Jun 20, 2017 By Eleanor Bailey 5 min read

Were he not a standout baseball manager and educator at Mt. Lebanon High School, Patt McCloskey might make for a great prognosticator. He predicted his former player, Chicago Cubs’ rookie Ian Happ, would sock a home run on of all days, Father’s Day, June 18.

Happ had lost his father, Keith, Oct. 27, 2015, to a brain tumor. According to McCloskey, The elder Happ was one of the best people he has ever met. He worked tirelessly with his sons at baseball. Happ’s older brother, Chris, played for Lebo and Duquesne University before taking a job as a financial advisor in Austin, Texas. Mr. Happ was a “team-first parent” of which McCloskey is “forever grateful.” He was a big part of Lebo’s program.

As they drove to PNC Park for Sunday’s game, McCloskey discussed with his own father, Ed, Happ’s prospects. “All we talked about was that Ian was going to hit one out today because it was Father’s Day.”

Sure enough, in the top of the ninth inning, Happ went long to centerfield. It was his eighth home run in his major league career, which is know 31 games long.

As the ball cleared the wall, beyond Andrew McCutchen’s grasp, McCloskey jumped up. “I was screaming at the top of my lungs,” he said enthusiastically. McCloskey then raced one section over to wear Happ’s brother and mother, Mary Beth, were seated. “I gave them high fives,” he said. “It was very emotional for me. I can’t even begin to think how much that must have meant to the Happ family.”

Everything that Happ did this weekend for his former manager meant the world to him. McCloskey pronounced it to be “the best weekend” he’d ever experienced in his life.

Actually, it proved to be an extended weekend as it started the Wednesday prior, on June 14. Chris Happ, whom McCloskey said was “one of the best players to ever come through the Mt. Lebanon program,” had arrived in town. The two dined together and watched Ian Happ hit a home run on television at Citi Field against the Mets.

“That was really special for me,” McCloskey said, “because I got to experience that emotion with his brother.”

June 15 went beyond special. “Incredible,” said McCloskey.

At 7 a.m. he received a text message from Happ asking what time he was going down to the team’s indoor facility. Happ arrived at 8:30 and the former player chatted with his manager for 30 minutes before heading off to play golf. It was the first time the pair had seen each other since September. It was also the first time, Happ had returned to the facility, where his retired high school jersey now hangs.

“It was great to just give him a hug and congratulate him in person for making the big leagues,” McCloskey said. “It had been some time since he has been down there and I wanted him to see how after he had been drafted No. 1, we retired his jersey. It was a pretty special experience.”

But then Happ is a special person says McCloskey. His contacting and visiting his coach was a “selfless” move on Happ’s part because he had just driven to Pittsburgh through the night so he could spend the day golfing with his brother.

“But he still went way out of his way to spend time with me,” McCloskey exclaimed. “I will never forget that. He’s been good to our program.”

Happ has given the Mt. Lebanon Baseball Association and high school program bats, batting gloves, fielding mitts and shoes.

“I can’t say enough about his generosity,” McCloskey said.

Happ generously provided tickets and field passes to McCloskey for the weekend. These brought out the kid in McCloskey. He experienced seeing Happ play live for the first time as a pro.

Of the series-opening game played June 16, McCloskey said he become much more emotional than he had expected. He had held it together “pretty well” when he watched Happ get drafted live on television in June of 2015. He had also watched him play his first major league game on the tube. But as soon as he saw him step out of the dugout in his Cub’s uniform, McCloskey flipped.

“I jumped out of my seat, screamed ‘Ian” and when he waved to me, I ran down the field like I was 8 years old. I got to see him. I got to congratulate him. My heart couldn’t stop racing. It was a once in a lifetime feeling for me.”

On Saturday, McCloskey experienced it all over again as he watched batting practice on the field with his dad and Lebo assistant coach Jeff Donati.

“Watching big league BP on the field is amazing,” McCloskey said, “but then Ian was so good to us.”

Happ also put on a good show. Batting righty, he blasted one halfway up the second level of bleachers in left field. Batting lefty, he hit it out of the stadium in right field and it bounced into the river.

After Happ finished, he visited some more with his coaches. “He was so calm,” McCloskey said. “It’ hard to believe he’s a 22-year-old rookie. It’s something I will never forget.”

McCloskey will never forget the generosity of the entire Happ family. He noted Keith and Mary Beth Happ raised two “amazing” sons that were an “absolute privilege” to coach.

“They were both winners in high school, and because of their parenting, both Chris and Ian are such successful and upstanding young men now. I am proud to be associated with that entire family and thankful for the experience they game me this weekend.”