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Brian Barton thinks outside of the batters’ box. One of the game’s most cerebral players, Barton has a passion for knowledge and culture that stretches far beyond the clubhouse in Busch Stadium. A 26-year-old native of Los Angeles who studied aerospace engineering at the University of Miami, Barton was acquired by the Cardinals prior to last season in the Rule 5 draft. Originally signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Indians in 2004, the right-handed-hitting outfielder appeared in 82 games for the Cardinals, hitting .268/.354/.392 with a pair of home runs. Barton talked about his never-ending quest for knowledge, and his love of travel, after a spring training game in Lakeland, and before his recent demotion to the minor leagues.


David Laurila:
How would you describe Brian Barton?


Brian Barton:
I’m a person who tries hard to think outside the box. I’m really big on imagination in the sense of getting out of the traditional way of thinking. I want to expand myself, so I’m always searching for knowledge. I’m a knowledge-seeker and a thinker, I guess. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always had this quest for knowledge and have been interested in things, even things that kind of seem a little bit outside of the norm. Growing up, I wanted to be an astronaut, because I always had this interest in space. I’ve always wondered what is out there.


DL:
Baseball is a culture in and of itself. Do you ever sit in the clubhouse and try to analyze what is going on around you?


BB:
Around a baseball field, I’m very observant, so I like to watch a lot of people. I like to see how people interact with each other, and how they go about their business. There is definitely a lot of culture within the game of baseball. With that being said, it is amazing to see where different people come from, and how different people act, and it’s those different aspects that make the game itself amazing. You’ve got people from all different backgrounds playing a common game, and bringing so much to the game.


DL:
In previous generations, thinking outside the box wasn’t exactly accepted in baseball. Is that still the case?


BB:
I guess, in a sense, it does kind of happen. A lot of people just aren’t used to stretching their imagination. I’m not saying that I’m better than anybody else, but if you have people who have never been used to thinking outside the box, or just aren’t interested, then someone who does is going to maybe strike them as weird, or whatnot. I know a lot of the people I’m around may think that some of the things I consider normal, or not that big of a deal, are extraordinary. But I’ve been doing this sort of thing, or thinking this way, all of my life, so to me it is normal. To somebody else, it may not seem like it is.


DL:
When you were in Triple-A with the Indians, the pitching coach there was Scott Radinsky. He thinks outside the box.


BB:
I love Rad. He’s a great guy, really outgoing. I know that he’s interested in music and used to play in a band. I talked to him a few times, and he gave me advice about the game. I kind of get a sense that he’s not coaching just for the thrill of making money and stuff like that. He has a real passion to teach, which is one thing that really drew me toward him, because I feel that’s the way we should all be. We should kind of get away from the materialistic and self-centeredness of the game and actually start reaching out to the players. If we did, I feel that the game could go in a totally different direction from where it’s going now.


DL:
You like to travel. Do you think you look at travel differently than most of your teammates?


BB:
I definitely do. To me… I travel for the culture; I travel for what it is to learn about different people’s cultures and about different people in general. I like to learn about different ways of life. I know that a lot of people travel for the thrill and excitement, and for the tourist attractions. I think that what I get from traveling is deeper than that. I feel a connection, and I try to get a connection when I travel, and I think that is what makes it more rewarding. I think that’s why I have such an appreciation for it when I am there. And I think that when I talk about it with people, what they expect, and what they hear from me, might be two different things, because they expect me to describe it this way: ‘I did this or I did that.’ But what they actually hear, and they actually see the passion in my telling of the story, they realize that I got something even more out of it.


DL:
Can you give an example?


BB:
I was in Ethiopia, which was my first trip, and I guess that people assume that going to Africa, I’m probably going out there to safari and do touristy stuff and whatnot. But it was totally opposite, because for one, I didn’t safari. I interacted with the people. I was in the process of trying to learn the language even before I went, but the fact is that I was out there, and I saw from my own perspective, which was different from hearing other people’s perspectives, especially from people who had never been out there. It changed me as a person, because it made me realize that in order to really gauge something you have to experience it yourself. Experiencing it touched me. It changed my outlook on the world, period. People are people, regardless of where you live or whatnot. You should have an appreciation for those types of connections that you get when you’re interacting with others. That right there is something that people totally didn’t expect. They didn’t expect me to go somewhere to connect with others, more so than just having fun. Not that I didn’t have a great time, but for me it’s more than just having a great time and taking a few pictures.


DL:
How do you think the people in Ethiopia perceived you?


BB:
I think they perceived me in a good way, because the people I interacted with realized… they had an appreciation for the fact that I was interested. I was trying to speak to them and I was trying to learn their language. I was interested in learning about their culture, instead of just assuming and having these preconceptions of what they are and who they are. There was the fact that I felt comfortable enough to try to overlook our differences and learn.


DL:
From your observations, how differently is sport looked at in that part of the world?


