Freshly drafted by the Oakland Athletics, 21-year-old Barry Zito purchased his very first guitar.
Traveling on the minor league circuit, Zito toted around his Ovation Celebrity instrument, learning to play and fine tuning chords in various hotel rooms.
His guitar, which had a plastic curved back, would slip off Zito’s lap if he played it without a strap but it still “sounded incredible when plugged in.”
A career in music lingered in the back of Zito’s mind after he made that purchase. After a baseball career that spanned 15 seasons in the major leagues, the former A’s and San Francisco Giants pitcher is fulfilling his musical passion.