Interview #5: Lisa Modglin, the CPA in Center Field
And avid Dodgers fan
Background: Born in 1985, Lisa is a native of Simi Valley, CA and attended Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo where she played softball all four years for the Mustangs. She played professionally for the Akron Racers and New England Riptide of the now-defunct National Pro Fastpitch league before moving on to accounting. A lifelong Dodgers fan, she now lives in Denver with her wife Nicole. The two welcomed baby Remi to their family last year.
In this interview we covered her family’s love of the Dodgers, her softball career and why she will always love baseball.
In Love With the Game from the Start
“My first baseball memories are watching my brother play baseball. I loved, loved watching him play at a very young age. I mean, I started playing softball when I was like 5. So it had to have been around, I don't know, the age of four or five. When I was watching my brother play and like, I loved watching him play. I thought it was super fun.”
And now for a quick detour…
“OK, this is kind of a funny memory and it's not totally about baseball, but kind of. But I remember that my brother when he was in Pinto (ages 5 to 8), so he was, maybe six or something like that, they had to wear a cup. And him and his buddies decided that they would pee in the cup to see if it stayed in the cup, even though there's clearly holes in the cup and that obviously didn't work, but they all peed in the cup because they decided that they thought that was a good idea and it wasn't. Maybe that's one of my earliest memories of baseball.”
I'm sure he’ll love that you told that story right away.
“Yeah, for sure.”
And did you do t-ball or softball right away?
“I played softball right away, the league we had was a spring season league and I probably started when I was five or six and then when I was… oh gosh, eight-ish, they didn't have a softball fall season. So me and two other girls that I played with, we played baseball in the fall. So we played fall ball baseball for a couple of years. But we played softball in the spring and baseball in the fall.
You loved watching your brother play, but what about the sport drew you in? He's your older brother and you love him, but what drew you to the baseball part of it?
“I mean, I remember like playing catch and I really, I don't know. OK, you know that I'm an accountant. So I like rules. I like there to be a method to things. And so I found that in baseball. Like I’d play catch with my mom and we would play, you know, like before we could move on, we had to throw the ball 100 times. So I liked that it was precise. Like I had to be very precise with things and I was very, very small. Very small. And I mean, I'm small now, but I was very small as a kid. And so for me to be able to play against the other girls, I had to be perfect. So I felt like when I was playing catch, I had to really, really think about everything and I liked that part of it. I liked that you had to be precise with the game.
Now I think I got hooked more with (watching) my brother and it was more social. I loved watching with my mom. I loved watching with the other boys’ parents and I liked getting the snacks at the snack bar. That's all the fluffy stuff of, you know, why I liked baseball, watching my brother.
Then, like the people, you're getting to be around people and you have a completely different connection with those people when you're playing. And like, at a young age, you played with people that weren't in your school, like they were from who-knows-where. And it was kind of nice to just play with them and get to know other girls.”
You seem like a shy person. So did that help you socialize as a kid?
“Yeah, I think that I would define myself as an introvert, and particularly like an observer. I like to observe and see how things are before I, you know, decide to get involved in whatever is happening. And so I think that definitely helped me because it's something that can bring you together that you could talk about, and it's a little bit easier than just trying to bring up some conversation because I agree that I'd be shy without having something like that in common to talk about.
Some of my best friends and even people that I don't talk to all the time, but we have a special connection, right? So like women that I played with, I can call them anytime and reconnect. The women that I played with as a child, and in college, and then professionally… like they're some of the closest people in my life.”
The Dodgers and Brett Butler
“My family has a background of being Dodgers fans. So like my dad's dad, my Papa was a big, big time Dodger fan. I made my mom send me pictures a little bit ago when I was in my first Dodgers outfits. I'm like, I don't know, maybe I'm 1.5, right? I'm very young. So yeah, my family background is a lot in baseball, and particularly with the Dodgers. My Papa was a big Dodger fan. And then my dad…
My family is insane about the Dodgers. I have to remind them like ‘you know you're not on the team, right?’ Yeah. But they think they are. And that's OK, right? Because it's somebody that they can root for.
And what's cool about being a family Dodger fan is that there is no bandwagon. Whereas like football, I’m a total bandwagon fan. I'll jump on whatever team, I don't care. But the Dodgers, I'll root for them, whether they're terrible or they're the best.”
