Oakland Athletic players wore patches in remembrance of Pat Neshek’s son for Saturday nights American League Divisional Series game against the Detroit Tigers. Neshek’s son, Gherig suddenly passed away last week 24 hours after he was born.
Worn on the right sleeve, it’s a small black circle with white letters spelling out the initials “GJN.”
“I broke down,” Neshek said of the honorary patch, “the second they told me they were going to do that.”
The Tigers would win the game 3-1 but Neshek made an appearance in the seventh inning pitching two outs.
Neshek described the situation as tough and that he “was thinking about him [Gherig] the whole time.”
He retired the only two batters he faced, ran off the mound, patting the arm patch in honor of his son, pointing toward the heavens, and frantically scanning the stands looking for his wife,Stephanee.
“I was hoping we’d win this game, but it will be a game I’ll remember forever. It was the right choice, it definitely was, being here.”
Neshek did not know if he would play again this season after his wife notified him that “The baby stopped breathing,” during the Athletics season finale against Texas.
Neshek appeared in 24 games during the regular season and posted a 1.37 ERA out of the bullpen.
Photo Credit: Pat Neshek – Getty Images
Video Credit: MLB.com
