Happ a hero to Mt. Lebanon
By Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac Sports
When the Chicago Cubs came into town to play the Pittsburgh Pirates last month, outfielder Ian Happ took timeout to visit with his former high school coach Patt McCloskey and speak to youth players attending his Mt. Lebanon summer baseball camp. Happ had a big week recently. He was named to the National League roster for the MLB all-star game to be played July 19 in Los Angeles and he was nominated to be inducted into the Cape Cod Summer Baseball League’s Hall of Fame.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ addresses players at the Mt. Lebanon baseball camp.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ signs a baseball cap for a young fan while his former Mt. Lebanon High School baseball manager Patt McCloskey looks on.
Whenever the Chicago Cubs visit Pittsburgh to play the Pirates, Ian Happ can’t help but become nostalgic. After all, the 27-year-old outfielder grew up here, living in the South Hills community dubbed Mount Lebanon.
During a recent four-game stand at PNC Park, Happ found time, as he always does, to visit with his former high school coach and sign autographs for the youth in attendance at the baseball camp being held on the same field where he once competed.
“It never gets old and I never get tired,” he said of signing autographs. “Just being back here brings back so many memories.”
Happ said he took “so many ground balls for so long” on the Mellon Middle School field with his father, Keith. When he was 10, he, too, attended a similar baseball camp where his older brother, Chris, and Andy Goff were instructors.
“I remember that being the coolest thing ever,” he said.
Happ then pointed to the place where he and Goff’s younger brother, Pat, fielded ground balls. “Just past pitcher’s mound,” he said, “and those guys were in the background.
“Those memories of doing things like this are so special,” he added.
During his tenure at Mt. Lebanon High School, Happ accomplished some pretty special things.
A four-year varsity letterwinner, he guided the Blue Devils to a top-8 finished in the PIAA in 2012 while claiming Almanac MVP honors to go along with all-section and all-district acclaim. He accumulated a .449 career average with 33 doubles, five triples, 12 home runs and 65 RBI in four seasons. A two-time team captain, he was nominated for the New York Yankees East Coast Pro Showcase/Area Code game in 2011 and received a 2012 Rawlings All-Atlantic Region honorable mention from Perfect Game.
During his scholastic years, Lebo baseball coach Patt McCloskey recalled how Happ constantly was surrounded by successful players. At the Blue Devils’ hitting facility he encountered big leaguers such as Josh Wilson and Sean Casey. A 1999 Lebo grad, Wilson was drafted by the Florida Marlins and played with four additional MLB clubs before becoming a pro scout with the Detroit Tigers. A 1992 Upper St. Clair product, Casey played 12 seasons in the big leagues before retiring and becoming a studio analyst for MLB Network.
“Ian learned a ton from those guys,” said McCloskey. “I don’t know if I can take any credit for where he is now. He’s at a skill level way beyond anything we worked on in high school.
“My only hope is that his four years of high school ball provided him with an introduction of how hard you have to work to really be a great player at a fairly advanced level; enjoying the process of working hard both on the field, in the cage and in the weight room; and how to handle adversity, because baseball is a really hard game and can humble you at any moment.”
Humility is part of Happ’s persona. He said that he was “really lucky” that when he played at Mt. Lebanon McCloskey was his coach because of the commitment he delivered every single day.
“It changed my life, for sure,” he said.
When he matriculated to the University of Cincinnati, Happ transformed into a major league prospect.
In three seasons with the Bearcats, he batted .338 with 25 home runs and 107 RBI. He garnered All-America acclaim, was a Golden Spikes Award semifinalist and gained Conference Player of the Year laurels. During the summer months, he played in the Cape Cod League, where he was a two-time all-star.
By June of 2015, he was the No. 9 overall selection by the Chicago Cubs in MLB’s amateur baseball draft. Within two years, Happ made his major-league debut. On May 13, 2017, he socked a home run in the seventh inning against the St. Louis Cardinals for his first major-league hit. He also homered in his first-career game at Wrigley Field three days later, May 16 against Cincinnati.
Heading into action the week June 27, Happ was batting .279 with eight homers, 37 walks and five stolen bases. He has driven in 36 runs and scored 33 times.
“I feel like I have put together good at-bats this season,” he said.
Happ credits his successful transformation to major league baseball player and potential all-star to preparation. He said that is the one thing since his call-up that has and continues to help him on a daily basis.
“Just the every day what it takes to prepare physically and mentally for that 162, that’s the biggest thing I have learned,” he said. “I feel really good about that process for myself. For me personally this season, I feel that I’m just going out there and I am very prepared.”
Happ willingly shares his knowledge. In fact, when the Cubs last visited Pittsburgh in September of 2021, Happ visited McCloskey as he was teaching history to his junior class.
“He spent almost two hours with me, explaining all the mental stuff that he learned that turned his season around during the second half. Can you believe that?” McCloskey exclaimed. “He’s having to rush back to get to PNC for a game that night but it was that important to him that we meet face-to-back to share what he learned just so I could take notes and then implement that knowledge with our high school team. That’s incredible. I cannot say enough about what Ian has invested into our program.”
Happ doesn’t just give his time. He has donated thousands of dollars in equipment to the Blue Devils baseball program.
“He gives our kids batting gloves and bats that they use and they cherish. I actually swing a couple of his bats in the summer when I play,” admitted Lebo varsity assistant coach Brandon Whitfield. “It’s absolutely awesome. Ian’s a very special person. A great guy.”
Happ shrugs. In his mind, it’s just part of what should be done.
“We always had Josh Wilson’s old stuff,” he said. “That was so cool to us that we really valued. So if I could give some of that back and the kids get to appreciate it, well that’s pretty cool.”
Two neat things have happened to Happ this spring.
First, he became engaged to Julie Mazur of Chicago. The couple are planning a 2023 offseason wedding.
“I’m super excited about that,” Happ said. “We’ve been together for a while, so it’s exciting.
“Julie has been completely supportive of my career. The travel, the schedule and only being home for a week at a time can be tough but she’s been there every step of the way. I can’t say enough about how much that means.”
Winning also means much to Happ that is why he was thrilled to learn his alma mater won the WPIAL Class 6A championship by virtue of a 2-1 victory against arch rival Upper St. Clair in late May.
“Winning has always been the standard at Mt. Lebanon,” Happ said. “Sometimes you get a group that has played together long enough and has that camaraderie that things really take off,” he said.
“What Patt has done with the program since my brother and I have been here is unbelievable. Every time I come back the program is in better shape than it was. He’s been the reason why. The program is in good hands because of his passion. There has never been any one with more energy.”
On a 90-plus degree day, Happ held his own against McCloskey. He signed autograph after autograph for the campers as well as spectators who learned of his appearance. He affixed his moniker to shirts, hats, bats, shoes, T-shirts, balls and Chicago Cubs jerseys worn by many of the young players.
“It’s absolutely awesome,” enthused Whitfield. “These kids look up to Ian. They watch his games every single night. To see a big leaguer at your community field, it’s priceless.”
Invaluable is the time Happ spent on the local sandlots. He said he cherished the moments and advised the young players to do the same.
“Enjoy it. Enjoy this part of it. Enjoy every day,” he emphasized. “My memories from Mt. Lebanon and playing here in high school are still some of the most fun I have ever had in baseball. So, enjoy every second of that.”