Yeah, I mean, I prefer when they're terrible, but you've had some good runs. So your favorite player was Brett Butler.
“I always liked Brett Butler. I thought he worked hard and it was fun to watch him play.”
But he was a Giant, too.
“He was! But maybe I was too young to remember that. All I remember is him as a Dodger.”
Side story: I found out her favorite player was Brett Butler when we were in college. I asked why she wore #22 (that’s my favorite number because of Will Clark). She said it was Brett Butler. Then, after college, while I was interning with the Portland Beavers, Brett Butler was managing the Reno Aces in 2009. We were specifically told NOT to ever ask for an autograph, but I snuck out there after the game when the grounds crew provided cover and asked him to sign a ball for her, which he happily did. He wrote “To Lisa - God Bless you always, Brett Butler”. That’s definitely one of the favorite gifts I’ve ever gotten anyone and I’m glad she put it in a UV case so it’ll never fade.
“My favorite baseball memory is the Dodgers winning the World Series in 2020, and it was so cool. And I get it. It's COVID or whatever. I don't care. It was cool because the baseball fans waited for a long time. (since 1988)
My grandfather had passed away in 2015, but it made me think of him a lot, because I know how excited he would be for them. Vin Scully, he passed away not very long after that. But he got to experience another Dodgers World Series. Really, really cool memory.
Cal Poly Softball and developing leadership qualities
Background: Lisa played softball for Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo from 2004-07 where she put together one of the most decorated careers in school history. Heading into the 2024 season she is still the school’s all-time leader in hits (236), doubles (43), triples (17), total bases (379) and slugging percentage (.593), 2nd in batting average (.369) and 4th in home runs (22).
It was her senior year, and the team’s 2007 season, that really stands out. She set a conference record with a .476 batting average, 81 hits, 56 runs, 16 home runs, a .580 on-base percentage, and a .924 slugging percentage (!) for an OPS of 1.504. The team went 39-17, winning the Big West Conference with a 14-4 record and advancing to the regional round of the Women’s College World Series.
“I'm going to give you my favorite memory, which is kind of selfish, but I don't care. This is probably my favorite memory. My senior year… you know, anytime you go into your senior year, you're kind of nervous, right? And you were around… “
Note: Yes, I was a student employee for the athletic department and photographer for the school paper so I was at all the home games… her walk-up song was Self-Esteem by The Offspring)
“…so, like, the two years before we kind of got snubbed with the playoffs. We hadn't made it to regionals. So it was really tough. So it was an important year. And we worked our ass off in the offseason. And the first game we played, we played against University of Washington. They didn't go on to win the World Series that year, ASU did, I think. (close, but it was University of Arizona. Sorry, Sun Devils fans. Bear down!)
But I think the following year they did win the World Series (Washington won in 2009, ASU in 2008), and their pitcher was Danielle Lawrie and she was really good. She played in the pro league and she played for Team Canada. And so we faced them our first game. At home, again at Cal Poly.”
“And so I led off and I remember the first pitch she threw. She threw it very hard and it was right down the middle. I was like, OK, that was fast. And then she threw the next pitch and she threw the exact same pitch. And I hit a home run dead center. And that was my first at bat my senior year.
And I had six home runs my junior year and none my freshman or sophomore year, so that was a big deal, right? Like I didn't have very many and I remember feeling such a relief after that at bat, and it kind of set the tone to the season. It was like OK, we're ready. We're prepared. We've done enough. We got this. And we crushed it that year. It was a relief for me personally, but I feel it was relief for the rest of the team too, because like, everybody did amazing that year. So that was my favorite memory.”
You were the leader that year, weren’t you? What was it like being the leader? You're definitely a lead by example person.
“Yes. Yeah. And I think that was hard. Once I played in the pro league, I feel like I learned a lot more and could have been a better leader at Cal Poly. But at the time I was way more of a, I don’t want to say so much like a passive leader, but kind of. I'll always work hard. Always work hard, head down, work hard and do what I'm supposed to do and I expect others to follow. And that's not always what happens. So sometimes you need to be a little bit vocal and that really wasn't me. Like I wasn't super vocal. I wasn’t gonna call people out. And it probably would have been better if I did a little bit, but that really wasn't me. I think I learned more later of how to be better at that. But you know, we had a good season, so it worked out.”
