Cody Ross Wanted to be a Rodeo Clown, Settled for Playing Professional Baseball

The playoffs is the time when more fans pay attention and players’ reputations are made. Swing it like a stud and you’ll be honored with a legendary nickname such as “Mr. October.” Flop and they’ll call you “A-Fraud” or “Mr. May.” Stand out with superior play and fans everywhere will recognize you for your accomplishments. Giants outfielder Cody Ross has done just that, going from part-time player to post-season super hero.

Ross has carried the Giants in the playoffs, hitting four home runs and driving in eight runs, doubling the next highest total of his teammates. He has four of their six home runs and is OPSing 1.189 while his next highest teammate is Pat Burrell at .737. Ross drove in two of San Francisco’s three runs in the series-clinching Game 4 against the Braves. He took Roy Halladay deep twice in Game 1 of the NLCS, a 4-3 win. His home run off Roy Oswalt provided the lone run for the team in a loss the next night. Ross also hit a double in three straight games to end the Philadelphia series. He has gotten hot, carried his team, and endeared himself to an entire fanbase. Oh yeah, and he’s not even fulfilling his childhood dream!

“When I was younger that’s all I wanted to do, be a rodeo clown. I guess I thought that riding the bull was too dangerous,” Ross said. “Actually being a rodeo clown is probably a little more dangerous than that. You have to protect the guy from getting stepped on and run over. I just liked the way they were, maybe it was the mentality they had, no fear. That was probably the reason I was so drawn to them.”

That’s the sort of thing that happens when your father is a cowboy who enjoys roping and wrestling steers. Good thing Ross dedicated himself to baseball because he sure is good at it. Now we know what he’ll be doing in retirement.