Alexei Koseff

For their 2004 home opener, the San Francisco Giants invited a special guest to throw the ceremonial first pitch: Gavin Newsom, then just a few months into his first term as mayor of San Francisco.

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For their 2004 home opener, the San Francisco Giants invited a special guest to throw the ceremonial first pitch: Gavin Newsom, then just a few months into his first term as mayor of San Francisco.

As Newsom took the pitcher’s mound, wearing dress shoes and a button-down shirt underneath his custom Giants jersey, the announcer informed the crowd that “he played first base for the University of Santa Clara and was drafted by the Texas Rangers.”

As Newsom took the pitcher’s mound, wearing dress shoes and a button-down shirt underneath his custom Giants jersey, the announcer informed the crowd that “he played first base for the University of Santa Clara and was drafted by the Texas Rangers.”

The introduction was quickly overshadowed by Newsom nearly hitting a photographer with the ball. But it left a lasting impact on a few attendees that day—a group of former Santa Clara University baseball players who were struck by the glowing treatment of Newsom’s resume.

The introduction was quickly overshadowed by Newsom nearly hitting a photographer with the ball. But it left a lasting impact on a few attendees that day—a group of former Santa Clara University baseball players who were struck by the glowing treatment of Newsom’s resume.

“It’s kind of the standing joke that Newsom played on the team,” said Vince Machi, who arrived at Santa Clara in 1985, the same year as Newsom, and played baseball for three years. “There’s always been kind of a joke between the guys who stay in touch.”

“It’s kind of the standing joke that Newsom played on the team,” said Vince Machi, who arrived at Santa Clara in 1985, the same year as Newsom, and played baseball for three years. “There’s always been kind of a joke between the guys who stay in touch.”

Twenty years later, as the Giants kick off their latest home season Friday, Newsom is now a national political figure—not just an outspoken champion of the Democratic Party but a potential future presidential contender. He regularly appears on cable news to discuss California policies and attack Republicans. Lately, he has traveled the country as a leading surrogate for President Biden’s reelection campaign. 

Twenty years later, as the Giants kick off their latest home season Friday, Newsom is now a national political figure—not just an outspoken champion of the Democratic Party but a potential future presidential contender. He regularly appears on cable news to discuss California policies and attack Republicans. Lately, he has traveled the country as a leading surrogate for President Biden’s reelection campaign.

Through his rise over the intervening two decades, his baseball career has provided Newsom a triumphant narrative to push back on the perception that his upbringing was privileged and easy: the high school standout scouted by the major leagues, who overcame his dyslexia and academic shortcomings to earn a partial scholarship to Santa Clara University before an injury forced him to find a new purpose.

Through his rise over the intervening two decades, his baseball career has provided Newsom a triumphant narrative to push back on the perception that his upbringing was privileged and easy: the high school standout scouted by the major leagues, who overcame his dyslexia and academic shortcomings to earn a partial scholarship to Santa Clara University before an injury forced him to find a new purpose.

It has become so closely associated with Newsom that Saturday Night Live <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpNCwUzIPtU">opened a show in March with a sketch</a> where the Democratic governor, portrayed by Michael Longfellow, defends President Biden’s mental fitness by recounting, “The other day, he was taking a nap, and I whipped a baseball at him, and he caught it like De Niro in Awakenings.”

It has become so closely associated with Newsom that Saturday Night Live <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpNCwUzIPtU">opened a show in March with a sketch</a> where the Democratic governor, portrayed by Michael Longfellow, defends President Biden’s mental fitness by recounting, “The other day, he was taking a nap, and I whipped a baseball at him, and he caught it like De Niro in Awakenings.”

Newsom told the story himself again in January on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIn1YknOSsc#t=1h00m38s">the podcast Pod Save America</a>: Because of poor test scores, he was headed to community college until he got a call from the Santa Clara University baseball coaches. “It was literally the ticket to a four-year university,” he said. “It changed my life, my trajectory.”

Newsom told the story himself again in January on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIn1YknOSsc#t=1h00m38s">the podcast Pod Save America</a>: Because of poor test scores, he was headed to community college until he got a call from the Santa Clara University baseball coaches. “It was literally the ticket to a four-year university,” he said. “It changed my life, my trajectory.”

But former coaches and teammates said that biography, repeated again and again through interviews and glossy magazine profiles and coverage of his 2021&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/09/30/gov-newsom-writes-childrens-book-inspired-by-personal-experience-with-dyslexia/">baseball-themed children’s book</a>&nbsp;on overcoming dyslexia, has inflated Newsom’s baseball credentials, giving the impression that he was a more accomplished player than he was.&nbsp;

But former coaches and teammates said that biography, repeated again and again through interviews and glossy magazine profiles and coverage of his 2021&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/09/30/gov-newsom-writes-childrens-book-inspired-by-personal-experience-with-dyslexia/">baseball-themed children’s book</a>&nbsp;on overcoming dyslexia, has inflated Newsom’s baseball credentials, giving the impression that he was a more accomplished player than he was.&nbsp;

Most notably, Newsom never played an official game for Santa Clara University; he was a junior varsity recruit who played only during the fall tryouts his freshman and sophomore years, then left the baseball program before the regular season began. He does not appear on the Broncos’&nbsp;<a href="https://santaclarabroncos.com/sports/2023/6/20/all-time-roster-bold-indicates-current-player-bb.aspx">all-time roster</a>&nbsp;or in media guides published by the athletic department to preview the upcoming season.

