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{{Short description|American sports entertainer}}
{{Tone|date=December 2020}}
[[File:Batting Stance Guy 2011.jpg|thumb|Ryness demonstrating [[Michael Morse (baseball)|Michael Morse]]'s batting stance in 2011.]]
[[File:Batting Stance Guy 2011.jpg|thumb|Ryness demonstrating [[Michael Morse (baseball)|Michael Morse]]'s batting stance in 2011.]]
'''Gar Ryness''', better known as the '''Batting Stance Guy''', is an American sports entertainer and [[YouTube]] phenomenon. He is known for his ability to perform spot-on impressions of the batting stances of Major League Baseball players. He can mimic the batting stances of the starting line-ups of all 30 [[MLB]] teams with alarming accuracy.<ref name="nyt">Greg Hanlon, [https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/15/sports/baseball/15stance.html "Meet Gar Ryness: Batting Stance Guy"] in the ''New York Times,'' 15 March 2009.</ref>
'''Gar Ryness''', also known by his stage name '''Batting Stance Guy''', is an American sports entertainer and [[YouTube]] personality. Ryness mimics the batting stances of [[Major League Baseball]] players, both active and retired.

Ryness, a baseball fan, began practicing his talent at seven years old while playing [[wiffle ball]] in his backyard.<ref>{{cite news|first=Cameron |last=Smith |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/baseball-insider/2008/10/moment_of_levity_batting_stanc.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616060031/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/baseball-insider/2008/10/moment_of_levity_batting_stanc.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 16, 2012 |title=Moment of Levity: Batting Stance Guy |work=The Washington Post |date=21 October 2008}}</ref> Ryness claims that he only has to watch a hitter a few times before he can imitate their stance.<ref name=NYT2009 /><ref name=DenverPost2009 /> He picks up on the intricacies of each stance and exaggerates them so that people notice and recognize them.<ref name="ap" /> Despite having what Ryness jokingly refers to as the "least marketable skill in the United States,"<ref name=NYT2009>{{cite news|title=CHEERING SECTION: Meet Gar Ryness, the Batting Stance Guy |work= The New York Times |first=Greg |last=Hanlon|date=March 14, 2009|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/15/sports/baseball/15stance.html}}</ref><ref name=DenverPost2009>{{cite news|title='The Batting Stance Guy' to visit Coors Field|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2009/07/23/the-batting-stance-guy-to-visit-coors-field/|work=The Denver Post|first=BENJAMIN |last=HOCHMAN | date=July 23, 2009}}</ref> he said he loves traveling around the country and bringing nostalgia to the fans and players.<ref name="ap">{{cite video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiVNzh9zNAM |title=The Rise of the Batting Stance Guy |work=[[Associated Press]]|via=YouTube|date=19 May 2009|first=Jim |last=Militello}}</ref>


== Personal life ==
== Personal life ==
Ryness grew up in the [[San Francisco Bay Area]]<ref name=NYT2009 /> and graduated from [[Monte Vista High School (Danville, California)|Monte Vista High School]] in [[Danville, California|Danville]] in 1991.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/columns/ci_15241622|title=Carl Steward 'In Our Backyard': Batting Stance Guy becomes baseball sensation|website=[[San Jose Mercury]]|accessdate=March 11, 2015}}</ref> He is a graduate of [[Syracuse University]].


Ryness grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and graduated from [[Monte Vista High School (Danville, California)|Monte Vista High School]] in [[Danville, California|Danville]] in 1991.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/columns/ci_15241622|title=Carl Steward 'In Our Backyard': Batting Stance Guy becomes baseball sensation|website=[[San Jose Mercury]]|accessdate=March 11, 2015}}</ref> As of 2009, he was 35 years old and married with two children. Before landing a deal with Fox Sports Net, he worked for a nonprofit Christian organization as a spiritual advisor to professionals in the entertainment industry. He is a graduate of [[Syracuse University]].
Before landing a deal with [[Fox Sports Networks|Fox Sports Net]], he worked for a nonprofit Christian organization as a spiritual advisor to professionals in the entertainment industry.<ref name=NYT2009 /><ref name="ap" /> He has since made a career in the finance and pharmaceutical industries.{{cn|date=June 2024}}


