FRONT
NINE THE
PAUL GOLDSCHMIDT ‘Goldy’ Rule The Diamondbacks
All-Star first baseman stays humble when it comes to golf
BY JOHN DAVIS T
here was little fanfare when the Arizona Diamondbacks selected Paul Goldschmidt in the eighth round of the
2009 Major League Baseball draft. After all, no position player
from Texas State University had ever played in the major leagues and there was nothing flashy about his playing style that might have stamped him as a bonus baby. But, as it has turned out,
“Goldy” is a natural, who has finished second twice in Most Valuable Player voting. In some circles, he is considered the best all-around first baseman in the major leagues. He has a career .299 batting average with 140 home runs and 507 RBIs in six seasons, is a formidable base stealer and fields his position with the best of them. He was called up to the majors on Aug. 1, 2011, and, since
then, has won two Gold Gloves and two Silver Slugger Awards, the National League Defensive Player of the Year Award and the Hank Aaron Award, given to the top hitter in each league. Last year, he was named an All-Star for the fourth consecutive season, matching a team record set by Randy Johnson. Off the field, Goldschmidt has a reputation for humility, is
a devout Christian and supports charities at every opportunity, including Goldy’s Fund 4 Kids, a foundation he and his wife, Amy, established to help kids at Phoenix Children’s Hospital, where they had become familiar figures as volunteers. The Goldschmidts met in college, which Amy attended
22 | AZ GOLF Insider | SPRING 2017 Paul Goldschmidt
on a golf scholarship. While she rules the golf roost, Paul also loves to tee it up when his schedule allows. During a recent Diamondbacks Veterans Day golf event
to support military families, “Goldy” talked to AZGolf Insider about his “other” game, his devotion to charity work and, of course, baseball:
1 How would you describe your golf game? I’m a casual golfer. I just have fun out here. We need
to compete so hard in baseball that I try to get away
from that when I play golf and make it more of a fun time. My short game is probably better than the rest of it simply because I can keep it more under control. I hit it pretty decent off the tee but I don’t necessarily hit it where I want it to go. I think I’d rather hit the long ball on the baseball field.
www.azgolf.org
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
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