Brian Fay

Broadcasting baseball is more than calling the game in front of you. It’s about storytelling, connecting with people, and putting a smile on someone’s face. This summer, while broadcasting for the Bristol Blues of the NECBL, I had the privilege of sharing one of those stories. Early in the season, I made it a point to introduce myself to every player and ask if there was anything meaningful I should know for the broadcast. Right away, Fairfield RHP Jimmy Mulvaney shared something that stuck with me. Jimmy wears sleeves every game to cover a purple wristband he wears on his arm. Under NCAA rules, players can’t wear accessories that don’t match the team colors. The purple wristband honors his best friend, Austin Nace, who was born with Hurler syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that affects nearly every system in the body. Austin endured hundreds of IV infusions, multiple surgeries, and years of physical, occupational, and speech therapy. He faced dwarfism, heart damage, vision loss, hearing loss, and progressive brain damage. Doctors once said children with his condition often don’t live past age 10. Austin defied those odds and lived to be 21. On Thursday night, I shared Austin’s story during our ESPN+ broadcast while Jimmy was on the mound. The following day, I learned that Austin had passed away. Later, Jimmy’s mom sent me a message that I’ll never forget: “A few hours before Austin passed, I was telling his mom, Jen, that you were again mentioning him while Jimmy was on the mound as we were texting. Yesterday after he passed, his parents, Jen and Ryan, came over to our house to spend some time with us. We played one of your broadcasts we had saved while we reminisced and shared stories. You are appreciated. All our best as you build your broadcasting career.” As broadcasters, we spend so much time focusing on preparation and delivering a great call - and that’s completely fine. But moments like this are a reminder that our voices can do something even more meaningful. Austin’s memory will live on, and I’m grateful I had the opportunity to help tell a small part of his story.