By Paula Day

The long hours have paid off. The hard work has paid off. Atlanta Braves bat boy, Chris Van Zant has his own on-the-field seat for the World Series

Getting up at 2 a.m. to unload equipment at the stadium after away games now seems a mild inconvenience. During the regular season months of April and May and September and October, Van Zant lost sleep and juggled class work in order to wash, dry and fold team towels, polish shoes and run down foul balls. The 18-year-old Georgia Tech freshman returned to Atlanta from Minneapolis after World Series game two on Monday in time for his afternoon chemistry class.

“It’s not every day you can be around super stars,” the 1991 St. Pius X High School graduate said. “Most of the players treat you as a friend. I’d come in any time they ask.” During summer this might mean getting up for the 8:30 a.m. Mass at Christ Our Hope parish, Lithonia, after getting home at 1 a.m. from a Saturday night game. He needed to be at the stadium by 10:30.

Van Zant learned last September of an opening in the exclusive five-member bat boy club from another St. Pius student. Since he landed the job he has watched the Braves come from worst to first, win the National League Pennant and go to the World Series.

“They’ve been working very hard for a long time,” he said. “Everyone has pulled together.” Van Zant describes the team mood as “always positive, upbeat, excited. They feel they’re going to achieve something very special. They’re talking, laughing, joking around, having fun, just like in the regular season.

Two players stand out as Van Zant’s favorites. Lonnie Smith is a friend who was the first player to greet him. “He sat down, talked to me and made me feel at home. We talk about all sorts of things – family, college. We’re good friends.” The youth recalls Smith giving him the “hot foot” by putting a flame to the laces of his shoes when he wasn’t paying attention. “It didn’t hurt, just burned the shoe strings,” Van Zant explained.

The bat boy admires Terry Pendleton’s athletic and team skills, as one who can perform under pressure. “He knows the right things to say and do. He makes the right plays. He’s the captain in my opinion. He works to relax the pitcher. As an experienced player he’ll suggest how to pitch to the next batter. He’s willing to help the guys and helps them handle the pressure.”

As for manager Bobby Cox, the usual composure TV audiences see in the manager is authentic. Very rarely does Cox show frustration, according to Van Zant.

The Braves participate in chapel services each Sunday during the season. In addition to a minister, team members Sid Bream has volunteered to act as a spiritual resource for his teammates. Outside chapel time he is available to anyone who wants to talk.

A pregame must, according to Van Zant, is a threesome card game. Pitchers Charlie Liebrandt and John Smotlz and catcher Greg Olson rush to get in a game of “spades” before batting practice. After practice, they focus on the upcoming game.

Being bat boy is a minimum wage job practically any teenage boy would want. Braves clubhouse manager Casey Stevenson interviews, hires and assigns responsibilities. Applicants must be a least 16, Georgia citizens, and good students. By running errands, parking cars and doing odd jobs for the players the youths can add to their earnings through tips. For an 18-year old who drives an ’82 Toyota Corolla, getting behind the wheel of a Porsche is a treat. Regular tasks include unloading equipment trucks no matter when they arrive, delivering mail, doing the laundry, hanging uniforms and straightening up lockers.

During the game Van Zant’s usual assignment keeps him close to the Braves’ dugout where he chases fouls and supplies the umpire with balls. He has no assigned responsibility on the road.

The bat boys go on one road trip during the regular season and two went to Minneapolis for the opening games of the World Series, after paying their own way. Van Zant worked both games and said plans are for all the bat boys to go to any final games in the Twin Cities, courtesy of the Braves.

The young man is carrying a full load of 13 hours at Tech. Courses include calculus, chemistry and English. Right now his major is computer science and he would like to have a sports related career. He was manager of the varsity soccer team at St. Pius for three years.

Van Zant’s mother, Beth, believes his connection with the Braves this year has had a positive impact on her son.

“It’s taught him good sportsmanship for one thing,” she said. “They play as a family and enjoy it. That’s left a good impression on him. They’re professionals and the kids look up to them. When they see the players out there for each other and not just for themselves, well, it’s important to me for Chris to see that.”

Two other Van Zant boys, Clint, 16 and Mark, 14, would like to follow in their brother’s footsteps, and as far as their mother is concerned, that’s just fine.

For Van Zant, a childhood dream of being part of the World Series has come true, though as a child he “figured I’d be playing.”

“After last year I didn’t see too much hope for the team. As we closed in on the playoffs and it became clear it just might happen, I was really happy us to be part of that. Even if I had not worked the first two games (of the World Series) I’d be happy there down on the field with the team.”