St. Louis Cardinals: Harrison Bader picks up teaching job

There was a time when major league players had to work second jobs in the offseason. They would work as teachers, machinists, laborers, or in any other variety of professions. However, with the amount that players are paid at the major league level, one would imagine they do not have to work. Someone forgot to tell St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Harrison Bader.

With schools in Missouri being short staffed, Bader stepped up to the proverbial plate. He offered his services as a teacher, working as a substitute gym teacher for a day at an elementary school recently.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Harrison Bader works as substitute teacher

If there is going to be one area that a professional athlete is likely to excel in as a teacher, it would be gym class. After all, it would be a way to stay in shape and attempt to instill a love of sports into the children at a young age.

Bader may not need to pick up many more shifts at the local elementary school once the lockout ends. He is in his second year of arbitration and is set to receive a decent pay raise over the $2 million he earned last year. That supplemental income may not be as necessary.

No matter what, the Cardinals have to hope that Bader does not end up getting hurt in his extracurricular activity. The Gold Glove outfielder is starting to establish himself as a part of their lineup, posting a career best 116 OPS+ with 16 homers and 21 doubles in his 401 plate appearances last season.

None of that mattered with Bader came in to teach. Those students had the surprise of a lifetime, getting to spend a class period with a major league player. It will be something that they will tell their children about as they grow up, an amazing story that likely will not be replicated.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Harrison Bader has picked up another line of work. In doing so, some elementary school kids got the experience of a lifetime.