Cishek's journey from the backyard to the Majors
Former Florida Marlins pitcher and Falmouth native Steve Cishek has signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros. USA TODAY File
A young Boston Red Sox fan grew up watching players like Mo Vaughn, Mike Greenwell, Nomar Garciaparra, Pedro Martinez and Derek Lowe. As his love for the Red Sox grew, so did his love for the game. He dreamed of playing in the majors while playing Wiffle ball in his backyard, and he turned that dream into a reality.
Steve Cishek, 34, of Falmouth, started playing T-ball around the age of 5. That led to a three-year stint withThe Elks, a Falmouth Little League team, . where he built a bond with players and gave him his early love for the game.
Chris Fitzgerald admired Cishek in Little League and high school, despite their three-year age gap. Over the years they built a strong friendship.
“He was a leader and role model and somebody to look up to at a young age,” Fitzgerald said. “Even though he was one of the best players at Falmouth High School, he never had that cockiness. He was very humble and kind all-around, and that has not changed one bit.”
Cishek went on to join the American Legion Sandwich Post 188 team at age16. Assistant coach Bob Allietta said that Cishek “was probably one of the best kids I’ve ever coached.” The league's alumni include Roger Clemons, Barry Bonds, Roy Halladay, Madison Bumgarner and Albert Pujols.
“When Steve came over to our team at 16 years old, he knew his role,” Post 188 head coach Bob Corradi said. “When he turned 18 he became our leader by example because he was a real quiet, religious kid. Until this day, he still has those qualities and is a role model for all young people.”
Cishek played for the junior varsity baseball team for one year before being promoted to varsity.
“He’s a talented athlete and was an amazing selfless kid,” Falmouth JV coach Tom Kelliher said. “He was a grinder on the mound and always wanted the ball in a big game, and he always delivered.”
At age 9 Cishek met Ken Kozens, whose son played on the same youth team. Years later, Kozens became Cishek’s varsity coach at Falmouth.
“I don't think in all my years of coaching there was anyone that had better character than Steve,” Kozens said. “He was so sincere, hard-working, and likable. You're not going to find a better individual than Steve Cishek.”
When it came to college, Cishek chose Division II Carson-Newman College (University) in Tennessee because of its focus on academics. This also was the first place Cishek realized he had a chance to play in the majors.
“My freshman fall semester I was clocked at like 84 to 86 pitching and then my first game in college I hit 92 out of nowhere,” Cishek said. “The next game it was 94 and the numbers were starting to jump. Word gets out and I start hearing from scouts. I thought I can really get drafted if I work hard at this.”
During his sophomore year he got an offer to play for the Falmouth Commodores in the Cape Cod Baseball League . Although one in every six MLB players have played for this league, Cishek did not accept the offer and says it is his “biggest regret.”
“I got offered to play for Falmouth as a temporary, meaning when the guys got back from the College World Series, I would probably get the boot because that’s how it works,” Cishek said. “I was kind of disappointed, bitter and immature. I also wanted to be a starter. If I was only playing a temporary season, I wouldn’t be able get in the reps I wanted to get.”
At a D-II school, Cishek wasn’t getting a lot of attention from scouts so he had to “light up the radar gun” every time he played. Despite that, Cishek was drafted 166th overall in the 5th round by the Florida (Miami) Marlins his junior year. He played his first game for the Marlins on Sept. 20, 2010.
In addition to Miami, he also has played for the St. Louis Cardinals, Seattle Mariners, Tampa Bay Rays, Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox. Cishek will play his 11th season this year with the Houston Astros after signing a minor league contract on Feb. 9.
“I’m on a roster invite which means I am basically doing a tryout with the hopes to make the team and be under contract with them,” Cishek said. “They seemed like the best fit for me and they said they could have a potential spot for me. It’s a 25-minute drive from my house and my wife just had a baby. Also, I have the opportunity to play for Dusty Baker, who is like a legend. If I make the team, I’m going to be really fired up about it.”
In his only spring training game so far with the Astros, against the Washington Nationals on Monday, Cishek pitched one inning and gave up three home runs. “I hope I pitch better next game than I did in this one,” he said.
Cishek loves to give back to the community he grew up in. He has given back to Falmouth High, Post 188, Falmouth Little League, Falmouth Service Center and many others. He also has held an annual Wiffle ball tournament since 2015 alongside Fitzgerald.
“We try to do the Wiffle ball tournament every winter to benefit the Falmouth Little League and the Falmouth Booster Club,” Cishek said. “I wanted to do something to just bring the community together and to do something great for their kids. I benefited from Falmouth Little League and I want other kids to have that same experience.”
Cishek is married to his high school sweetheart, Marissa, and they have three daughters. In addition to spending time with his family, Cishek loves to fish and golf. He does not know what the future holds past baseball.
“I’m just taking it year to year at this point,” Cishek said. “To be quite honest, I’m pretty close to retiring. I don’t know if it’s this year or next year. So, this year is going to be a big test. If I feel good, I might be able to play another year. I'm looking forward to it, but just have to see where I’m at after the season.”
