Wipe Your Tears...Clay Zavada Has Reported to Camp

When presented with the news that Arizona Diamondbacks reliever Clay Zavada might be hanging it up, The American Mustache Institute responded as succinctly as one would expect.

"This would be a horrific development," was the message left on their Facebook page.

Thankfully, Mustached Americans and fans of the 2009 Robert Goulet Memorial Mustached American of the Year Award don't have to worry any longer.

Their hero is in the fold.

“It was just a personal matter with my family,” Zavada said to reporters. “It had nothing, really, to do with baseball. I was going through some things and I needed some time. I came in and I talked to (manager Kirk Gibson) and straightened everything out. I’m here now and ready to play. It’s a personal matter that wasn’t related to baseball at all. I had to take some time and get everything cleared up.”

Now...the comments over at azcentral.com suggest that Zavada is, unfortuantely, sans 'stache.  While I can't confirm this (the photo above was from 2010), it it encouraging that the Diamondbacks are running a lip sweater friendly Spring Training.

In their Salt River Fields media room hangs the "Parks and Recreation" inspired Ron Swanson Pyramid of Greatness.

Glorious.

Clay Zavada Might be Hanging it Up

The mustache ride might be over for Arizona Diamondbacks reliever Clay Zavada.

Depending on what you read...the recipient of the 2009 Robert Goulet Memorial Mustached American of the Year Award is either going to show up to camp Wednesday or contemplating retirement.

Sure, it's hard to think of a world where the owner of one of baseball's finest lip sweaters, might hang it up, but according to azcentral.com...that's exactly what might happen.

Left-hander Clay Zavada, who was invited to big-league camp after signing a minor-league deal, appears to be contemplating retirement.  Diamondbacks General Manager Kevin Towers said Zavada, who did not undergo a scheduled physical Sunday and missed Monday's workout, told the club's training staff he was "having some doubts on wanting to go through this again."

But, according to if you take what MLB.com's Steve Gilbert says as gospel...Zavada will be in camp soon.

Zavada's agent, Barry Meister, said that Zavada experienced some discomfort in his shoulder and that was the reason for his absence.  "He just needed a couple of days to figure out what was going on with his shoulder," Meister said.

Meister said that Zavada was going to see either the team's training staff or team physician Michael Lee about his shoulder Tuesday and that he had talked to manager Kirk Gibson about his situation.

Walking away from baseball wouldn't be new for Zavada.

He missed the entire 2007 season after the death of his father and was forced to sit out all of last season due to Tommy John surgery.  The Streator, Illinois native, and former 30th round draft pick, appeared in 49 games in 2009...striking out 52 batters in 51 innings.  He finished the season with a 3-3 record and a 3.35 ERA.

So...will he or won't he?

Granted, it isn't the same level of drama that surrounded New York Yankees lefty Andy Pettitte, but to Mustached Americans...Zavada is a hero.  In October 2009, he took home the afore mentioned American Mustache Institute's coveted Robert Goulet Memorial Mustached American of the Year Award. 
 
Shortly after receiving the honor...sat down with the organization's leader, the esteemed Dr. Aaron Perlut.

The Zavstache is Back!

When Clay Zavada hit the scene in 2009, he won over the hearts of many with both his ability and that beautiful Rollie Fingers-esque mustache.

Last year, an arm injury (and subsequent Tommy John surgery) sidelined the reliever for the season.

Well, prepare to cheer again, gang...the Zavstache is back!

According to Nick Piecoro from azcentral.com...the Arizona Diamondbacks have re-signed the 26 year-old Streator (Illinois) native to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training.

Zavada was 3-3 with a 3.35 ERA in 49 games in 2009.  Following the season, he even took home the top prize at The American Mustache Institute's annual Stache Bash.

"As a proud person of Mustached American heritage and 2009 winner of the Robert Goulet Memorial Mustached American of the Year," Dr. Aaron Perlut, Chairman of the Board of the American Mustache Institute said of Zavada's return to baseball, "we anticipate Mr. Zavada's transition from Tommy John surgery to be seamless and impressive, and demonstrate once again that in sports, there is no greater performance enhancer than a mustache."

 

The wonderfully follicled lefty is currently assigned to the Diamondback's AAA affiliate, the Reno Aces.

Clay Zavada wins “Mustached American of the Year”

Thanks in part to the endorsement of The Hall of Very Good, Arizona Diamondbacks reliever Clay Zavada took home The American Mustache Institute's coveted "Robert Goulet Memorial Mustached American of the Year".

Other people finished behind the Streator, IL native Zavada, but let's be honest...it doesn't matter. Feel free to read what the AMI had to say HERE!

Clay Zavada among Goulet Award Finalists

I was going to start this one with something catchy like "do you like mustaches" but I was once taught that you never, ever open up anything with a "yes" or "no" question.

Basically, you give people the chance to respond "no" and move on. But, since the answer is always "yes"...let's continue on.

From now until October 20, The American Mustache Institute (AMI) is looking for you, yes...YOU to help name the 2009 "Robert Goulet Memorial Mustached American of the Year". You can check out all the rules and other candidates over at the AMI site, or just do what I did...vote for Arizona Diamondbacks reliever Clay Zavada.

Why Clay?

It's simple...this is a baseball site and he exemplifies everything that The Hall celebrated back in May during the annual Mustache May celebration. He started his with nothing and let the follicles grow!

None of this hair one day, gone tomorrow and back the next month nonsense of the St. Louis Cardinals. Once the Streator, Illinois native put his mind to it...he didn't look back.

Also, anyone who emulates (and celebrates) friend of The Hall Rollie Fingers is a winner in my book. Now, let's make it official!

So, here's the deal. Head over to the AMI site and vote for Zavada. Then...tell your friends and repeat.

It's kinda like the old "wash, rinse, repeat" thing from the shampoo ads...but with mustaches, rookie relief pitchers and Robert Goulet looking down from heaven with an angel on each arm smiling.