Koskie's Classy Comments

On a summer day in 2003, I learned something about Twins third baseman Cory Koskie. It happened during pre-game batting practice as the Twins starters were rotating in and out of the cage, getting their hacks in before facing their rivals from Chicago. A television photographer approached Koskie and walked along with him, sticking the camera about a foot from Koskie’s face. When Koskie turned around, the photographer followed. Finally, Koskie waved a hand at the guy and said, “Sorry, don’t do that. I don’t like it.”

My first impression as I witnessed this was to think something along the lines of, “That photographer wasn’t doing anything wrong. Sure he was in a little tight, but that was pretty rude of Koskie to make him stop.” A minute later, Koskie changed my mind.

After finishing his rounds of batting practice, Koskie grabbed his glove and was heading out to third base to take some fungos when he stopped, backtracked to behind the batting cage and found the photographer who had tried to shoot footage of him moments earlier.

“Sorry,” Koskie said again. “I know you’re just trying to do your job. I just don’t like it when the camera’s so close.”

Immediately, I felt ashamed for judging Koskie because he wouldn’t let the photographer get close. I understood how annoying it must be to have someone in your face every day, trying to get as close as he can, invading your personal space, making you feel uncomfortable. Koskie is a shy person and I’m sure that kind of experience effects him more than it would most others. After witnessing his apology—which included an expression of genuine empathy—I made up my mind about Cory Koskie. The guy is a class act.

Now the former hockey goalie and Canada native is heading back to his homeland to play with the Toronto Blue Jays. There’s no doubt he’ll be missed by the Twins faithful. But Koskie wanted to let Twins fans know that the feeling is mutual.

The soft-spoken tender of the hot corner spent more than $4,000 on advertisements in Twin Cities newspapers to thank the Twins fans, management, coaching staff, even the Metrodome employees, for all they had done to help him get to where he is now.

Koskie didn’t have to do that and in typical form he downplayed it when asked about it. He could have left here and no one would have booed him when he came back as a Blue Jay. This isn’t Chuck Knoblauch we’re talking about. Koskie probably would have received a modest ovation anyway. He didn't take out the ads in an attempt to get a standing ovation—although that will most likely happen. He did it because he’s a genuine guy. And I like to think part of what he was saying was, “I’m not leaving because I don’t like Minnesota. I hope you can show me some empathy. After all, I’m just trying to do my job.”