Almost every kid dreams of becoming a professional athlete.
Tony Vlahovic actually achieved it.
Following a Hall of Fame career at Wilkes University, Tony went overseas to play pro baseball in Italy. When he got back to America, he signed with the Boston Red Sox.
But one night derailed his playing career forever.
On his way home from a wedding, Tony stopped at a red light.
“From a distance, I could see a car coming over the hill and moving quickly,” he wrote in his book.
“I kept thinking, ‘Oh, this person will slow down. They’re going to slow down.’ Unfortunately, he never did.”
The drunk driver smashed into Tony’s car at 60 miles per hour.
It was a four-car collision that snapped his leg and split open his head.
“Those 10 seconds changed my life forever.”
Everything he’d worked his whole life for ended right there.
After hearing about his injuries, the Red Sox released him. His playing days were over.
“Physically I was broken. Mentally – totally devastated!”
Being a professional baseball player was all he ever wanted.
“Now, I was dropped off the charts, not having a plan B, physically being a mess, mentally depressed and angry, not knowing how to climb out of this hole, and doing it all alone.”
It took 18 months for Tony to re-learn how to walk, and a lot longer for him to even think about baseball again.
Years later, when his son turned seven, Tony started coaching.
That set him on a path to where he is today:
Tony Vlahovic is now a 5-time varsity baseball Coach of the Year, Special Olympics North American Coach of the Year, and co-founder of BaseABLE – a non-profit that helps athletes with disabilities by giving them the “coaching, equipment, and opportunities to play and meet other athletes with disabilities”.
Once a pro athlete whose own dream was cut short, Tony has flipped the script, dedicating his life to helping other people live theirs.
“I tell my [high school] guys all the time, ‘My Special Olympics guys would give a limb to have your ability,'” he said in 2018.
“Just to sit in the dugout with you, it’s like sitting in a major league dugout. They absolutely love it.”
I had the privilege of connecting with Tony after he subscribed to my Underdog Newsletter. In our exclusive interview, he shared his path to the big leagues, transition to coaching, and advice for anyone going through a difficult period of their life.
When did you first fall in love with baseball?
I fell in love with baseball at the tender age of four! My grandmother would sit in her rocking chair and I would go through a fantasy lineup of hitters (some real players, most made up) and throw her pitches. She was the best umpire I ever had behind the plate.
When I started in Little League, I was a left-handed catcher. I wanted to catch because I was bored to tears playing outfield.
The problem came about halfway through the season when I was throwing the ball back to the pitcher harder than he was throwing to me. That was the official start of my pitching career.
How did you end up at Wilkes University?
I was a highly recruited three-sport athlete in high school. Division 1 programs like Clemson, Florida State, Penn State, and Villanova were interested. A few of the schools wanted me to play football and baseball.
Unfortunately, I had a freak accident with my shoulder in my senior year, and all the offers were gone. I was healed by baseball season, but no one seemed to be interested.
Coach Gene Domzalski from Wilkes University came to see me play in a Legion all-star game and offered me an opportunity to go play football and baseball at Wilkes.
The baseball program at Wilkes was very competitive for a small school and has had a great deal of success. The environment was family/team-oriented, and the culture was a brotherhood.
Very few ballplayers get a chance to play in college. And even fewer ever turn pro. How did you wind up playing professional baseball in Italy?
Throughout my life, my dream was to be a professional athlete. My career in college was a very good one and the Orioles attended every game I pitched. I truly believed that they were going to draft me.
After my junior year, the Detriot Tigers seemed very serious about offering me a contract.
My parents wanted me to finish my degree and so did a former star Mark “The Bird” Fidrych. I met him in Evansville Indiana in a AAA clubhouse and we had some serious heart-to-heart talks.
He basically said you are talented and you will get better with another year of college ball and get a better deal. I listened and went back for my senior year.
Senior year was great and I was confident that an MLB team was going to draft me. But the draft came and went without being drafted. I was an absolute mess!
A gentleman came to a few of our games and gave me his card, told me he was with the Italian baseball league, and would love to have me play.
I didn’t think much of it because my plan was to play in the MLB.
But after I slowly recovered from not being drafted, I reached out and talked to the Italian representative.
Next thing I knew, I was flying overseas to Rome for my first-ever plane ride outside the United States. One of the best experiences of my life as a 21-year-old.
