When Gettis made his debut on May 27, 2004, the Royals were 11 games out of first place and on their way to a 104-loss season. Gettis appeared in 21 games, hitting .179, and was waived at the end of the season.
Gettis is back in uniform. Playing football.
Gettis is a 26-year-old freshman tight end on the Southern Illinois football team. A box score from the Salukis' game against Northern Illinois last Saturday indicates that a ball was thrown in Gettis' direction, though he has yet to record a catch.
A two-sport athlete in high school in Cahokia, Illinois, Gettis turned down a football scholarship from Minnesota to sign with the Royals in 1998. He hit .302 in the Texas League in 2003. But a cup of coffee with a bad Royals team would be the highlight of his baseball career. Gettis left the game after the 2005 season, after hitting .189 in 35 games with the Detroit Tigers' Triple-A team.
Married and a father, Gettis is now taking 100-level classes and playing football again. He told The Southern that he promised his mother he would earn a degree. "After baseball, what did I have?” Gettis said. “When I’m 31, 32, that’s still pretty young to start your career.”
An athlete who's been paid to play, Gettis has the respect of his football teammates. “Guys look up to him,” running back Arkee Whitlock told The Southern. “He did what a lot of guys here would love to do."
Of course, Gettis gets teased about his age. His nickname is "Grandpa."
The 2-0 Salukis visit Southern Utah on Saturday. -- David Martin
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