October 11, 2014

Arriving by boat to Saint Lucia, I walk up a rickety old pier.  A sun-drenched Caribbean man awaits me, grabbing my carry-on and grinning through stained teeth.  We drive for 30 minutes through lush tropical jungles, across winding creeks that no doubt turn in to raging rapids when flood season bears down on the islands, finally arriving at a secluded spot.  Approaching the base of an otherwise indistinguishable foothill, my escort motions me out of the jeep and grunts, pointing at a small game trail that winds through the forest and upwards toward the ridgeline that is barely visible through the untamed vegetation.  Grabbing my bag from the open trunk, I nervously glance back at my guide as he drives away, leaving me alone with only a faint idea of what to do next.

I wander up the trail for what seems like an hour, though in all likelihood is no more than 15 minutes.  It’s late September and weather in this island paradise is warm but not suffocating.  The sky is clear and good for a hike, even if I don’t plan on embarking today.  Reaching the top of the path, I see signs of human life for the first time in some while.  My eyes come to rest upon a small home, crudely constructed but perfectly suited for the location. It’s 100’ from where I stand, surrounded by a few palms and what looks like a well-manicured garden.

On the border of the Quilesse Forest Reserve, I stagger towards my destination, sweat-soaked and embarrassingly winded. I am greeted by a familiar face, now tanned by the sun and significantly lighter than when I last saw pictures of him.  Dean Giesey, the former General Manager of the PEBA’s Crystal Lake Sandgnats, beckons me towards the rocking chair that he rests in on the small front porch.  He looks relaxed but not particularly happy to have the company.  After exchanging pleasantries, I pull out my notebook, which is met with a disapproving sigh.  This interview will be written from memory, I tell myself before quickly stowing the notepad back in the open pocket of my bag.  I was warned by both my editor and other writers who have had the opportunity to meet Giesey that interviews are rarely granted and, when they are given, take place on his terms.

Giesey is a stately man in his mid-70s, although he appears younger, and by all accounts, puts extraordinary value in his privacy.  He made clear during the setup of this interview that there were to be no cameras, nor was I to be accompanied by anyone from the publication.

Dean Giesey is something of a legend in baseball circles.  His baseball acumen is well-documented and led to the unparalleled success experienced by his beloved Crystal Lake Sandgnats from 2007-2013.  Giesey abruptly resigned his post following the 2013 season and, based on the information I have managed to gather, has lived here in this remote outpost since his departure from the shores of Lake Michigan.  He agreed to this interview – his first since departing the world of professional baseball – although he comes across as reserved and largely unwilling to discuss his time in Crystal Lake in detail.

Dean Giesey: How long do these things last?

GQ: As long as the interviewee will allow, generally speaking.

No use chitchatting then. You have questions, I assume?

I’d like to start with your abrupt departure from baseball.  What made you decide to step down?

Was just time. (he pauses)  Sometimes a man decides he’s had enough.  I had enough.

Were you disappointed with how your tenure in Crystal Lake ended?

Disappointed?  No – not on the whole.  Disappointed we didn’t win a championship.  That’s the fire that keeps you coming back.  My fire was fading, though, and I couldn’t keep up that pace anymore.  Like I said, was just time.

Looking back on your time in Crystal Lake, what are the fondest memories you have?

Awwww… (Giesey holds back a grin, although I see it struggling to break through in the curls of his lips) I got lots of ‘em.  I’m not really keen to share, though.

Fair enough. How about regrets?

Got lots of those, too.  Any good baseball man will have his share of both.  Still not sharing, though. (now Giesey does let a smile trickle to the surface)

Do you keep up with the PEBA or any other pro baseball, for that matter?

I keep tabs.  You can’t turn it off, ya know?  Never will.

Any favorite players, executives, or teams you still follow?

Well, I’ll always have a soft spot for the Gnats.  Hell, most of the players on that team are there because I put ‘em there.  Even though most folks considered us rivals, always had a healthy respect for Aurora, too.  Just something about those guys… (Giesey shakes his head)  Had a hell of a time beatin’ em, but I think that makes you all the more fond.

