UCD Alum Daniel Descalso in World Series, on his Birthday

Daniel Descalso batted .397 during his time at UC Davis. He also hit 22 doubles -- the second most in school history.

But his success didn’t stop there.

Today his name will be announced as part of the St. Louis Cardinals roster before Game One of the World Series. And to make it a bit sweeter, it’s also his 25^th birthday.

Descalso likely won’t be in the starting lineup, but that doesn’t mean he won’t see any action. He’s got a hit and a run in six at bats so far this postseason.

“Baseball’s been part of my life since I could walk,” Descalso said on KNBR radio this morning. “My dad would pitch me wiffle balls since I was two.”

Descalso primarily played 3^rd base at UC Davis, where he studied economics, but has wondered around the infield throughout his career. He was drafted in 2007 by the Cardinals and has primarily rotated in at 2^nd base this year.

He was raised in the Bay Area.

“I grew up as an A’s fan,” Descalso said. “I was always the only A’s fan of all of my friends.”

The manager of the A’s during his youth was Tony La Russa, who is the current manager of the Cardinals. During that same time, Mark McGwire emerged as a power-hitting star in Oakland. Now McGwire is now the hitting coach in St. Louis.

Descalso did an interview on KNBR this morning, in which he talks about the Cardinals’ run to the World Series and his childhood in northern California.

He's also active on Twitter. Follow him here. 

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