He is married with two children.<ref name="ap" />
Ryness stated that he first realized his talent at age 7 when he was playing wiffle ball in his backyard. He said he never stopped imitating the pros and simply loves baseball.<ref>Cameron Smith, [http://voices.washingtonpost.com/baseball-insider/2008/10/moment_of_levity_batting_stanc.html "Moment of Levity: Batting Stance Guy"] in the ''Washington Post,'' 21 October 2008.</ref> Ryness claims that he only has to watch a hitter a few times before he can perfectly imitate their stance: He picks up the tiniest details and exaggerates them so that people notice them more. He said he loves traveling around the country and bringing nostalgia to the fans and players.<ref name="ap">[http://www.battingstanceguy.com/2009/05/19/more-bsg-from-the-ap Rise of the BSG "The Rise of the Batting Stance Guy"] from the ''Associated Press,'' 19 May 2009.</ref>


==TV appearances and radio broadcasts==
==TV appearances and radio broadcasts==

* '''May 23, 2008:''' First blog mention on ''BallHype.com'': [http://ballhype.com/story/step_up_to_the_plate_q_a_with_batting_stance_guy/ Q&A with the Batting Stance Guy]
* '''May 23, 2008:''' First blog mention on ''BallHype.com'': [http://ballhype.com/story/step_up_to_the_plate_q_a_with_batting_stance_guy/ Q&A with the Batting Stance Guy]
* '''May 2008:''' Dan Patrick mentions BSG and his "unmarketable" skill on his Sirius XM radio show
* '''May 2008:''' [[Dan Patrick (sportscaster)|Dan Patrick]] mentions BSG and his "unmarketable" skill on his Sirius XM radio show
* '''June 2008:''' Bill Simmons of ''ESPN.com'' gives BSG the honor of "YouTube Star of the Week"
* '''June 2008:''' [[Bill Simmons]] of ''ESPN.com'' gives BSG the honor of "YouTube Star of the Week"<ref name=NYT2009 />
* '''August 2008:''' ''Brewers Live'' (FSN North WI): [http://www.battingstanceguy.com/2008/09/29/the-brewers-bsg BSG on Brewers Live]
* '''August 2008:''' ''Brewers Live'' (FSN North WI): [http://www.battingstanceguy.com/2008/09/29/the-brewers-bsg BSG on Brewers Live]
* '''August 2008:''' ''Twins Live'' (FSN North MN): [http://www.battingstanceguy.com/2008/09/25/bsg-goes-to-minnesota BSG on Twins Live]
* '''August 2008:''' ''Twins Live'' (FSN North MN): [http://www.battingstanceguy.com/2008/09/25/bsg-goes-to-minnesota BSG on Twins Live]
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* '''September 2008:''' ''Dodgers Live'' (FSN Prime Ticket): [http://www.battingstanceguy.com/2008/09/13/dodgers-fsn-live-appearance BSG on Dodgers Live]
* '''September 2008:''' ''Dodgers Live'' (FSN Prime Ticket): [http://www.battingstanceguy.com/2008/09/13/dodgers-fsn-live-appearance BSG on Dodgers Live]
* '''November 2008:''' Sony Entertainment records his stance imitations for ''MLB 2009: The Show''
* '''November 2008:''' Sony Entertainment records his stance imitations for ''MLB 2009: The Show''
* '''April 15, 2009:''' ESPN's ''E:60:'' [http://www.battingstanceguy.com/2009/04/15/e60-art-of-the-stance "Art of the Stance"]
* '''April 15, 2009:''' ESPN's ''E:60:'' [http://www.battingstanceguy.com/2009/04/15/e60-art-of-the-stance "Art of the Stance"]{{Dead link|date=October 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* '''May 6, 2009:''' The ''Associated Press:'' [http://www.battingstanceguy.com/2009/05/06/bsg-and-manny-ramirez "BSG and Manny Ramirez"]
* '''May 6, 2009:''' The ''Associated Press:'' [https://web.archive.org/web/20090714183816/http://www.battingstanceguy.com/2009/05/06/bsg-and-manny-ramirez "BSG and Manny Ramirez"]
* '''May 19, 2009:''' The ''Associated Press:'' [http://www.battingstanceguy.com/2009/05/19/more-bsg-from-the-ap "Rise of the BSG"]
* '''May 19, 2009:''' The ''Associated Press:'' [http://www.battingstanceguy.com/2009/05/19/more-bsg-from-the-ap "Rise of the BSG"]
* '''June 17, 2009:''' ESPN's ''Baseball Tonight'' [http://www.battingstanceguy.com/2009/06/17/bsg-on-baseball-tonight: BSG on Baseball tonight]
* '''June 17, 2009:''' ESPN's ''Baseball Tonight'' [http://www.battingstanceguy.com/2009/06/17/bsg-on-baseball-tonight: BSG on Baseball tonight]
* '''July 13, 2009:''' CBS's ''[[Late Show with David Letterman]]:'' [http://lateshow.cbs.com/latenight/lateshow/video_player/index/php/992275.phtml Second guest segment]
* '''July 13, 2009:''' CBS's ''[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3gKbJNB03o Late Show with David Letterman]''

