The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1529264
DECEMBER 2024 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 61 ❱ WHERE ARE THEY NOW? come back up as soon as you guys are done with the playoffs in Triple-A.' "We did win the World Series that year, and I did get a World Series ring. The timing was great, but I did not play in the World Series." Ojala's major league career spanned 56 appearances with a 3-10 record and 4.71 ERA. The moment of the call-up and a lifelong dream realized might have been the biggest highlight. "It is hard to put into words," he said. "I'm in my eighth year and think- ing maybe it's never going to happen. I worked my tail off, but a lot of peo- ple don't get there who were talented enough. "When you finally get that call, you're just in shock. It was before a game, and I was told by my manager, who said, 'You can't say anything until after the game. It can't be announced, but I'm telling you, because I don't want you running around doing anything stupid and get- ting hurt.' "I couldn't even tell my teammates at the time. You're just dumbfounded thinking about everything you worked for. I don't know if there's a better feel- ing in baseball." Ojala originally wanted to be a teacher when he was in college, but the end of his baseball career brought about a pivot into the world of commercial real estate. "I ended up starting in commercial real estate, and that's the basis of what I've done," Ojala said. "I work on the com- mercial construction side and business development. Sometimes I do multi- family apartment project jobs and one- offs for friends on the real estate side." U-M helps prepare its students for the world in different ways, and Ojala's biggest lesson came in the form of time management. "It was a great education, and one of the biggest things I tell both of my kids in college is time management, learn- ing how to manage your time," he said. "I really was blown away by how much time I had thinking, how could anybody fail out of this? You have so much time, but it's when you don't really respect the time and you let it go that things happen. "I was in that mode. One of the things that's carried with me forever is that there's a lot of time, but if you waste it … you're not getting it back. That has helped me. You've got to take advantage of opportunities when they come. "That was a huge thing I learned at Michigan just because of playing base- ball and going to school together. You had to manage it properly or it will catch up to you." ❏ Michigan Wolverine Football Firsts 2025 is a unique book that looks at Maize and Blue football history through the lens of the 2025 calendar. Player birth & death dates, plus famous games help tell a great story. Some days will be "trips down memory lane" and other days will be "days of discovery" about players and games that you don't know but need to learn about. The most important thing is that every day will be a day to celebrate the amazing history of the winningest program in college football history. Every day will give you greater appreciation for the players and coaches who built the legendary Michigan football legacy. If you bleed blue, this book is a must read. Barry Gallagher is a lifelong Maize and Blue football fan and football historian. This is his eighth book about his beloved Michigan Wolverines. Go Blue! Check him out at: GoBlueFootballHistory.com Purchase this book on The Perfect Christmas Gift for Michigan Fans – The Newest Book About Michigan Wolverine Football! ❱ The Kirt Ojala File Favorite Spot On Campus: "I lived in a house my junior year at 917 South Main. There were nine of us in the house, and I had so much fun in that house with all of our friends. Every time we go tailgating or back to games, I always drive by the house. I look through the windows. There are always parties there. We used to park cars for football games, and that place to me is special." Favorite Michigan Memory: "I won't forget walking down through the tunnel to go on the field. The base- ball recruits went down on the football field for the football game, and I'll never forget walking out of that." Family: Carin (wife), Sara (daughter) and John (son).