Most notably, Newsom never played an official game for Santa Clara University; he was a junior varsity recruit who played only during the fall tryouts his freshman and sophomore years, then left the baseball program before the regular season began. He does not appear on the Broncos’&nbsp;<a href="https://santaclarabroncos.com/sports/2023/6/20/all-time-roster-bold-indicates-current-player-bb.aspx">all-time roster</a>&nbsp;or in media guides published by the athletic department to preview the upcoming season.

Gov. Gavin Newsom tosses a snowball after the California Department of Water Resources conducted a media snow survey at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada on April 2, 2024

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/screenshot-2024-04-04-at-3-04-05-pm.png?w=762" alt="Gavin Newsom throwing a snowball" class="wp-image-264979"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Gov. Gavin Newsom tosses a snowball after the California Department of Water Resources conducted a media snow survey at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada on Tuesday.</figcaption></figure>

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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/screenshot-2024-04-04-at-3-04-05-pm.png?w=762" alt="Gavin Newsom throwing a snowball" class="wp-image-264979"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Gov. Gavin Newsom tosses a snowball after the California Department of Water Resources conducted a media snow survey at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada on Tuesday.</figcaption></figure>

A deeper look at his recruitment also reveals that Newsom’s admission to Santa Clara University—like&nbsp;<a href="https://www.latimes.com/projects/la-pol-ca-gavin-newsom-san-francisco-money/">so many of his formative opportunities</a>—was substantially boosted by friends and acquaintances of his father, William Newsom, a San Francisco judge and financial adviser to the Gettys, the wealthy oil family. One associate connected Newsom to the baseball program when he was in high school, while his father’s best friend, then a member of the university’s board of regents, wrote him a letter of recommendation.

A deeper look at his recruitment also reveals that Newsom’s admission to Santa Clara University—like&nbsp;<a href="https://www.latimes.com/projects/la-pol-ca-gavin-newsom-san-francisco-money/">so many of his formative opportunities</a>—was substantially boosted by friends and acquaintances of his father, William Newsom, a San Francisco judge and financial adviser to the Gettys, the wealthy oil family. One associate connected Newsom to the baseball program when he was in high school, while his father’s best friend, then a member of the university’s board of regents, wrote him a letter of recommendation.

Mike Cummins, the assistant coach at Santa Clara while Newsom was there, said the governor has “embellished his baseball career a little bit at times.”

Mike Cummins, the assistant coach at Santa Clara while Newsom was there, said the governor has “embellished his baseball career a little bit at times.”

“He never played in a varsity game. He may have played in some scrimmages,” said Cummins, who is now the <a href="https://eastbaypioneers.com/staff-directory/mike-cummins/193">head baseball coach</a> at California State University East Bay. “He’s embellished it. It’s half-truths. He was recruited to Santa Clara, he was there in the fall, but he never played. He didn’t have a varsity career there.”

“He never played in a varsity game. He may have played in some scrimmages,” said Cummins, who is now the <a href="https://eastbaypioneers.com/staff-directory/mike-cummins/193">head baseball coach</a> at California State University East Bay. “He’s embellished it. It’s half-truths. He was recruited to Santa Clara, he was there in the fall, but he never played. He didn’t have a varsity career there.”

The misconception has been propelled as much by what Newsom doesn’t say as what he does—a polished sweep over his time at Santa Clara University that rarely gets more detailed than, “I played a little baseball. Just my first and second year,” as he told the Santa Clara, the student newspaper, in <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090426073753/http:/media.www.thesantaclara.com/media/storage/paper946/news/2008/02/14/News/San-Franciscos.Gavin.Newsom.Sits.Down.With.The.Santa.Clara-3210314.shtml">a 2008 interview</a>.

The misconception has been propelled as much by what Newsom doesn’t say as what he does—a polished sweep over his time at Santa Clara University that rarely gets more detailed than, “I played a little baseball. Just my first and second year,” as he told the Santa Clara, the student newspaper, in <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090426073753/http:/media.www.thesantaclara.com/media/storage/paper946/news/2008/02/14/News/San-Franciscos.Gavin.Newsom.Sits.Down.With.The.Santa.Clara-3210314.shtml">a 2008 interview</a>.

Not for the first time in his career, Newsom has allowed a more flattering version of events to develop in the public discourse while being slow to clear up the inaccuracies.&nbsp;During his first gubernatorial campaign in 2018, he acknowledged that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article209176644.html">he never attended rehab</a>, as was widely reported more than a decade earlier after he pledged to seek treatment for problems with alcohol.

Not for the first time in his career, Newsom has allowed a more flattering version of events to develop in the public discourse while being slow to clear up the inaccuracies.&nbsp;During his first gubernatorial campaign in 2018, he acknowledged that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article209176644.html">he never attended rehab</a>, as was widely reported more than a decade earlier after he pledged to seek treatment for problems with alcohol.

Some Broncos players from the era, who said they still regularly get asked about Newsom when people find out they played baseball at Santa Clara, wanted to correct the record.

Some Broncos players from the era, who said they still regularly get asked about Newsom when people find out they played baseball at Santa Clara, wanted to correct the record.

