Baseball community flocks to Chico for Bruce Bochy, Amy G at Chico American Legion fundraiser

CHICO — The importance of Bruce Bochy to the Giants organization and its fans was evident Friday night when the Chico American Legion baseball organization hosted its 23rd annual Spring Fever fundraising dinner held at the Chico Elk’s Lodge.

Bochy was the guest speaker at the event, alongside former NBC Sports sideline reporter and current Giants multimedia producer and reporter Amy Gutierrez — better known as Amy G.

Gutierrez, a native of Petaluma and UC Davis graduate, is now somewhat of a Spring Fever veteran. Gutierrez made her fourth appearance Friday, and had several of her books she wrote that were autographed available in the silent auction. Bochy also made a significant contribution to the silent auction. He signed a custom Giants’ cornhole board, that after just three bids had reached $500.

Bochy and Gutierrez were greeted by an anxious group of Giants fans, who began lining up for autographs just as the doors opened at 5 p.m. for signings beginning at 5:30 p.m. Gutierrez flashed her 2014 Giants’ championship ring to fans, letting one even try it on for a photo, while Bochy signed an abundance of items from balls, jerseys, bats, photos, to suspenders and even a belt buckle made from the cover of a baseball.

“I got a lot stuff thrown at me but it was good stuff. Just a lot of fun,” Bochy said. “A lot of old pictures that remind me just how fast these years have gone by. People were great though, it was great talking to them.”

Each year the event hosts a different speaker, often from the Giants organization. Will Clark spoke in 2019, former Giants’ manager Dusty Baker made an appearance, pitchers Ryan Vogelsong and Jeremy Affeldt have made appearances, as well as former Giants’ infielders JT Snow and Rich Aurilia. Bochy was scheduled to speak in 2020, but when he decided to manage the French national team in the World Baseball Classic he had to delay his appearance.

“It’s been years in the making,” Bochy said. “I’ve heard about it from Amy G here and I’ve been wanting to come up here. Fortunately baseball it got in the way a little bit. I know Dusty’s been up here, Tim Flannery, Vogelsong and Will Clark and I’ve heard nothing but great things. The people up here they’re such big fans of the Giants and we appreciate them. I’m excited to be here, I’ve had a little bit of time off, so I couldn’t wait to get up here and check out Chico and the event here.”

In his speech to the crowd, Gutierrez and Bochy began with some ice-breaker-type questions. Bochy told the crowd if he had to pick an actor to play him it would be Tom Selleck, describing his younger years when he flaunted a mustache around the dugout. Bochy said his walkup song would be something by Waylon Jennings, that he prefers a nice bourbon over beer or wine, and that something he is better at as a grandpa than he was as a dad is patience.

Bochy mentioned prior to his speech that he hoped to bring up patience in his speech with young coaches, as he said that is something he has learned most since the start of his career. Bochy mentioned learning even from his own players, specifically referencing former Giants’ third baseman Pablo Sandoval.

“It can be a tough game. If you’re putting more added pressure on the players that extra pressure and fear of failure on these young kids it makes it even that much more difficult,” Bochy said. “I experienced it as a young kid and playing in the major leagues. You got to have fun, you got to enjoy playing it and I learned from guys.”

In one of the final opening questions Bochy said if he wasn’t a baseball player and manager in his career he would have been a firefighter — describing that they work as a team, have a strong purpose and work together, similar to that of a ballplayer.

After the opening questions, Gutierrez and Bochy went through Bochy’s and the fan’s most memorable times in the last 12 years — the 2010, 2012 and 2014 World Series victories. Bochy called moving to San Francisco the best move of his career.

Bochy then talked about drafting Buster Posey and knowing that he would solidify a strong Giants’ pitching staff. Bochy described the weirdness and joy of the 2010 team with players like Brian Wilson, having players in 2012 like Hunter Pence — or “full throttle” as the team the referred to him as — who brought a level of leadership and consistent effort to the team, and how the 2014 team rallied around pitcher Tim Hudson to win the then-39- year old his first World Series.

Gutierrez reminded kids to run to first base like Pence did every time.

Another player Bochy did not forget to was former Giants’ infielder Marco Scutaro, who he said was an unexpected hitter in the 2012 for San Francisco. Scutaro had a .362 batting average in 61 at bats in 2012 and played all over the infield on defense. The story on Scutaro is one that stook out to former Chico Nuts catcher Troy Moench.

“I loved watching him play and it was cool to hear (Bochy) talk about those stories and relay those messages,” Moench said. “He just played the game hard. It was cool to look up to that because that’s ultimately what you want to be — that kind of player who tries your hardest to do the best you can and lays everything out there and takes pride in it.”

Mr. American Legion

Royal Courtain returned to Chico to host the event, a tradition he flies in from South Carolina to return to his hometown of Chico each year for.

Courtain presented the former Chico Nut, Orovillle Tiger and now Butte College baseball player Moench with the Bob Bush Mr. American Legion Award. Courtain described the award to Bochy as similar to the Willie Mac Award for being the best teammate on and off the field.

Moench gave a speech thanking his teammates, coaches and parents for their support and following him around. He was sure to mention the financial support he got from his parents, something Gutierrez praised him for following Moench’s speech.

“Stay dedicated and it will work out,” Moench said. “Without these people in my life this is all a near fantasy.”

Chico Nuts coach Brian Thomas coached Moench for one season with the Nuts, as well as one season while Moench redshirted at Butte College. Thomas was the lead assistant coach and pitching coach with the Roadrunners.

At Butte, Moench would offer to stay late and catch bullpens or take swings for pitchers before or after practice despite redshirting.

“Now he’s playing and he got to wear the jersey with those same characteristics,” Thomas said about Moench’s time with the Nuts. “When he finally got to play, all those values continued to really shine.”

Thomas continued to explain that Moench’s Nuts teammates quickly noticed the leadership and work ethic he carried himself with and he became a big piece to the puzzle in the organization.

“I remember kids saying this is going to me Mr. American Legion a month into the summer just because of the way he goes about his business, who he is as a person, and then of course he’s talented too,” Thomas said. “There’s no one more deserving. Baseball’s so hard, and for him to have those positive things happen he deserves it because he works hard.”