Generally musicians don’t get into the business of mythologizing professional athletes, but that’s exactly what Pony League have done with former major league pitcher turned Atlanta Braves outfielder Rick Ankiel. Using Ankiel’s rocky career and, specifically, his 2010 playoff heroics as inspiration, the band managed to craft a rousing Americana anthem that speaks to the redemptive power of second chances. In March, frontman Gus Fernandez recounted the story behind the single on WABE’s City Lights and performed a stripped-down version of the song for LINER NOTES, our collaborative video series with WABE producer Myke Johns.

On a whim, Fernandez’s father sent Ankiel the NPR story on Twitter, which prompted a series of private messages between Fernandez and the former Brave, and eventually led to a phone call. “I managed to get him on the phone and asked him how he felt about having a song written about him (among other things),” Fernandez recounts. “He said he was honored and happy to have helped someone who struggled as he once did. I also asked him if he had any advice for anyone trying to make it in the world, to which he replied, ‘Never give up on your dreams!'”

Directed by Justin Newton, the video pays tribute to the dramatic home run that briefly put Ankiel in the spotlight. There’s some live footage of the band performing in their practice space, but mostly it focuses on Pony League hitting the baseball diamond for a day of batting practice and defensive drills. There’s a real danger of stuff like this seeming too kitschy and staged, but with such an earnest soundtrack backing the visuals, it’s hard not to get caught up in the band’s outpouring of memory and emotion. Watch it above.

Pony League will perform tomorrow, Aug. 26, at the Drunken Unicorn as part of Three Taverns Craft Brewery’s 2 Nights on Ponce series. Also performing are Midnight Larks, Newark Wilder, and Pop Weirdos. Doors open at 9 p.m. Admission is $10.

More Info

Web: ponyleagueband.com

Bandcamp: ponyleague.bandcamp.com

Facebook: @PonyLeagueBand

Instagram: @ponyleagueband

SoundCloud: @PonyLeague

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Twitter: @ponyleagueband