“He didn’t earn it. He didn’t earn the right to say it,” said Kevin Schneider, who pitched for two seasons and now runs a pitching academy in San Francisco. “I worked my ass off. So did everyone else on that team. For him to just go all these years, to say he did something he didn’t that takes not just talent but also dedication and effort and sacrifice, it’s not right.”

“He didn’t earn it. He didn’t earn the right to say it,” said Kevin Schneider, who pitched for two seasons and now runs a pitching academy in San Francisco. “I worked my ass off. So did everyone else on that team. For him to just go all these years, to say he did something he didn’t that takes not just talent but also dedication and effort and sacrifice, it’s not right.”

Spokespeople for Newsom rejected multiple requests to interview the governor about his baseball career. They said Newsom had never exaggerated his experience at Santa Clara University and that it was not his job to fix whatever mistaken assumptions the public may have developed.

Spokespeople for Newsom rejected multiple requests to interview the governor about his baseball career. They said Newsom had never exaggerated his experience at Santa Clara University and that it was not his job to fix whatever mistaken assumptions the public may have developed.

“He’s been very honest and consistent about what happened to him in college and more personable than you would get from most politicians,” spokesperson Bob Salladay said. “He is not responsible for other people’s impressions or interpretations of him and his life. He is doing his job, and he cannot spend his entire day correcting people when they make errors about him. He’s moved on.”

“He’s been very honest and consistent about what happened to him in college and more personable than you would get from most politicians,” spokesperson Bob Salladay said. “He is not responsible for other people’s impressions or interpretations of him and his life. He is doing his job, and he cannot spend his entire day correcting people when they make errors about him. He’s moved on.”

Newsom speaks about his baseball journey with “emotional, real truth that is visceral to him,” said Nathan Click, another spokesperson for the governor. “We all go through life and remember the emotions we feel about things, not, you know, facts.”

Newsom speaks about his baseball journey with “emotional, real truth that is visceral to him,” said Nathan Click, another spokesperson for the governor. “We all go through life and remember the emotions we feel about things, not, you know, facts.”

“He chooses to talk about the emotional side of it, because he thinks that is the place that young people in particular, who are going through struggles, people with dyslexia, can find themselves in his story,” Click said. “That matters way more than, you know, whether he was a rostered player or what his stats were in the fall ball, JV, freshman year, Santa Clara University season.”

“He chooses to talk about the emotional side of it, because he thinks that is the place that young people in particular, who are going through struggles, people with dyslexia, can find themselves in his story,” Click said. “That matters way more than, you know, whether he was a rostered player or what his stats were in the fall ball, JV, freshman year, Santa Clara University season.”

From high school standout to Santa Clara University

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-high-school-standout-to-santa-clara-university">From high school standout to Santa Clara University</h2>

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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-from-high-school-standout-to-santa-clara-university">From high school standout to Santa Clara University</h2>

By all accounts, Newsom was a talented baseball player at Redwood High School in Marin County, where he was also a star on the basketball team before graduating in 1985. His name appears in the San Francisco Examiner’s prep coverage from the time—banging home runs, hitting a game-winning single in the Marin County Athletic League championship his senior year and being named to the all-league first team.

By all accounts, Newsom was a talented baseball player at Redwood High School in Marin County, where he was also a star on the basketball team before graduating in 1985. His name appears in the San Francisco Examiner’s prep coverage from the time—banging home runs, hitting a game-winning single in the Marin County Athletic League championship his senior year and being named to the all-league first team.

Publications including the<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/11/05/gavin-newsom-the-next-head-of-the-california-resistance"> New Yorker</a>, the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/27/sports/baseball/27mayors.html">New York Times</a>, the <a href="https://www.marinij.com/2007/07/08/dave-albee-sf-mayor-takes-his-licks-at-att-park/">Marin Independent Journal</a> and <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091127090647/http:/www.mensjournal.com/newsom">Men’s Journal</a> have reported over the years that the Texas Rangers drafted, recruited or showed interest in Newsom in high school. In 2009, a Newsom spokesperson <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090430051404/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/cityinsider/detail?entry_id=39062">clarified</a> to the San Francisco Chronicle that he had merely been scouted, not drafted.

Publications including the<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/11/05/gavin-newsom-the-next-head-of-the-california-resistance"> New Yorker</a>, the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/27/sports/baseball/27mayors.html">New York Times</a>, the <a href="https://www.marinij.com/2007/07/08/dave-albee-sf-mayor-takes-his-licks-at-att-park/">Marin Independent Journal</a> and <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091127090647/http:/www.mensjournal.com/newsom">Men’s Journal</a> have reported over the years that the Texas Rangers drafted, recruited or showed interest in Newsom in high school. In 2009, a Newsom spokesperson <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090430051404/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/cityinsider/detail?entry_id=39062">clarified</a> to the San Francisco Chronicle that he had merely been scouted, not drafted.

Newsom was among the hundreds of high school players across the country whom the Rangers organization looked at while preparing for the annual amateur draft, according to a spokesperson for the team.

Newsom was among the hundreds of high school players across the country whom the Rangers organization looked at while preparing for the annual amateur draft, according to a spokesperson for the team.

Spokesperson John Blake wrote in an email that the Rangers’ chief California scout from the time “said that we did watch Governor Newsom play in high school, but he doesn’t remember us specially scouting him.” He said major league teams are very thorough in scouting California, and “it is likely there were several players on this particular high school team that our scouts had interest in seeing, including Governor Newsom.”

