Batting Stance Guy
 | This article's tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia. (December 2020) |
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.[1]
Personal life
Ryness grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and graduated from Monte Vista High School in Danville in 1991.[2] 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.
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.[3] 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.[4]
TV appearances and radio broadcasts
- May 23, 2008: First blog mention on BallHype.com: Q&A with the Batting Stance Guy
- May 2008: 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"
- August 2008: Brewers Live (FSN North WI): BSG on Brewers Live
- August 2008: Twins Live (FSN North MN): BSG on Twins Live
- September 10, 2008: Padres Pregame Show (Cox Media SD): BSG on Padres Pregame show
- September 2008: Angels Live (FSN West): BSG on Angels Live
- September 2008: Dodgers Live (FSN Prime Ticket): BSG on Dodgers Live
- November 2008: Sony Entertainment records his stance imitations for MLB 2009: The Show
- April 15, 2009: ESPN's E:60: "Art of the Stance"[permanent dead link]
- May 6, 2009: The Associated Press: "BSG and Manny Ramirez"
- May 19, 2009: The Associated Press: "Rise of the BSG"
- June 17, 2009: ESPN's Baseball Tonight BSG on Baseball tonight
- July 13, 2009: CBS's Late Show with David Letterman: Second guest segment
References
- ^ Greg Hanlon, "Meet Gar Ryness: Batting Stance Guy" in the New York Times, 15 March 2009.
- ^ "Carl Steward 'In Our Backyard': Batting Stance Guy becomes baseball sensation". San Jose Mercury. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
- ^ Cameron Smith, "Moment of Levity: Batting Stance Guy" in the Washington Post, 21 October 2008.
- ^ Rise of the BSG "The Rise of the Batting Stance Guy" from the Associated Press, 19 May 2009.