California Dreams

As Kirk Gibson stepped up to the plate in Game One of the 1988 World Series in what would become one of the most remembered moments in MLB history, seven-year-old Paul McAnulty was watching in awe of the moment 60 miles away from Dodger Stadium.

As Gibson's sweet swing knocked the ball over the right field wall that night in Los Angeles, and as he rounded second base giving the now legendary fist pumps jogging around the bag; McAnulty witnessed baseball history for the first time. 
"I don't believe what I just saw!" Jack Buck enthusiastically shouted into his microphone.
Neither did the seven-year-old watching from home.
Now an Assistant Coach with the South Bend Cubs, McAnulty had no idea that watching history that night would eventually lead to him having his own moment in Gibson's footsteps.
The road to the show started for the California kid as a 12th round pick by the San Diego Padres in the 2002 MLB Draft. Out of California State Long Beach, also known as Long Beach State University, McAnulty was ready to take upon the challenge of playing pro baseball. 
With the opportunity with a team from his home state, the powerful left handed hitter was ready to go to work. Starting as a 21-year-old in the Padres system, he hit at least .270 in each of his first three seasons in the minor leagues spent between rookie ball, Single-A, Double-A, Triple-A, McAnulty continued to impress many in San Diego's Front Office. 
"For me I just needed to worry about where my feet were each day," McAnulty said. "If I was in Triple-A, I had to conquer that day to the best of my ability. If I was playing in the big leagues, then I conquer that opportunity. That is the way I approached everyday no matter what level I was at."
With his calm and professional approach, he earned his first MLB call up in the 2005 season. 
In the middle of the summer, he joined a San Diego squad loaded with veterans that included Ryan Klesko, Brian Giles, Trevor Hoffman, and South Bend Cubs pitching coach Brian Lawrence. 
"For a guy like me to be up there with guys like them, it was incredible," McAnulty said. "All I was worried about was how I could help the team win. That all started from my daily routine and to be prepared for every pitch."
On June 22, 2005, McAnulty fulfilled his childhood dream and debuted in the MLB for the Padres. On June 24 versus the Seattle Mariners, he picked up his first Major League hit. 
"So many great things happened that day," McAnulty said. "For me it was special because my parents made the drive to come watch me play."
Even with all the excitement of game and hit number one in the books, what he did six days later changed everything.
June 28, 2005. It was the battle of Southern California. Padres, Dodgers. Dodger Stadium. 
On the hot Tuesday night in LA, McAnulty walked onto the Dodger Stadium field for the first time as a pro baseball player. He was not scheduled to start in Manager Bruce Bochy's lineup. 
But like any bench player does, he stayed loose. The lefty was ready to roll at anytime called upon. The 9th inning arrived, and Bochy gave him the look.
Go time. 
In the top of the 9th inning, McAnulty threw on his batting gloves and put some fresh pine-tar on his bat. He stepped up against right hander Duaner Sanchez. With Mark Sweeney on 1st base for the Padres, McAnulty took a strike.
0-1.
Hopping back in the box, Sanchez worked quickly. Just like that, the lefty was down in the count. 
0-2. 
Choking up on the bat, and down two strikes, the 0-2 was on the way. McAnulty lined the pitch into left field. He made the turn at 1st base with his first ever hit in his hometown, where he used to watch his heroes play. 
On that hot day in Los Angeles in the top of the 9th inning, at the same exact spot that Gibson stood when he homered in Game One of the 1988 World Series, McAnulty's life was changed forever. 
The young boy's big California dreams had become reality.
McAnulty enjoyed an MLB career that spanned for five seasons. After spending his final few games in the Big Leagues with the Angels in 2010, he played two more Triple-A seasons in the Angels system. 
After retiring, he knew he wanted to stay in baseball. The 31-year-old at the time had played for numerous managers who potentially are future hall-of-famers . Bruce Bochy, Bud Black, and Mike Scioscia all mentored and taught him as a Major Leaguer. 
According to McAnulty, when any former player turns to coaching, they take a piece from every coach they've learned from and put it into their own philosophy. After coaching in the Midwest League with the Burlington Bees in 2014, he has landed in the Chicago Cubs organization. His goal is to find the best type of coaching to help each particular player reach their highest potential.
"I want to help each individual player get them in a spot where they can be successful and confident," McAnulty said. "You try and help these players become as well rounded as possible. As a player, you have to find something that separates you from the other 14 guys that are sitting behind you." 
As a player, McAnulty found what separated him from the pack. Now, it is his job to teach that same lesson to each young man that passes through his office at Four Winds Field.