Spokesperson John Blake wrote in an email that the Rangers’ chief California scout from the time “said that we did watch Governor Newsom play in high school, but he doesn’t remember us specially scouting him.” He said major league teams are very thorough in scouting California, and “it is likely there were several players on this particular high school team that our scouts had interest in seeing, including Governor Newsom.”

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Newsom spokesperson Click said the governor received business cards from those scouts after they watched him play, which he has spoken about in past interviews. “They made a point to come up to him and introduce themselves, which means something,” Click said.

Newsom spokesperson Click said the governor received business cards from those scouts after they watched him play, which he has spoken about in past interviews. “They made a point to come up to him and introduce themselves, which means something,” Click said.

Newsom headed down the Peninsula to Santa Clara University, a private Jesuit college where he was a freshman in the fall of 1985. Having struggled in high school, with a reported SAT score of 960 out of 1600, Newsom has long&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/01/us/college-sports-gavin-newsom.html">credited baseball</a>&nbsp;with securing his admission.

Newsom headed down the Peninsula to Santa Clara University, a private Jesuit college where he was a freshman in the fall of 1985. Having struggled in high school, with a reported SAT score of 960 out of 1600, Newsom has long&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/01/us/college-sports-gavin-newsom.html">credited baseball</a>&nbsp;with securing his admission.

“I had a pretty severe learning disability, dyslexia, struggled academically, and the only reason Santa Clara University would have ever accepted me was because I was a left-handed first baseman who could hit fairly well,” he <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/01/us/college-sports-gavin-newsom.html">told the New York Times</a> in 2019.

“I had a pretty severe learning disability, dyslexia, struggled academically, and the only reason Santa Clara University would have ever accepted me was because I was a left-handed first baseman who could hit fairly well,” he <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/01/us/college-sports-gavin-newsom.html">told the New York Times</a> in 2019.

Newsom also had help from several well-connected alumni.

Newsom also had help from several well-connected alumni.

Bill Connolly, a San Francisco investment banker and associate of William Newsom who played baseball at Santa Clara in the 1960s, put the younger Newsom on the team’s radar, according to Cummins, the former assistant coach. Connolly&nbsp;<a href="https://magazine.scu.edu/classnote/bill-connolly/">died in 2017</a>, and his widow could not be reached for comment.

Bill Connolly, a San Francisco investment banker and associate of William Newsom who played baseball at Santa Clara in the 1960s, put the younger Newsom on the team’s radar, according to Cummins, the former assistant coach. Connolly&nbsp;<a href="https://magazine.scu.edu/classnote/bill-connolly/">died in 2017</a>, and his widow could not be reached for comment.

Connolly “was a very good supporter of us at the time, money-wise,” Cummins said, and pushed the coaches to check Newsom out. “That was pretty normal at the time,” Cummins said, especially in a pre-internet era when recruiting was more regional and word-of-mouth. He said the baseball team was not a “backdoor” to admit Newsom into the university.

Connolly “was a very good supporter of us at the time, money-wise,” Cummins said, and pushed the coaches to check Newsom out. “That was pretty normal at the time,” Cummins said, especially in a pre-internet era when recruiting was more regional and word-of-mouth. He said the baseball team was not a “backdoor” to admit Newsom into the university.

Click said Newsom does not remember his family asking Connolly to recommend him to Santa Clara University, “and if it’s true, it would be news to him.”

Click said Newsom does not remember his family asking Connolly to recommend him to Santa Clara University, “and if it’s true, it would be news to him.”

Alongside then-head coach John Oldham, who died in February, Cummins eventually visited Newsom at home and recruited him to Santa Clara. The team had a junior varsity squad at the time, which it used as a “minor league,” Cummins said, so Newsom had a guaranteed spot in the program, but would have to perform well enough to play in varsity games.

Alongside then-head coach John Oldham, who died in February, Cummins eventually visited Newsom at home and recruited him to Santa Clara. The team had a junior varsity squad at the time, which it used as a “minor league,” Cummins said, so Newsom had a guaranteed spot in the program, but would have to perform well enough to play in varsity games.

He was offered a scholarship of $500 in October 1985, during fall quarter of his freshman year, according to a photograph of a section of the paperwork provided by Click, though it’s unclear if that’s the only payment he received. Click said Newsom was unable to locate the original document. The cost of attendance for Santa Clara University that year was $10,251, including tuition, room and board.

He was offered a scholarship of $500 in October 1985, during fall quarter of his freshman year, according to a photograph of a section of the paperwork provided by Click, though it’s unclear if that’s the only payment he received. Click said Newsom was unable to locate the original document. The cost of attendance for Santa Clara University that year was $10,251, including tuition, room and board.

Eager to ensure his spot, Newsom’s family also solicited letters of recommendation&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article7965822.html">from former Gov. Jerry Brown</a>, who attended Santa Clara University for one year and appointed William Newsom to the Superior Court and the state Court of Appeal during his first term as governor, and from John Mallen, an attorney who served on Santa Clara’s board of regents at the time.

Eager to ensure his spot, Newsom’s family also solicited letters of recommendation&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article7965822.html">from former Gov. Jerry Brown</a>, who attended Santa Clara University for one year and appointed William Newsom to the Superior Court and the state Court of Appeal during his first term as governor, and from John Mallen, an attorney who served on Santa Clara’s board of regents at the time.

