On September 3, Olivet Nazarene University celebrated the installation of Ben Zobrist’s 2016 World Series MVP trophy in the lobby of the Perry Student Life and Recreation Center.
Zobrist, the talented second baseman whose 10th inning play clinched the win that ended the Chicago Cubs’ 108-year drought, attended Olivet for his first three years of college, during which time he played on the Tiger baseball team. Over the years, he has regularly returned to campus to share his testimony in chapel services and speak to various ONU athletic teams.
Through a connection with Olivet alumni, Bart ’90 and Lisa (Schnicker) Garvin ’90, Zobrist was recently offered the opportunity to display his MVP trophy on Olivet’s campus — something he agreed to with the condition that the installation materials tell the story of God’s faithfulness in his life.
During the unveiling ceremony, University President Gregg Chenoweth ’91, Ph.D. welcomed a crowd of about 60 people, including members of the current Olivet baseball team, faculty, staff, administrators and honored members of the community. Jeff Domagalski ’86, Advancement Officer for Athletics/Development, then introduced Zobrist.
“Olivet gave me the opportunity to get an education with a Christian purpose, but to also compete with a Christian purpose,” Cubs MVP Zobrist reflected as he addressed the crowd.
“When I look at something like this — I see the trophy, it’s beautiful and amazing… but it’s not about the picture in the front or the person in the front,” he said as he referenced the large signage depicting an iconic photo of the Cubs’ winning moment. “It’s about the story of what God does. When He builds you up, you stand on the shoulders of other people, He protects you — and then you achieve something.”
The MVP trophy, along with other personal items, are on a long-term loan to Olivet. Encased in a simple glass box on top of an oak podium, the silver metal shines brilliantly. But Zobrist was clear that while he is proud of the trophy and its significance in his career, the glass and wood materials surrounding the artifact mean just as much to him for what they represent.
“I was walking campus this morning… and memories came back from the time I spent here and the ways I was being formed here. So, when I look at the [trophy’s] base, I see all these people who put things in place that made it possible to stand on their shoulders and get to a place where I could start to try to achieve something… The glass represents that protection. I think there are so many Godly people who were praying for me…as I went through the ranks of the minor leagues. God had a way of protecting me as I went through all of that… some of that I was able to do under the protection of this school.”
In his illustrious baseball career, Zobrist spent 14 years playing in Major League Baseball for four different teams — contributing to two World Series Championships and earning three All-Star selections for his ability to play multiple positions. Since he retired from playing, Zobrist has poured his energy into Champion Forward, the nonprofit organization that he founded.
Champion Forward seeks to support athletes, coaches and parents “process the feelings, normalize the failures, and manage the fame that comes with the sports experience.” He has been open about his own struggles with balancing the intense demands of athletic training and is passionate about helping teenage athletes develop healthy habits as they navigate their own journeys.
“I feel really blessed,” Zobrist said to the crowd as he thanked people who championed his own successes. “As a believer, you don’t do things to get awards or attention. You do things to honor and glorify God. When we get attention, we’re supposed to shine to who we know the attention is supposed to go to.”
The World Series MVP trophy can be seen in the lobby of the Perry Student Life and Recreation Center on days when the building is open to the public.
For more information about Champion Forward, visit ChampionForward.org
For more information about ONU Athletics, visit ONUTigers.com