The baseball world was caught off-guard when you left. Did something in the 2013 season drive you away?

Just the losses, ya know.  Can’t ever shake ‘em, and I remember each one.  That’s what hurts… you play baseball, you play a hell of a lot a games, ya know?  You lose enough, at some point, the memories just start being too much.  Like I said, was time.

Have you been here since you left Crystal Lake?

The whole time.  Not much interested in going back, either.  Kinda’ like it here.  Tired of shoveling snow.

What do you do to pass the time, then?

Meh, I enjoy my time.  Have a helper. You met him… Obadiah.  Good fella’.  He helps me out when I need him to.

Anyone else come to visit you here?

Maybe.  Didn’t have that many friends, ya know.  Didn’t need ‘em.  Got a couple folks on the island I keep up with.  Go to eat once in a while when I feel like coming down off the mountain.  That sorta’ thing.

What do you miss most about your time in baseball?

(Giesey take his time thinking before finally responding) The players.  Always loved the players.  Especially some of the tough ole’ bastards we had in Crystal Lake.

Like?

Well, hell… Nails (Sandgnats pitcher Nelson Anderson) was tough as they came.  Never a word from him.  Took the ball every fifth day, left everything he had out there.  Booker (Bryan Stewart), Taki (Kiyoemon Takeda) – though I didn’t get to spend a lot of time with him.  Had a lot of respect for pitchers, ya know?  Was my position in high school. I was always amazed at those guys.

Anyone else stand out?

Hell, lots of ‘em.  I remember when we got Pappy (Gnats outfielder Eduardo Molina) from Kentucky.  He touched down in Chicago, drove straight to the park, walked into my office and threw his arms around me.  Was a good guy.  Still is, I’m sure.  Morsey (current New Orleans Trendsetters catcher Eric Morse).  And there was Merlin (Gnats reliever Merlin Peters).  Kinda’ tough not to like a guy with a name like that.

There have been reports that you had issues with some players, too.  Care to comment on those?

Well, hell, of course I did.  I was their boss.  You have issues with your boss?

More specifically, media reports have said some guys like P.J. Thomas and Milton Wyatt.

That’s why I don’t bother with the media-types like you.  Lemme guess – Wyatt was a drug user or some such nonsense, right?

Well, more that you two had a falling out of sorts.  Some people have even named a curse after him.

(Giesey laughs aloud) A curse! (Still chuckling)  Of course they did.  I don’t know where you guys come up with this stuff.

Well, care to put anything on record and clear that up?

Nope.  We brought Milty in for a try.  He didn’t work out.  We let him go.  Simple as that.

So no controversy, then?

Not as far as you’re concerned. (Giesey gives me a strange smile and casts a rogue eyebrow in my direction)

There are also rumors about the site that Gnat Fieldwas built on.  Care to clear any of those up?

Rumors?  What kinda’ rumors, young man?

Well… that perhaps the site was selected for a reason.  Or that the problems the franchise has had winning in the post-season have something to do with that wall you discovered when you were digging up the parking lot.

I don’t know anything about it.  You should probably talk to Larry (Gnats owner Larry Ellison).

So you didn’t involve yourself in organizational matters like that?

He… (Giesey stops, almost before he starts, and stands up)  Believe the interviewee has run out of time, young man.  Nice to meet you.

With that, Dean Giesey shuffles into his house and firmly closes the door behind him.  I’m left on the porch with a head full of questions and a general confusion about how to get back to Obadiah.  Packing my things, I wonder back down the game trail, only to find my previously departed guide waiting for me, chewing on what looks to be a piece of coconut straw.

“You finiss wis Mister Dean?” He asks me in a heavily accented voice.

“For now,” I respond.  Obadiah grabs my bag and tosses it in to the Jeep. The two of us set off again for town. I leave with more questions than when I arrived.