Mallen, who described William Newsom as “my best friend for 75 years,” said he did not frequently write letters of recommendation for applicants while he was on the board.

Mallen, who described William Newsom as “my best friend for 75 years,” said he did not frequently write letters of recommendation for applicants while he was on the board.

“In fact, I may not have helped anybody else get in,” Mallen said.

“In fact, I may not have helped anybody else get in,” Mallen said.

Though he does not have a copy of the letter anymore, Mallen said it was probably addressed to the president of the university and would have been a character reference for the younger Newsom.

Though he does not have a copy of the letter anymore, Mallen said it was probably addressed to the president of the university and would have been a character reference for the younger Newsom.

“I mean, I’d known him since birth,” Mallen said. “He was a good athlete. That I remember.”

“I mean, I’d known him since birth,” Mallen said. “He was a good athlete. That I remember.”

Mallen said it “absolutely” would have been “hugely influential” in helping Newsom gain admission to Santa Clara: “I think it was a big help.”

Mallen said it “absolutely” would have been “hugely influential” in helping Newsom gain admission to Santa Clara: “I think it was a big help.”

Click denied that the letters of recommendation played any role in Newsom’s acceptance.

Click denied that the letters of recommendation played any role in Newsom’s acceptance.

“Baseball was the reason he got into university and the partial baseball scholarship shows it,” Click said.

“Baseball was the reason he got into university and the partial baseball scholarship shows it,” Click said.

College baseball cut short by elbow injury

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-college-baseball-cut-short-by-elbow-injury">College baseball cut short by elbow injury</h2>

Newsom has previously said he played baseball his first two years at Santa Clara University before injuring his throwing arm and reevaluating his path, a timeline repeated in major profiles of Newsom, most recently by&nbsp;<a href="https://lamag.com/featured/gavin-newsom-recall">Los Angeles Magazine</a>&nbsp;in 2021.

Newsom has previously said he played baseball his first two years at Santa Clara University before injuring his throwing arm and reevaluating his path, a timeline repeated in major profiles of Newsom, most recently by&nbsp;<a href="https://lamag.com/featured/gavin-newsom-recall">Los Angeles Magazine</a>&nbsp;in 2021.

“Ultimately, I had an ulnar nerve issue and threw out my arm and had a surgery and really didn’t come back,”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wbur.org/onlyagame/2019/10/18/california-governor-gavin-newsom-lebron-james-fair-pay-to-play-act">he told WBUR</a>, a Boston public radio station, in 2019. “And then I had to make that tough choice of, ‘What the hell do I do with my life?’ Because I was just so consumed by baseball.”

“Ultimately, I had an ulnar nerve issue and threw out my arm and had a surgery and really didn’t come back,”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wbur.org/onlyagame/2019/10/18/california-governor-gavin-newsom-lebron-james-fair-pay-to-play-act">he told WBUR</a>, a Boston public radio station, in 2019. “And then I had to make that tough choice of, ‘What the hell do I do with my life?’ Because I was just so consumed by baseball.”

To report this story, CalMatters reached out to coaches and teammates listed on the Broncos rosters for the 1986 and 1987 seasons. They&nbsp;said Newsom played only during the fall tryout periods of his freshman and sophomore years, when prospective players trained and rotated into practice games against other local universities, and no official statistics were kept.

To report this story, CalMatters reached out to coaches and teammates listed on the Broncos rosters for the 1986 and 1987 seasons. They&nbsp;said Newsom played only during the fall tryout periods of his freshman and sophomore years, when prospective players trained and rotated into practice games against other local universities, and no official statistics were kept.

Several people recalled that Newsom was around&nbsp;for just the first few weeks, perhaps as much as six weeks, as a freshman. He did not make the 1986 roster, as reflected in the game program and media guide “The Boys of Spring.”&nbsp;

Several people recalled that Newsom was around&nbsp;for just the first few weeks, perhaps as much as six weeks, as a freshman. He did not make the 1986 roster, as reflected in the game program and media guide “The Boys of Spring.”&nbsp;

Newsom was not one of the standout prospects that year—“We would have known he was a big scholarship player who crapped out,” said Jim Flynn, who was a freshman pitcher—but no one interviewed by CalMatters disputes his athletic ability.

Newsom was not one of the standout prospects that year—“We would have known he was a big scholarship player who crapped out,” said Jim Flynn, who was a freshman pitcher—but no one interviewed by CalMatters disputes his athletic ability.

Victor Cole, a freshman in the 1986 season who split his time pitching and playing outfield for the varsity team and playing outfield for the junior varsity team, said Newsom “was a good athlete” and “he looked like somebody who could play college ball.”

Victor Cole, a freshman in the 1986 season who split his time pitching and playing outfield for the varsity team and playing outfield for the junior varsity team, said Newsom “was a good athlete” and “he looked like somebody who could play college ball.”

“Everyone who was recruited had talent. So he had talent,” said Cole, who&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/2695/victor-cole">briefly played</a>&nbsp;for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1992 and&nbsp;<a href="https://cbubucs.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/victor-cole/504">now coaches</a>&nbsp;at Christian Brothers University in Memphis.

