ARLINGTON – UT Arlington Athletics officials recently honored former Maverick baseball player and coach John Mocek – one of the longest-tenured and most popular staff members in UTA history – with the new John & Pattye Mocek 3rd Base Patio at Clay Gould Ballpark.
 
The recently-retired Mocek, who spent the previous 45 years as a student-athlete, coach and administrator, and his wife, Pattye, were the dignitaries at the ribbon-cutting ceremony last Friday. They were joined by nearly 100 donors of the project, friends, family, department staff members and former teammates, players and co-workers.
 
The large event area – which begins just past the 3rd-base line by the visitor's dugout – features tables and a UTA-branded 35-foot-by-40-foot shaded cover 17 feet off the ground. A drink rail forms the perimeter of the patio and runs into a pair of stone entryway columns which match that of the rest of Clay Gould Ballpark. Embedded on those columns is the commemorative 'John & Pattye Mocek 3rd Base Patio' welcome brick and the UTA Athletics Blaze logo.
 
"This is pretty crazy," Mocek surmised. "Pattye and I raised our children out here (Clay Gould Ballpark), and I spent many a day playing and coaching. It's beyond belief that this patio is always going to be here, and to have this recognition from the department and all the guys I played with and coached – we're just totally overwhelmed and honored."
 
The John & Pattye Mocek 3rd Base Patio will serve as an ideal hosting location for parties and gatherings, with interested patrons able to reserve the space for most home games beginning in 2020 and beyond. Additional information on reservation policies will be announced at a later date.
 
Plans to continue expanding and improving the space are already in place, with Phase II expected to include an outdoor kitchen, complete with a BBQ pit, grill and more. Those interested in donating to the project and/or in reserving the patio are asked to contact Alex Ware, Assistant AD for Maverick Club, at 817-272-9613 or alex.ware@uta.edu.
 
A 1977 UTA graduate, Mocek arrived on campus from his native Chicago in 1973. He lettered four years on the baseball team and led the team in doubles as a senior. Mocek remained at UTA for the next 14 seasons as an assistant coach under Butch McBroom before moving into administration.
 
Beginning in 1991, Mocek served in nearly every possible capacity in the department. He managed events and facilities, served as the ticket manager and promotions director, announced events via public address, radio and television and oversaw operations. He even maintained fields, worked as an equipment manager and assisted with sports information duties.
 
Most recently, he served as the department's business manager before retiring last summer as Senior Associate Athletic Director.
 
In addition to his responsibilities in athletics, Mocek served as a member of the faculty, teaching advanced techniques of coaching baseball and the history and business of baseball in UTA's Department of Kinesiology. He also served as an official scorer for Major League Baseball at Texas Rangers games, officially scoring 387 total games. FOLLOW THE MAVS SOCIALLY
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