BB:
In talking to people, I don’t think there was too much knowledge of baseball, but at the same time, they look at sports in America, at least from what I gathered, as an opportunity to seek success. They feel that, even outside of sports, that just coming from America I’m already in a better position. They see America as a place for opportunity, and sports is just another opportunity.


DL:
How much do you think the way people around the world view the United States changed with the recent election?


BB:
Being in Australia, and actually watching the election there, I saw the impact that it had. I saw the hope in other people’s eyes. There was a statistic that 72 percent of the people in Australia were in favor of Obama being president, which is probably about 20 percent higher than it was here in the States. So I know that it definitely had a great impact, because I was able to see the hope in people’s eyes. All over the world, I think it had the same effect.


DL:
Is there hope in your eyes?


BB:
There’s always hope in my eyes.

Thank you for reading

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BillJohnson
3/27
Thanks, that was a most enjoyable interview. I'm really looking forward to this guy being back in the Show.
Vilica
3/27
And I always thought Brian Barton was Daric Barton's older brother... guess not! Interesting interview.
asp1124
3/27
Kind of a watered down interview. Would love to read a more in depth follow up with him.
Cambridge
3/27
I agree. This was done after a spring training game and we had very little time; Brian was literally boarding the team bus as he spoke the last words of the interview. A more extensive Q&A with him in the future is a very good idea.

As always, feedback and suggestions for future Q&As are welcome.
xxdxpxx
3/27
Radinsky is in the band Pulley...which automatically makes him the best dude ever.
locke623
3/27
Loved reading this, David. Thanks for the interview.
drewsylvania
3/27
More pieces like this would be awesome, and would go a long way toward dispelling the stereotype that all black players have to be dumb.
dpbuckle
3/27
Kind of sad to think that the stereotype is still alive. Jackie Robinson, Reggie Jackson and many others should have dispelled that myth long ago.
Oleoay
3/27
Just to add a stereotype to racists, but would people who are closeminded enough to be a racist even come to a site like this?
jivas21
3/27
Wow. Just, wow. Great read, and while a more detailed follow-up would be appreciated, David, you did a fine job of getting him to open up given the limited circumstances surrounding the interview.

I will be pulling for Brian Barton to make the most of his baseball career, although I'm sure he'll be successful whatever he chooses to do when his playing days are over.
tmangell
3/27
As readers of the Viva El Birdos site know, "Crab Man" has a special place in the heart of the readership. He's a brilliant person, a hustling player that Cardinal fans love, and, if not for Rasmus, would be on the roster when Opening Day comes. I hope he stays in the game after his playing career is over, either in the Cardinals' front office or in MLB corporate offices.

Thanks, David, for the great interview. I'd totally welcome a longer piece later in the season, especially if Brian gets called back up to St. Louis.

This interview is why a BP subscription is worth it.
jdc507
3/27
If Brian is reading this...next time you go to Africa, go on Safari!! I went to Africa for two weeks last year and did some touristy and some non touristy things. What opened my eyes the most, and changed my life more than anything else was the time I spent on Safari.

With Brian's personality, no question he would view safari as an eye opening experience, and a great chance to meet many new people from all around the world. (Not to mention the animals)
fawcettb
3/27
Brainy like Miss South Carolina, methinks.
Kepros
3/27
I don't know if I'd put it exactly like fawcettb, but I think I can dig where you're coming from. Sure, he's... sharp-sounding, but I can't help but be suspicious of someone who feels the need to say outright, and then repeat in 10 different ways, that he experiences life on a "deeper" level than... who? Everyone? Other baseball players? Either way, he is definitely trying very, very hard to craft a rather lofty profile of himself in print. Whether I buy it... buh. Sure, it's nice to read about a baseball player who is thoughtful, well-mannered and interested, but I left the article unsure if Barton would actually be enjoyable to be locked in a safari rig with, or if I'd want to boot the blowhard out at the first shady grove.
mhaddock
3/28
If I didn't know this was someone subjected to random drug testing, I would assume the guy smoked a lot of weed. Last I checked, studying aerospace engineering does not equate to earning the degree, nor is he the first baseball player to pursue a challenging degree. Anyone know how he's gotten along with teammates over the years? I wonder what it's like listening to LaRussa and this guy trying to out-intellect each other.
Vyse0wnz
3/28
Calm down. He's a professional baseball player; he has to be careful of how he comes across, and that often means qualifying yourself.

Sounds like you're reading too much into it.
psugator01
3/28
this guy is real. i've talked to him a few times last year in spring training and again this year. and when you talk to barton, it's deep. he's not like your average ballplayer. he 'gets it.' to me it almost seems like barton is doing the baseball thing simply as a means to an end. he wants so much more out of life. baseball, simply, will help him get there. i only wish more ballplayers were like him.
SaberTJ
3/28
This..