“Everyone who was recruited had talent. So he had talent,” said Cole, who&nbsp;<a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/2695/victor-cole">briefly played</a>&nbsp;for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1992 and&nbsp;<a href="https://cbubucs.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/victor-cole/504">now coaches</a>&nbsp;at Christian Brothers University in Memphis.

Machi, who also arrived in 1985, said Newsom caught his attention because they were competing for the same spot, playing first base.

Machi, who also arrived in 1985, said Newsom caught his attention because they were competing for the same spot, playing first base.

“I do recall him being a fairly athletic guy. It wasn’t like he was a fish out of water,” Machi said. “As a competitor, you’re always looking around.”

“I do recall him being a fairly athletic guy. It wasn’t like he was a fish out of water,” Machi said. “As a competitor, you’re always looking around.”

But within a few weeks, Newsom had “just disappeared,” Machi said. “He didn’t have any accolades on the field.”

But within a few weeks, Newsom had “just disappeared,” Machi said. “He didn’t have any accolades on the field.”

Struggling with pain in his left elbow, Newsom underwent ulnar nerve surgery in late 1985 and took the rest of the season off, Click said. Dr.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.poadocs.com/provider/michael-f-dillingham-md">Michael Dillingham</a>, an orthopedic surgeon in Daly City who was the team doctor at the time, confirmed to CalMatters that he performed the operation.

Struggling with pain in his left elbow, Newsom underwent ulnar nerve surgery in late 1985 and took the rest of the season off, Click said. Dr.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.poadocs.com/provider/michael-f-dillingham-md">Michael Dillingham</a>, an orthopedic surgeon in Daly City who was the team doctor at the time, confirmed to CalMatters that he performed the operation.

After the surgery, however, Newsom did not rehabilitate his arm through the Santa Clara baseball program, recalled Larry Donahe, then a freshman pitcher who also sat out the 1986 season recovering from an elbow operation for the same injury as Newsom.

After the surgery, however, Newsom did not rehabilitate his arm through the Santa Clara baseball program, recalled Larry Donahe, then a freshman pitcher who also sat out the 1986 season recovering from an elbow operation for the same injury as Newsom.

“If he had a bad elbow and was hurt and was doing any sort of rehab, I probably would have seen him,” said Donahe, who had a full-ride scholarship and continued to play for the Broncos through other surgeries his sophomore and junior years. “He never came into the training room.”

“If he had a bad elbow and was hurt and was doing any sort of rehab, I probably would have seen him,” said Donahe, who had a full-ride scholarship and continued to play for the Broncos through other surgeries his sophomore and junior years. “He never came into the training room.”

Click said Newsom was in a cast and then physical therapy for several months and did not begin training seriously to return to baseball until the summer.

Click said Newsom was in a cast and then physical therapy for several months and did not begin training seriously to return to baseball until the summer.

He tried out for the Broncos again in fall 1986 as a sophomore but “couldn’t make it work” because of continued elbow pain, Click said. Before the regular season began, Newsom gave up his beloved sport for good.

He tried out for the Broncos again in fall 1986 as a sophomore but “couldn’t make it work” because of continued elbow pain, Click said. Before the regular season began, Newsom gave up his beloved sport for good.

Players said Newsom was not particularly close to his teammates and they were uncertain of the circumstances of his departure. Many wondered if he lost interest in baseball because of the fierce demands of Santa Clara’s program.

Players said Newsom was not particularly close to his teammates and they were uncertain of the circumstances of his departure. Many wondered if he lost interest in baseball because of the fierce demands of Santa Clara’s program.

Because the NCAA had not yet <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1991/01/10/sports/ncaa-cuts-practice-scholarships-and-seasons.html">established limits on student athletes’ time</a>, players described the team in that era as a full-time job, even during fall tryouts: multiple games each week; practices that ran from the early afternoon until after the dining hall stopped serving dinner and all day on the weekends; extra training including 5 a.m. workouts; and vision strengthening and success visualization classes, where players laid on the floor with their eyes closed and imagined how to improve their technique.

Because the NCAA had not yet <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/1991/01/10/sports/ncaa-cuts-practice-scholarships-and-seasons.html">established limits on student athletes’ time</a>, players described the team in that era as a full-time job, even during fall tryouts: multiple games each week; practices that ran from the early afternoon until after the dining hall stopped serving dinner and all day on the weekends; extra training including 5 a.m. workouts; and vision strengthening and success visualization classes, where players laid on the floor with their eyes closed and imagined how to improve their technique.

“If you had a life, you chose to do something else. If you were a baseball lifer you loved it,” Matt Toole, who played baseball at Santa Clara from 1985 to 1989 and then two seasons in the minor leagues, wrote in an email. 

“If you had a life, you chose to do something else. If you were a baseball lifer you loved it,” Matt Toole, who played baseball at Santa Clara from 1985 to 1989 and then two seasons in the minor leagues, wrote in an email.

Newsom “actually played well enough to make our team both years,” he wrote. “He had a lot of potential but he chose not to play.”

Newsom “actually played well enough to make our team both years,” he wrote. “He had a lot of potential but he chose not to play.”

Click said Newsom may not have felt comfortable sharing his injury publicly at the time because he was ashamed not to live up to the success he experienced earlier in his baseball career.

Click said Newsom may not have felt comfortable sharing his injury publicly at the time because he was ashamed not to live up to the success he experienced earlier in his baseball career.

