Catcher’s Blog

Brian McCann lists some of his favorite holiday memories in this interview and it also mentions that he is in fact married. He talks a little bit about his first Christmas with his new wife.

Braves All-Star catcher Brian McCann has already enjoyed a memorable month with his new bride, the former Ashley Jarusinski. After exchanging their wedding vows in Atlanta on Dec. 1, the couple enjoyed a relaxing honeymoon in Maui. They’re now anxiously anticipating their first Christmas together as a married couple.

MLB.com When you think back to your childhood, what are some of your fondest Christmas memories?

McCann: I’ll always remember how we were all together as a family. We’d always go to church on Christmas Eve and then come back to the house to open gifts. We opened them a day early, because my mother was a nurse and always worked on Christmas Day. I just have a ton of memories of my mom, dad and older brother, Brad, all being together around Christmas.

MLB.com: What was the most memorable gift you received as a child?

McCann: I’d have to say it was the football uniforms my brother and I got when I was probably about six. We had all the pads, jerseys, helmets and all of that. As soon as we opened them, we put everything on and went out in the yard and started playing. I had the Giants uniform and he had the Bills.

MLB.com: Were the Giants your favorite team?

McCann: No, these were just the uniforms that were available for my parents to get us. I was six. I probably didn’t even know what the NFL or any of the teams were then.

MLB.com: When you were about 10, you had the chance to go into the Braves clubhouse and have your picture taken with John Smoltz. Now that he’s your batterymate, what would you get him for Christmas?

McCann: I’ve got to keep it clean because he’s going to read this. So I think I would get him some golf lessons, so that he can take his game to another level and be able to realize his dream of playing on the Senior PGA Tour. I hope there’s a day after he retires that I can come home and watch him playing golf against the other Senior players.

MLB.com: Although you guys have been friends since you were 12, you’ve said you’ve never gotten a Christmas gift for Jeff Francoeur. But if you were to get him one this year, what would it be?

McCann: I’d definitely get him singing lessons, because if the Braves choose to put him back up on Turner Field’s big video board to perform again next season, they’re probably going to start losing fans.

MLB.com What is your favorite Christmas movie?

McCann: You have to go with “A Christmas Story,” don’t you?

MLB.com: That movie was made before you were even born. Obviously, a lot has changed since that time and now you and Ashley find yourself preparing for your first Christmas together. Have you thought about that?

McCann: It’s going to be awesome. We’ve got our Christmas tree up, all the ornaments, decorations and stuff. It’s pretty cool.

MLB.com: What is at the top of your Christmas wish list?

McCann: I don’t know. I’ve already got everything. Ashley will get me something nice and my parents always get me nice gifts. I guess we need houseware products.

MLB.com: Didn’t you get a lot of that stuff as wedding gifts?

McCann: To tell you the truth, I’m completely lost on all of that stuff. We just got back from our honeymoon and I don’t know what we got. I was out of the loop on a lot of that wedding stuff. People would ask me where we were registered and I didn’t know what they were talking about. I had to call Ashley to find out.

MLB.com What would be the best Christmas gift for the Braves organization?

McCann: I think [general manager] Frank Wren has been doing an unbelievable job. He went out and got [Tom] Glavine and our starting pitching went from good to great. I think our bullpen was our most consistent thing this past year and with [Rafael] Soriano, [Peter] Moylan and some of the other guys back, I don’t think that should change. Our lineup is solid. I just really like this team right now.

- Interview here.