University of Georgia Athletics
A Quick Chat With ... Michael Curry
April 26, 2017 | Baseball
By John Frierson
UGAAA Staff Writer
In a way, Georgia baseball catcher Michael Curry went off to college a couple of years before graduating from Gainesville (Ga.) High School. That may explain how the sophomore, who has already started 92 career games for the Bulldogs, settled in so well to a vital role on the team.
Curry grew up in the tiny and quaint western North Carolina town of Murphy, which has a population of about 2,500 and an elevation of about 1,600 feet. He moved to Gainesville for his last two years of high school to further his baseball development, helping the Red Elephants reach the Class AAAAA state championship game as a senior.
In Georgia's 7-5 win at Georgia Tech on Tuesday night, Curry hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning that proved critical. He's now ninth in the SEC with a .344 batting average, with a team-high nine home runs and 42 RBIs.
Curry sat in the Georgia dugout before practice Wednesday and talked Murphy and Gainesville, a little Merle Haggard, his first home run and much more. Here's some of what he had to say:
Frierson: I noticed in your bio that you were born on July 4th. I guess that made for some pretty good birthday parties growing up.
Curry: Believe it or not, growing up I didn't really spend too many birthdays partying. I was usually on the baseball field, playing summer ball and stuff like that. I've had quite a few birthdays where I didn't even spend it with my family.
Growing up I played with Roadrunner baseball and we'd play all summer long. The Fourth of July was just another day; the people around me celebrated and it was fun, but it's not as exciting as you think it is.
Frierson: I know Murphy a little bit, from my days writing for the Chattanooga newspaper, where I had regular road trips to Appalachian State and Western Carolina. What can you tell the people about Murphy?
Curry: I haven't been back to Murphy in the longest time, and I take advantage of how beautiful it is there when I do go back. It's funny, Murphy has got that warm spot in my heart. Everything is so simple there: everyone knows everybody and it's just home.
It's fun to always go back home.
Frierson: When you moved to Gainesville for your last two years of high school, I would imagine that sped up your maturity quite a bit.
Curry: It did — not only me but my parents, my little brother, the whole family. We all had to kind of mature and adjust pretty quickly; we all viewed it as me going off to college early, that's the best way we could approach it.
There was a lot of growing up for me and it was hard on my parents, hard for me and probably harder on them than it was for me. The more I think about it the more I get upset, because I left my little brother there. I don't like that feeling.
It turned out to be an awesome experience and I wouldn't be here and where I'm at today if it wasn't for those two years in Gainesville.
Frierson: For a small town (about 35,000, according to Wikipedia), Gainesville has produced a ton of Major League players. Do you have any sense of why what is?
Curry: Gainesville, it's an outstanding community and a great place to grow up. They've got it all and they really care about their sports, and take a lot of pride in the Red Elephants.
I think a lot of it is the mentality and attitude that people have. You walk into the school and you see trophies; everything's about sports and I think that draws in a lot of people. It's just an awesome atmosphere if you're a student-athlete.
Frierson: Who's the funniest person on the team?
Curry: I always say Chase Adkins; I get a kick out of Chase Adkins. The way he carries himself on the field and some of the things he says. He's a country boy and for some reason he makes me laugh.
Frierson: If you could play any other sport for Georgia, what would it be?
Curry: Could I be different, like could I be 6-foot-11?
Frierson: Whatever you want to be, you can be.
Curry: I would love to play basketball. I always said if I had a choice between LeBron James, Mike Trout or Tom Brady, I'd love to be LeBron James, just to know that when you walk on the court you're the best and no one can stop you.
If I could be 6-foot-10 and 250 pounds and shoot like a boss, I'd definitely play basketball.
Frierson: Do you remember your first home run?
Curry: Oh, yes, I remember it like it was yesterday. I was 9 years old, we were playing at Wills Park in southern Alpharetta; I was playing for the East Cobb Longhorns and it was a 1-1 ballgame against the Georgia Roadrunners, a team I eventually played almost my whole amateur career with.
Actually, it was a 1-0 ballgame and I hit a home run to tie it over the left-field fence. I just remember I was really excited at that moment.
Frierson: What did it feel like, both in your hands and rounding the bases?
Curry: There's nothing like hitting home runs — it's just the best feeling in baseball, absolutely. I really have no way to describe it, it's just a really fun thing to do. It's a thrill.
Frierson: You hit another dinger last night at Georgia Tech, so did that feel as good as your first one?
Curry: It never gets old hitting home runs. I'll tell you, the home runs I like are the no-doubters. ... The ones where you kind of go in slow motion, like, whoa, I hit that really good. Hitting home runs is the best part of baseball.
Frierson: What's something from your childhood that you really miss?
Curry: You know, it's funny you ask me that. I texted my dad yesterday because me and one of my teammates, Mason Meadows, were listening to Merle Haggard. Growing up, me, my little brother and my dad, we'd drive over to the park or wherever and my dad had this Merle Haggard CD that he'd always play.
It was so cool listening to some of the songs and having them bring back memories of spending time with my dad and my little brother and just bonding. Just doing stuff together like that, that's what I miss the most.
(This Q&A was lightly edited for length and clarity.)
John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