“It was really a crushing moment for him,” Click said, “especially somebody who had been really hyped up by everyone around him in Little League, in high school.”

“It was really a crushing moment for him,” Click said, “especially somebody who had been really hyped up by everyone around him in Little League, in high school.”

But the legend of Newsom’s feats on the diamond endured. In a 2010 story previewing the Giants-Rangers World Series, the New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/27/sports/baseball/27mayors.html">contrasted the baseball careers</a> of the mayors for the two teams.

But the legend of Newsom’s feats on the diamond endured. In a 2010 story previewing the Giants-Rangers World Series, the New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/27/sports/baseball/27mayors.html">contrasted the baseball careers</a> of the mayors for the two teams.

Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert joked about his brief stint playing junior varsity at Claremont McKenna College: “They put me in when it was time for the outfielders to do wind sprints.”

Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert joked about his brief stint playing junior varsity at Claremont McKenna College: “They put me in when it was time for the outfielders to do wind sprints.”

The Times called Newsom “more serious about the game,” noting the then-San Francisco mayor played for two years at Santa Clara University.

The Times called Newsom “more serious about the game,” noting the then-San Francisco mayor played for two years at Santa Clara University.

“I was your standard 6-foot-3-inch first baseman,” Newsom told the paper.

“I was your standard 6-foot-3-inch first baseman,” Newsom told the paper.

Is the legend of Gavin Newsom’s baseball career a tall tale?

Annie Gaus

In a last-minute change of plans, California Gov. Gavin Newsom is making a brief stop in Israel Friday before <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/10/18/california-governor-gavin-newsom-visit-china-climate/">heading to China</a>.

Newsom is visiting China ahead of APEC. Will he meet with China&#8217;s Xi Jinping?

In a last-minute change of plans, California Gov. Gavin Newsom is making a brief stop in Israel Friday before <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/10/18/california-governor-gavin-newsom-visit-china-climate/">heading to China</a>.

Newsom had originally planned to make a swing through New York for &#8220;personal and political events,&#8221; his office confirmed Thursday. Instead, the governor will visit Israel to meet with people impacted by recent violence in the country.

Newsom had originally planned to make a swing through New York for "personal and political events," his office confirmed Thursday. Instead, the governor will visit Israel to meet with people impacted by recent violence in the country.

Newsom had originally planned to make a swing through New York for &#8220;personal and political events,&#8221; his office confirmed Thursday. Instead, the governor will visit Israel to meet with people impacted by recent violence in the country.

He will arrive in the country Friday and leave later that day.

He will arrive in the country Friday and leave later that day.

RELATED: <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/10/18/california-governor-gavin-newsom-visit-china-climate/">Newsom Is Visiting China Ahead of APEC. Will He Meet With China’s Xi Jinping?</a>

RELATED: <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/10/18/california-governor-gavin-newsom-visit-china-climate/">Newsom Is Visiting China Ahead of APEC. Will He Meet With China’s Xi Jinping?</a>

“The governor adjusted his planned international trip and will briefly visit Israel ahead of going to China,&#8221; said Erin Mellon, Newsom&#8217;s director of communications. &#8220;While in Israel, the governor will meet with those impacted by the violence.”

“The governor adjusted his planned international trip and will briefly visit Israel ahead of going to China," said Erin Mellon, Newsom's director of communications. "While in Israel, the governor will meet with those impacted by the violence.”

“The governor adjusted his planned international trip and will briefly visit Israel ahead of going to China,&#8221; said Erin Mellon, Newsom&#8217;s director of communications. &#8220;While in Israel, the governor will meet with those impacted by the violence.”

Newsom&#8217;s office said that California has provided medical supplies to Israel.

Newsom's office said that California has provided medical supplies to Israel.

Newsom&#8217;s office said that California has provided medical supplies to Israel.

In China, Newsom plans to visit five cities—Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai—as well as the province of Jiangsu, <a href="https://www.gov.ca.gov/2023/10/18/governor-newsom-goes-to-china-next-week/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">according to his office</a>.

In China, Newsom plans to visit five cities—Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai—as well as the province of Jiangsu, <a href="https://www.gov.ca.gov/2023/10/18/governor-newsom-goes-to-china-next-week/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">according to his office</a>.

Newsom&#8217;s itinerary on the weeklong trip includes meetings with local and national Chinese officials along with stops at centers of industry and commerce, including Tesla&#8217;s Shanghai Gigafactory.

Newsom's itinerary on the weeklong trip includes meetings with local and national Chinese officials along with stops at centers of industry and commerce, including Tesla's Shanghai Gigafactory.

Newsom&#8217;s itinerary on the weeklong trip includes meetings with local and national Chinese officials along with stops at centers of industry and commerce, including Tesla&#8217;s Shanghai Gigafactory.

Newsom&#8217;s China visit comes just weeks before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco, an annual trade event that will <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/10/19/what-apec-means-for-san-francisco/">bring major heads of state and business leaders</a> to the city in mid-November.

Here comes APEC: What the international conference means for San Francisco

Newsom's China visit comes just weeks before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco, an annual trade event that will <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/10/19/what-apec-means-for-san-francisco/">bring major heads of state and business leaders</a> to the city in mid-November.

Newsom&#8217;s China visit comes just weeks before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco, an annual trade event that will <a href="https://sfstandard.com/2023/10/19/what-apec-means-for-san-francisco/">bring major heads of state and business leaders</a> to the city in mid-November.

