John & Johnny Gall Share Baseball Bond at NTIS

A father-son duo with deep ties to the game, John Gall and his son Johnny continue the family legacy on the national stage.

From the Major Leagues to USA Baseball, John Gall has spent his life around the game. Gall, a three-time USA Baseball alumnus and 2008 Olympic medalist, is a former big leaguer who has seen baseball from every angle. This summer, he got to see the game from an even more personal perspective – watching his son Johnny compete at the USA Baseball National Team Identification Series (NTIS).

For Johnny, playing the game his dad once played at the highest level is more than just a pastime, but a connection. We caught up with both John and Johnny to hear about their shared love of baseball, the lessons passed down, and the memories they’ve built together on and off the field.

Q&A with Johnny Gall

Q: What is it like playing the game your dad once played at such a high level here at NTIS?
“It's really fun to just be able to play the game that he played for so long and to compete at a high level is a great experience.”

Q: What about your dad's baseball journey inspires you?
“How with every opportunity he's got, he’s always done really well with it and he always whenever he had a chance to do well he did it and he never lost that fire.”

Q: How do you make your own name in the game for yourself?
“I make my own name. I just like really just competing, doing the best that I always can and just having fun.”

Q: What's the best advice he's given you?
“The best advice he's given me is that it's a hard game so just have fun with it.”

Q: What do you want people to know about you as a baseball player?
“That I always give my best and put my team first.”

Q: What's your favorite baseball memory with your dad?
“My favorite baseball memory is when we won districts in Little League. That championship was really fun.”

Q: How do home baseball talks differ from the ones here at the ballpark?
“At home you can get more personal and he always tells me exactly what I’m doing right.”

Q: What does the game mean to you?
“I just love playing the game and it's just always super fun.”

Q&A with John Gall

Q: What is it like watching Johnny grow as a player?
“I love watching Johnny get better, work hard, go through the struggles and make the successes better.”

Q: What do you think is the biggest lesson from your career that you've passed on to him?
“Well, there's no shortcuts. You have to put the work in to get to the results.”

Q: How do you balance being a dad, but also a mentor, knowing you've played the same sport too?
“Well, I mean, I'm always dad, but then sometimes I'm a coach. But no, I don't think it's difficult to balance. You know, I'd say that I'd want to be out here anyway.”

Q: How do you hope his journey is similar or maybe different to how yours was?
“I think he'll have his own journey. However he wants to do it – whether in baseball or in life – I want it to be his.”

Q: What's your favorite baseball memory together?
“I think he'd have the same answer – when we won our district Little League Championship.”

Q: What does the game mean to you?
“Baseball is community, a sport like no other. There’s failure, there’s success, there’s family. It’s my favorite sport."