Nall, Gord staying in game they love at Oakton

T.J. Nall and Nelson Gord were guys who were going to play baseball until their uniforms were torn off.

But the former Daily Herald 1999 All-Area players - Nall as the captain at Schaumburg and Gord at Buffalo Grove - were also smart enough to see it was time to put aside their dreams of the big time.

Putting away the uniform for good wasn't something Nall and Gord were ready for, however. There is still no place they would rather be than on a baseball field.

And that's where they'll be this spring as assistants to head coach Bill Fratto at Oakton Community College.

"It's pretty funny how things tend to come full circle," Gord said. "To go from playing against T.J. forever, he went his route and I back-doored my way into pro ball, and 10 years later we'll be coaching together."

Nall was an eighth-round pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers as a Schaumburg senior and immediately started a nine-year professional career. He overcame "Tommy John" elbow surgery early on, made three minor-league all-star teams and advanced as high as Class AAA - one step from the majors.

Nall was released by the Washington Nationals in 2007 and knew his playing days were over when he hurt his elbow in his only start last season with Kansas City of the Northern League.

Nall's older brother Mike is currently an assistant baseball coach at UIC and his dad Tom was a high school coach.

"I always wanted to do it," T.J. Nall said of coaching. "Obviously I'd still love to be playing and not playing in the bus leagues.

"But in the 2007 season when I was struggling and wasn't really happy with where I was, I started to think the writing may be on the wall and I may not make it to the big leagues."

After graduating from BG, Gord went on to a successful career at UIC. His ability to play any position led to a three-year stint with the Schaumburg Flyers.

He also spent extended spring training in the Astros' minor-league camp in 2007 before he was released. Gord went to Kansas City's Northern League team to finish his career and now owns Play Ball USA in Des Plaines.

"They're two young guys who are really excited to keep the program going in the right direction," said Fratto, who had nationally ranked 40-win teams in 2006 and 2007. "Last year was tough with the probation (because of a clerical error), and without us being in the postseason and in the polls it's like starting over.

"I also thought we needed some local guys to bring in to get us to the next level."

Nall and Gord know what it takes to get to the next level and beyond. Now it's a matter of translating it to a young but talented group.

"I've talked to my brother a little bit and I've tried to pull stuff I was taught when I was younger and in pro ball," Nall said. "I'll try to feel my way through the first couple of weeks and try to get my own style from the different coaches I've had."

Gord has already done some youth coaching the last two years and worked with some of Oakton's hitters in the off-season. He said one of his keys to success is not making the game too complicated.

From here both have different aspirations. Nall would eventually like to coach with an affiliated minor-league team, and Gord's preference would be to stay at the high school or college level.

What matters most to them is staying in the game.

"We love playing the game and being out there," Gord said. "Once I came to the realization I probably wasn't going to make the major leagues, I made up my mind that I may not live the most glamorous lifestyle, but I get to go work every day and do what I love to do."

mmaciaszek@dailyherald.com