Gov. Gavin Newsom to visit Israel before heading to China

Han Li

For many patients, acupuncture has the magic that relieves their pain. The traditional Chinese treatment, which uses thin needles inserted into the body, has also become widely accepted in American mainstream society.

For many patients, acupuncture has the magic that relieves their pain. The traditional Chinese treatment, which uses thin needles inserted into the body, has also become widely accepted in American mainstream society.

But California leaders have some tough decisions to make this year.

But California leaders have some tough decisions to make this year.

The latest state budget proposal excludes acupuncture from the state-subsidized Medi-Cal services for low-income and vulnerable individuals, sparking a furious backlash from patients and the Chinese American community—especially in San Francisco.

The latest state budget proposal excludes acupuncture from the state-subsidized Medi-Cal services for low-income and vulnerable individuals, sparking a furious backlash from patients and the Chinese American community—especially in San Francisco.

A coalition of medical providers, many of whom primarily serve the Asian American community, patients and government officials gathered Thursday morning in San Francisco&#8217;s Chinatown to blast Gov. Gavin Newsom’s decision to exclude acupuncture from Medi-Cal.&nbsp;

A coalition of medical providers, many of whom primarily serve the Asian American community, patients and government officials gathered Thursday morning in San Francisco's Chinatown to blast Gov. Gavin Newsom’s decision to exclude acupuncture from Medi-Cal.&nbsp;

A coalition of medical providers, many of whom primarily serve the Asian American community, patients and government officials gathered Thursday morning in San Francisco&#8217;s Chinatown to blast Gov. Gavin Newsom’s decision to exclude acupuncture from Medi-Cal.&nbsp;

&#8220;The governor&#8217;s plan to eliminate acupuncture, knowing that AAPI populations rely heavily on this service, speaks to the longstanding underinvestment we have seen in our community,&#8221; said Jessica Ho, government affairs director at North East Medical Services (NEMS), a major care provider nonprofit in San Francisco&#8217;s Chinese community.

"The governor's plan to eliminate acupuncture, knowing that AAPI populations rely heavily on this service, speaks to the longstanding underinvestment we have seen in our community," said Jessica Ho, government affairs director at North East Medical Services (NEMS), a major care provider nonprofit in San Francisco's Chinese community.

&#8220;The governor&#8217;s plan to eliminate acupuncture, knowing that AAPI populations rely heavily on this service, speaks to the longstanding underinvestment we have seen in our community,&#8221; said Jessica Ho, government affairs director at North East Medical Services (NEMS), a major care provider nonprofit in San Francisco&#8217;s Chinese community.

According to Ho, NEMS started offering acupuncture services in 2017 and has treated over 23,000 patients–90% of whom rely on Medi-Cal. The cut will not only affect patients who would need to pay out of pocket for the services: Ho’s organization will also have to reduce services due to lower demand.

According to Ho, NEMS started offering acupuncture services in 2017 and has treated over 23,000 patients–90% of whom rely on Medi-Cal. The cut will not only affect patients who would need to pay out of pocket for the services: Ho’s organization will also have to reduce services due to lower demand.

Man Mei Cheung, a 68-year-old Chinese immigrant with a disability and chronic arthritis pain, is one of NEMS&#8217;s patients. She said her body pain situation is severe, and as a low-income disabled person living in public housing, she would take acupuncture treatment at least twice a month because it&#8217;s included in Medi-Cal benefits.

Man Mei Cheung, a 68-year-old Chinese immigrant with a disability and chronic arthritis pain, is one of NEMS's patients. She said her body pain situation is severe, and as a low-income disabled person living in public housing, she would take acupuncture treatment at least twice a month because it's included in Medi-Cal benefits.

Man Mei Cheung, a 68-year-old Chinese immigrant with a disability and chronic arthritis pain, is one of NEMS&#8217;s patients. She said her body pain situation is severe, and as a low-income disabled person living in public housing, she would take acupuncture treatment at least twice a month because it&#8217;s included in Medi-Cal benefits.

Man with a tattoo lies face down on a massage table while a qualified professional places an acupuncture needle in a pressure point in his back. Space for copy.

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://content.sfstandard.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/gettyimages-1290749382.jpg?w=2500" alt="A person is lying face down, receiving acupuncture on their back. A hand is carefully inserting several thin needles into the skin." class="wp-image-277983"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">North East Medical Services (NEMS) started offering acupuncture services in 2017 and has treated over 23,000 patients–90% of whom rely on Medi-Cal, according to Jessica Ho, government affairs director at NEMS.</figcaption></figure>

Is the legend of Gavin Newsom’s baseball career a tall tale?

Gov. Gavin Newsom to visit Israel before heading to China

‘The pain will just kill me’: Newsom blasted for cutting acupuncture in state budget

Republicans target Gavin Newsom with new recall. Are they doing it to get rich?

‘People are freaking out’: Newsom’s insurance crisis bill lets carriers hike rates faster

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Is the legend of Gavin Newsom’s baseball career a tall tale?

Gov. Gavin Newsom to visit Israel before heading to China

‘The pain will just kill me’: Newsom blasted for cutting acupuncture in state budget

Republicans target Gavin Newsom with new recall. Are they doing it to get rich?

‘People are freaking out’: Newsom’s insurance crisis bill lets carriers hike rates faster