== Books and publications ==
On April 30, 2010, Ryness, in collaboration with Caleb Dewart, released the book ''Batting Stance Guy: A Love Letter to Baseball''. The book was published by [[Scribner (publisher)|Scribner]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ryness |first=Gar |url=https://www.amazon.com/Batting-Stance-Guy-Letter-Baseball-ebook/dp/B003IYI6WE?ref_=ast_author_dp |title=Batting Stance Guy: A Love Letter to Baseball |last2=Dewart |first2=Caleb |date= |publisher=Scribner |year=2010 |edition=1st |language=English}}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{twitter|BattingStanceG}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.battingstanceguy.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190910235315/http://www.battingstanceguy.com/|archive-date=Sep 10, 2019|work=BattingStanceGuy.com|title=BattingStanceGuy}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Batting Stance Guy}}
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[[Category:1973 births]]
[[Category:1973 births]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball on television]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball on television]]
[[Category:Monte Vista High School (Danville, California) alumni]]
[[Category:Syracuse University alumni]]
[[Category:Baseball people from California]]

Latest revision as of 19:27, 26 October 2024

Ryness demonstrating Michael Morse's batting stance in 2011.

Gar Ryness, also known by his stage name Batting Stance Guy, is an American sports entertainer and YouTube personality. Ryness mimics the batting stances of Major League Baseball players, both active and retired.

Ryness, a baseball fan, began practicing his talent at seven years old while playing wiffle ball in his backyard.[1] Ryness claims that he only has to watch a hitter a few times before he can imitate their stance.[2][3] He picks up on the intricacies of each stance and exaggerates them so that people notice and recognize them.[4] Despite having what Ryness jokingly refers to as the "least marketable skill in the United States,"[2][3] he said he loves traveling around the country and bringing nostalgia to the fans and players.[4]

Personal life

[edit]

Ryness grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area[2] and graduated from Monte Vista High School in Danville in 1991.[5] He is a graduate of Syracuse University.

Before landing a deal with Fox Sports Net, he worked for a nonprofit Christian organization as a spiritual advisor to professionals in the entertainment industry.[2][4] He has since made a career in the finance and pharmaceutical industries.[citation needed]

He is married with two children.[4]

TV appearances and radio broadcasts

[edit]

Books and publications

[edit]

On April 30, 2010, Ryness, in collaboration with Caleb Dewart, released the book Batting Stance Guy: A Love Letter to Baseball. The book was published by Scribner.[6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Smith, Cameron (21 October 2008). "Moment of Levity: Batting Stance Guy". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on June 16, 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d e Hanlon, Greg (March 14, 2009). "CHEERING SECTION: Meet Gar Ryness, the Batting Stance Guy". The New York Times.
  3. ^ a b HOCHMAN, BENJAMIN (July 23, 2009). "'The Batting Stance Guy' to visit Coors Field". The Denver Post.
  4. ^ a b c d Militello, Jim (19 May 2009). The Rise of the Batting Stance Guy. Associated Press – via YouTube.
  5. ^ "Carl Steward 'In Our Backyard': Batting Stance Guy becomes baseball sensation". San Jose Mercury. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  6. ^ Ryness, Gar; Dewart, Caleb (2010). Batting Stance Guy: A Love Letter to Baseball (1st ed.). Scribner.
[edit]
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