans to try out for the team at Indiana University, which he will attend this fall.
“I hope I [get on the team] but it is a lot different going into college because [college athletes] are the best from their [high school] teams.” After mulling that thought over, he added, “But I guess I am one of the best on my team.”
Even if Grodsky doesn’t make the team, baseball will always be a part of his life. “I coached basketball this winter and it made me realize I wanted to be a coach,” he said. He hopes to do that for an extracurricular sport after he pursues a degree in education and becomes a teacher.
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