Gar Ryness, also known by his stage name Batting Stance Guy, is an American sports entertainer and YouTube personality. Ryness mimics the batting stances of Major League Baseball players, both active and retired.

Ryness demonstrating Michael Morse's batting stance in 2011.

Ryness, a baseball fan, began practicing his talent at seven years old while playing wiffle ball in his backyard.[1] Ryness claims that he only has to watch a hitter a few times before he can imitate their stance.[2][3] He picks up on the intricacies of each stance and exaggerates them so that people notice and recognize them.[4] Despite having what Ryness jokingly refers to as the "least marketable skill in the United States,"[2][3] he said he loves traveling around the country and bringing nostalgia to the fans and players.[4]

Personal life

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Ryness grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area[2] and graduated from Monte Vista High School in Danville in 1991.[5] He is a graduate of Syracuse University.

Before landing a deal with Fox Sports Net, he worked for a nonprofit Christian organization as a spiritual advisor to professionals in the entertainment industry.[2][4] He has since made a career in the finance and pharmaceutical industries.[citation needed]

He is married with two children.[4]

TV appearances and radio broadcasts

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Books and publications

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On April 30, 2010, Ryness, in collaboration with Caleb Dewart, released the book Batting Stance Guy: A Love Letter to Baseball. The book was published by Scribner.[6]

References

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  1. ^ Smith, Cameron (21 October 2008). "Moment of Levity: Batting Stance Guy". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on June 16, 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d e Hanlon, Greg (March 14, 2009). "CHEERING SECTION: Meet Gar Ryness, the Batting Stance Guy". The New York Times.
  3. ^ a b HOCHMAN, BENJAMIN (July 23, 2009). "'The Batting Stance Guy' to visit Coors Field". The Denver Post.
  4. ^ a b c d Militello, Jim (19 May 2009). The Rise of the Batting Stance Guy. Associated Press – via YouTube.
  5. ^ "Carl Steward 'In Our Backyard': Batting Stance Guy becomes baseball sensation". San Jose Mercury. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  6. ^ Ryness, Gar; Dewart, Caleb (2010). Batting Stance Guy: A Love Letter to Baseball (1st ed.). Scribner.
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