Professional Softball
Background: After college, she played in the National Pro Fastpitch league for the New England Riptide (2008) and Akron Racers (2009-2012). She was a 3-time All-NPF honoree and won the 2010 Defensive Player of the Year award as well as the 2010 Diamond Spikes Award for having the most stolen bases. She also met her wife, Nicole, when they were teammates.
We didn’t talk much about her playing career, but did get into how playing professionally and having to work as an accountant pursuing a CPA on the side was fun but also frustrating.
Did you ever have any times where you were kind of over baseball? Like, not over, but just kind of you noticed you were distanced from it?
“Not really. I think the only time was when I was playing professional softball, I had resentment for baseball. I felt like, and I remember going to a game and, this isn't exactly the translation that I want to say, but I remember being like I should be out there, and it wasn't like I should be out there playing with the men. That's not what I mean. But like, I should have the opportunity to be in front of these people.
Like, I felt resentful of the fact that we didn't have the same opportunities as the men did in baseball. I was one of the best softball players, but I didn't make a lot of money playing softball. I had to have another career and all that. And so there was a lot of resentment for baseball in that sense. And I don't feel that anymore. I maybe it's just different. I mean, I wish baseball supported softball more than it does, but I'm a fan. I'm just a fan.”
I was one of the best softball players, but I didn't make a lot of money playing softball. I had to have another career and all that.
“I like watching the game. I love watching the Dodgers, but I like watching baseball in general because I think it's interesting and the things that they can do are amazing. I guess I just have a different viewpoint than I did when I played.
The fact that, like, Jenny Finch is still probably the most well known name, she's been retired now for 20 years, and so that's actually incredible, that she's been able to do that. And like, I'm proud of her for that. I just wish that along the way, more would have come along to have as big a name as her, and nobody has. There's been some big names, but nothing like her, right? Like nothing like her, she was just, she's different.
I just wish that some of the women would get more attention. But what's cool is I've seen a change in like the WNBA and women's basketball has gotten so much more attention in the past let's say five years. And so I'm hopeful for that and maybe that will translate in the future into just like women's sports in general and softball will arise from that because college softball is huge and they get so much attention. So for somebody to say like ‘oh, nobody likes watching it’, that's false because people love watching women's College Softball World Series. They haven't been able to translate it into professional softball yet.”
You're right. Like, personally I've been around baseball. I don't recall anything where Major League Baseball tried, you know, where the NHL is trying to help the women's league, the MLS and the women's league there. And the WNBA is like a subsidiary of the NBA.
“Yeah, yeah. Like, I mean there has to be money there. Like college, women's basketball has grown because the production value is amazing. But if you're going to shoot softball on a baseball field with a shitty camera and a bad announcer who doesn't know what they're talking about, nobody's gonna watch it. I don't watch it and I love the game. So there's production value to it and with production value comes money. And where did the money come from?
And with these other sports, it has come from the men's sports to help. Unfortunately, and I don't know anything about any communication with baseball and softball or anything like that. But to my knowledge, baseball's not supporting softball like, you know, MLB is not supporting any kind of like professional softball or anything like that. So that's unfortunate and I wish that that would change.”
Note: While NPF no longer exists, she goes on to tell me about the new venture called Athletes Unlimited, which started up in 2020. It’s an interesting concept and I’ll try to write something up about it in a little bit, but it’s like a fantasy/betting vehicle featuring women’s professional softball, volleyball, basketball and lacrosse leagues.
Coors Field and Living in Denver
Do you go to a lot of games?
“We're pretty close. Last summer, we didn't go a ton, but we also had a baby in April. I went to two games last summer, but usually we go to more than that and Coors Field is awesome. It's so easy to go to, man. I love going there. I love going there.”
“It’s more of a fun aspect, whereas like if you go into Dodger Stadium, decked out in Giants gear and start talking shit, apparently you're gonna get your ass kicked in the parking lot, right? Which is horrible. That's not gonna happen in Coors Field. There's certain places you can sit in Coors Field and nobody's actually watching the game. They're just drinking a ton. I don't wanna sit there. It's not fun, you know, because, like, if they're just having a party, like, I want to watch a game.”
“They have the Rock Pile, which is just the bleachers in center field.”
