Ty’s the hitting image of Joey
August 27th, 2010
By dreardon
By dreardon
First baseman Ty DeSa — who keyed Waipio’s 12-5 win today and has been a leader throughout his team’s run at the Little League World Series — comes from one of Hawaii’s most accomplished baseball families. His relatives include two former Major Leaguers, John “Gido” Matias and Joey DeSa. Another relative, John Roy Matias III, was an outstanding hitter at the University of Hawaii.
Ty bears a striking resemblance to Joey, who was also a sweet-swinging and fielding left-handed first baseman.
Posted in Uncategorized | 9 Comments »
Quick Reads
August 27th, 2010 at 10:39 am
Here is a comprehensive story about Joey DeSa, who was one of Hawaii’s greatest baseball players. The second cousin of Waipio first baseman Ty DeSa died in his prime in a car accident in Puerto Rico.
http://bioproj.sabr.org/bioproj.cfm?a=v&v=l&bid=2041&pid=3514
August 27th, 2010 at 12:27 pm
He’s a great young man from a solid family too.
August 27th, 2010 at 12:47 pm
Congrats to all those Amazing kids!!! Geeve em!!!!!!!!
August 27th, 2010 at 1:45 pm
From the above link that DR provided I read the story of Joey Desa. The author of that article writes a biographical sketch of Joey’s life and baseball playing days. I read the article like I was watching a movie for the first time and rooting for the good guy even though I knew there was tragedy at the end. It was somewhere in the middle of the article that my heart skipped a beat. It was somewhere during the ending of the article I shed a tear of joy.
(Copied from the article)
DeSa met his wife, Margarita Abreu, there. Joe’s sister Jorene remembers, “He met her at the ballpark. He’d seen her in the stands, and they started going out. He told her to come visit when he was back playing in the States. Then he brought her home to Hawaii to meet us.” They were married on October 9, 1984.
That was the first twist in the article for me. And I continued silently reading along hoping there’s another twist in the article, like Joey fathering an offspring before his fatal car crash.
And there was. About a year before Joey’s fatal crash in 1985.
(Copied from the article)
John Matias remembered, though, how his nephew said that fall, “I do not want to play winter ball.”11 Perhaps he was tired, perhaps he simply wanted to stay home with his wife and one-year-old Joey IV, but those with a superstitious bent might say he had a premonition.
Life is full of twists and turns, unfortunately.It made me happy, though, that Joey played the game he loved so much professionally, endured a few seasons in Puerto Rico, married a baseball fan and had a son to pass on his legacy on to. I remember Joey playing baseball. To me his swing, set up, follow through and the way he cocked his wrist and moved his bat mimicked the way Barry Bonds swings. I may be wrong, but that’s what I rememeber… I have no idea how the young Ty Desa swings or carries himself on the field but it must be good.
August 27th, 2010 at 2:45 pm
It is a very well-researched and well-written story. I was going to write one about Joey DeSa, but I think Mr. Costello covered all the bases, and very eloquently.
August 27th, 2010 at 4:19 pm
Joey DeSa — Borriqua Diamond legend. Los Hawaiianos.
One of Hawaii’s greatest baseball products….ever.
BIK
August 27th, 2010 at 6:34 pm
Talked to Brian Yoshii about an hour ago.
He said coach Kiha Akau called the steal by Ty DeSa that helped turn the game around.
Yoshii also wanted to credit DeSa with convincing him to use his one manager’s replay appeal for the game. DeSa was originally ruled out, but replay evidence was conclusive enough to overturn the call.
Yoshii said he hasn’t decided on a starting pitcher for Texas tomorrow in the U.S. championship, but seems to be leaning to lefty Ezra Heleski against Texas, which has a lineup dominated by lefties.
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