For those unfamiliar with overseas pro baseball, what was the transition like going from college to the pros in Italy?
The transition from being a college player to becoming a professional athlete was huge. The responsibility level was incredibly high. Your every action was being watched. The idea of being a role model was evident from day one.
In college, you play with guys around your age. In Italy, you played with men who came from all over the world.
On the field, the game was faster and the intensity from your teammates was very high. A lot of pride for the city you played in along with the fans’ extreme passion made for some crazy nights! I have never witnessed passion like I did in Italy.
I knew soccer was huge and basketball was very popular, but baseball was picking up momentum every place we played.
As a player, the game of baseball presents a ton of opportunities to fail. Learning from daily routines and consistent positive habits helped me to play at a high level which helped me when I did get an opportunity to play in the States.
If you’re comfortable sharing, would you mind talking a little bit about the car accident that ended your playing career prematurely? How did you find the transition from playing to coaching?
My dream of playing for an MLB team was given to me by the Boston Red Sox. A boyhood dream come true, my career was shortened one night driving to a teammate’s wedding.
I was hit from behind by a drunk driver and my left leg was snapped by the impact. My head was split open and my foot was pointed straight up in the air. My knee was twisted into an ugly position.
Physically I was broken. Mentally – totally devastated!
I was extremely depressed and had to learn how to walk again – which took over 18 months. Going from a professional athlete with promise to a person who had to learn to walk again was very humbling. I wanted nothing to do with baseball for a long time.
My coaching career was jump-started when my son was 7 years old. I was watching him play and listening to the coaches, and I wasn’t happy with their approach to the kids.
My wife said either be quiet or go coach. Well, I didn’t stay quiet and my coaching career started- in three sports: baseball, basketball and football.
You’ve accomplished a lot in your life: playing pro baseball, publishing a book, being inducted into the Wilkes University Hall of Fame, winning Coach of the Year 5 times as a Varsity baseball coach, winning Special Olympics North American Coach of the Year, and co-founding an amazing non-profit organization. Which of those are you most proud of?
As I look back through my life and athletic career, the two areas I would talk about first are my non-profit organization BaseABLE, and writing a book about my life and my opportunity to coach athletes with disabilities.
The book, Just Need an Opportunity was written as a platform to increase awareness and inclusion for athletes with disabilities who have never had the opportunity to play baseball.
BaseABLE was formed to assist athletes with disabilities to give them the coaching, equipment, and opportunities to play and meet other athletes with disabilities.
With BaseABLE and your work with the Special Olympics, what motivates you to do what you do every day?
I was touched by our athletes’ passion for baseball and being part of a team.
I was introduced to Special Olympics in 2011 by Marc Edenzon, the former CEO of Special Olympics New Jersey. One of the things he said to me during our initial meeting was I wear a baseball hat daily and there are millions of athletes with disabilities who have never had the opportunity to play baseball. We need to change that.
I tell everyone he had me at the hat!
My relationship with our players continues to motivate me to coach and mentor them. They are some of the nicest people I have ever met in my life. Their love of the game is contagious and continues to impact my life.
I know there are so many people who need to experience playing baseball on a field with teammates. Baseball is LIFE.
For anyone reading this who might be interested, how can they help or get involved?
If anyone is interested in getting involved please check our website baseable.org and also Special Olympics North America or SONA.
There are so many great organizations in the country and they are in need of good people to volunteer and give back.
I would encourage anyone who is interested to go and observe an event with athletes with disabilities. It will change your life!
If someone out there is going through a tough time and looking for inspiration, what advice would you give them based on your own experience?
My advice to anyone who us struggling in life is please reach out for help. That may be with family member or close friend and last but not least with a trained professional.
For a long time, the impression was if you needed professional help, you were weak. Absolutely not true. It is a sign of strength and a way to change your life and become healthy.
How can our readers support you?
If you would like to support our effort please consider volunteering in your area.
Donations are always welcome at baseable.org and lastly please read or listen (Audible) to my book.
Editor’s Note: I want to give a huge thanks to Tony Vlahovic for taking the time to do this interview. I was inspired by his story and the work he’s doing, and I hope you are too. Please go check out BaseABLE and consider volunteering in your area!
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