The Rock Pile, that's where we sat (on the baseball trip) and you can't see home plate without a telescope.
“No, you can't see it all. So like, don't sit there and it's not expensive to go to a game. So just, you know, pay 40 bucks for a ticket and sit in a good seat and call it good.
What's so great is the stadium is accessible. Like it's really, really easy to get to. You can park if you had to drive or you can easily take a train and then the other thing too is, I mean, Colorado has a lot of transplants. So, whoever's playing there, there's going to be a chunk of fans that want to watch the opposing team. So there's people who will go there for the Rockies and for the other team like every game.
And it's not like, you know, Dodger Stadium is so expensive. To get a beer is $20 and at Coors Field it’s less than that and the tickets are not expensive, so you could actually afford to go which is really cool.”
Being a fan today (and she rooted for the Diamondbacks)
“I love watching it on TV because I'll put it on in the background. I'll put it on every night if I had to and it's not to say that I'm gonna sit there and just focus and watch, but like it's easy for me to have it on in the background. I like to just be a fan. So like there's an amazing play that happens or whatever. Then it's on and I get to see it. And I don't have to, like, pay attention to every single second of the game. Like it's just on.
So I buy the MLB TV package or whatever because out here I have to do that to watch the Dodgers.”
On the Diamondbacks NL Pennant run
“I thought the fans were awesome and the players played like with so much heart. I loved watching the Diamondbacks here, it was so cool. And, like, what a cool story. Like, they've been terrible. And then all of a sudden they’re fantastic.”
On what she loves about the game currently
“Even though I will always be a Dodger fan, I think my perspective has changed because I have lived in different places and played with other people. I just want to watch the baseball. I just wanna see good plays. I wanna see the story of the guy that worked his way up and is pitching for the first time and his family’s there and the fans. And now I'm a softie and whatever. Like, I'll cry, right. Like I will cry when that guy gets his first opportunity and they show his family in the stands. And you know how much work that they put into that for him to be there like, that's so cool. I love that stuff.”
Now I'm a softie. Like I will cry when that guy gets his first opportunity and they show his family in the stands. I love that stuff
“I mean, if I am stressed for work or something like that, it's something that's nice to put on in the background that is relaxing. It makes me makes me feel good.”
Takeaways
I’m really glad I got to catch up with Lisa, she’s always so fun to talk to. And even though our friendship was pretty much built on being baseball fans and trash talking the Padres and Dodgers, I learned a lot during this conversation.
Being on the outside, it is interesting to look at the Dodgers through her perspective and see how awesome that championship was. It had been 32 years since the previous World Series win, so it’s not like they were content with just getting to it. That’s a whole generation between wins, and you could see what it meant to her and to her family members past and present.
Hearing how baseball fit her personality as someone who likes organization and order, and how she was able to use that perfectionist trait to help her get every ounce of talent out of her small frame was also cool. I always associate that with golf, but then I remembered watching her play and everything was so precise. Her swings were compact and direct to the ball, no wasted motion. Her routes in center field and throws were consistent. And that’s something that requires hours and years of practice. Which is why baseball/softball is so great, because anyone can succeed with the right effort and hard work. It’s why baseball’s all-stars all look so different, from the tiny frame of Jose Altuve to the towering presence of Randy Johnson to the chiseled body of Giancarlo Stanton to… whatever word you want to use to describe Bartolo Colon…
The other thing was realizing how little MLB seems to support women’s softball. I hadn’t really thought about it, but I haven’t seen any kind of initiative for a pro softball league with help from MLB. The WNBA is doing well now, but it took a generation to get to where it’s at and needed the financial support of TV partners and the NBA. The various women’s hockey leagues and soccer leagues have all been supported by their respective men’s pro leagues to varying degrees of success.
She’s right that the Women’s College World Series is huge and has a passionate following, but it hasn’t translated professionally yet. They benefit from having that existing brand recognition of representing big name schools like UCLA and Texas. They also get top-tier broadcasting packages with ESPN and other companies to really introduce you to the game and players. If they could try something and just give it 5 years to take root, I think it could work. What else is ESPN showing in the summer? Five re-runs of NFL Live and NBA Summer League?
Also, me and her awesome dog Jack were best buddies my last trip to Denver:
