As J.T. Wise accepted the Johnny Bench Award as the nation’s best collegiate catcher in 2009, his hair was planted to his forehead, the bottom button of his suit was in the top button hole and he may have stuttered.
“I was just all messed up and nervous. I had no idea what was going on. I don’t remember the speech,” Wise said.
The award is presented by the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission to NCAA Division 1 catchers.
But Wise is not the first member of his family to win a baseball award. His great uncle is Bobby Richardson, former New York Yankees second baseman who was the 1960 World Series MVP, an all-star eight times and winner of five Gold Glove Awards. He won three World Series championships (1958, 1961, 1962) and is the only World Series MVP from a losing team (1960).
“Yankees legend Bobby Richardson as a great uncle, it’s cool to say it,” said Wise, whose parents, Sonny Wise and Mary Sue Richardson Wise, filled him in on his great uncle’s accomplishments.
Like his great uncle, J.T. Wise is an all-star. Playing for Chattanooga, he was named to the Southern League All-Star team in 2012. He was a free agent in 2016 after playing for the Round Rock Express in 2015. The Express is the Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers in the Pacific Coast League.
J.T. Wise, 30, has a family-grounded faith. He was baptized at First Baptist Church, Apopka, Florida.
Raised in Christian home
“My mom led me to the Lord. My mom is very religious and she is firm in that. That is how she and my dad brought me up. They raised me to do the right thing. I pray and thank God for everything. I was involved from the get-go.”
His faith has remained solid in times of loss. In his senior year of high school, his best friend, Adam Stratton, died in a motor vehicle accident in May 2005.
In July 2013 his aunt, Doris Goodner, died following complications from surgery. “She was one of my closest ones,” he said. His uncle, Olen Richardson, died a year and a half before.
“Family members left too early. Of course, there is always a reason for it. You don’t know why but there is. Things make you realize that you can’t take what you have on this earth for granted because it can be gone. It can happen very quickly. You put your faith in Him, you believe in Him and trust Him. Sometimes it is hard to go through life scared.”
Role models in life
J.T. Wise’s favorite player has been Chipper Jones.
“He grew up 45 minutes from me. He was the hometown guy. I love the Atlanta Braves,” he said. From DeLand, Florida, Jones played 19 years for the Atlanta Braves as third baseman and left fielder.
“My parents, [Jones] and the Lord,” are his role models, J.T. Wise said. “You always have to have Him.”
Both his mother and his wife, Marisa Findlay, of Henderson, Nevada, whom he married in 2013, have told him that he has been blessed with common sense.
“I kind of pick up on things before something happens,” he said. “You trust yourself and continue to do things that have helped you succeed. Never be scared to try something new if things aren’t working.
“This game is tough. It’s hard. You sacrifice a lot: family, friends. … The experience is definitely worth it.”
He keeps the first Bible given to him in his truck and his mother continues to send him Bible verses.
J.T. Wise finds new truths and answers each day he reads the Bible. “Just like in baseball, you go out and have three bad games and it’s like, ‘What do I do?’” he said.
“You are trying to do the best you can and nothing is working out for you. Then the next week, you can’t get out. Those are things that keep reminding you that He is there. He is not going to let you do bad. He is just humbling you,” he said, noting he and Marisa Wise read the Bible together.
“Once we have a family, I want to incorporate that with them in their lives because I feel like that has a big impact on a young kid’s life.”
At this time in his life and career, J.T. Wise wants to help people around him and “try to stay positive when they are having tough times.”
“I am an older guy on the team. I have most likely experienced it. I try to share my experience with them and let them know that this part of the game — take it with a grain of salt and keep going. I stay humble and try to do the right things. That is one of the main things, do the right thing and give Him the praise when you need to.”
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