‘Definitely a people person’: How Ryan O’Hearn’s mom shaped the way he acts

SAN FRANCISCO — Shortly after learning he made the MLB All-Star Game for the first time last season, Ryan O’Hearn couldn’t wait to share the news with his mom, Christine.

From the visitors’ dugout at Globe Life Stadium — ironic considering he spent part of his childhood in Texas — the emotion in O’Hearn’s face and voice was evident the minute Christine answered.

“Hey, Mama,” he said. “I got some news for you. I made it. I’m starting as DH in the All-Star Game in a couple of weeks. … How crazy?”

The roots behind that phone call right deep. Christine O’Hearn taught her son how to work hard, take care of your kids. One of those kids, a player rapidly emerging as a leader inside the Pirates clubhouse, learned from his mom how to treat people with love and respect.

In many ways, it’s the perfect Mother’s Day story: Ryan still calling his mom every day and Christine (often with her husband/Ryan’s father Tom) now traveling around the country to watch her son realize his lifelong dream of playing professional baseball.

“He made my day, that’s for sure,” Christine said of that phone call. “He’s worked so hard and has learned so much along the way. We’re really proud of him for that. It’s a lot of fun. Our family doesn’t miss a single game.”

Ryan said it’s even more special because he now gets to celebrate Mother’s Day with his wife, Hannah, who gave birth to their daughter Harper on Dec. 28.

“They’re both incredible,” Ryan said. “I know I’m extremely lucky.”

The O’Hearns are now retired and live in Phoenix, Ariz. Christine is actually friends with one of Steelers coach Mike McCarthy’s cousins, the two playing pickleball together every week and Christine calling her “hilarious.”

The relationship between Ryan and Christine grew extra close in elementary school. Christine was the guidance counselor at Ryan’s elementary school, and he spent plenty of time in mom’s office.

One day, when Ryan was in fourth or fifth grade, Christine asked a favor of her son: to help a younger student who was having issues learning and making friends.

Much like Ryan has done with the Pirates, he embraced the challenge, sitting next to the kid every day, befriending him and supporting him.

“Ryan is the reason that kid made it through school,” Christine said. “Every time that kid got upset, Ryan was right there saying, ‘It’s OK. This is what you have to do. You can do it.’

“He wasn’t overbearing. He was just there for him whenever he needed somebody to say, ‘It’s OK. We got this. I’ll explain it to you.’ He’s always been that kind of kid.”

Ryan said he learned those lessons from his parents.

They both worked for four decades, his mom at school and dad traveling the country in medical sales. But as much as Ryan appreciated their hard work and what they did for he and his two siblings, it was how his mom treated people that resonated most.

It’s the same way Ryan has operated since joining the Pirates, relating to younger players and veterans alike, regardless of nationality or status within baseball.

“She’s connected with people of all types of backgrounds,” Ryan said. “She taught me how to treat people with respect and love, to focus on serving others and the humility that comes with that. She’s definitely a people person.”

They also both have a sense of humor, which came out when Ryan talked about what his mom did for him as a kid.

“She doesn’t like when I tell this story, but it’s true,” Ryan said, smiling.

When the O’Hearns lived in Dunedin, Fla., Ryan wanted to take hitting lessons off of a longtime baseball man named Roy Silver at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium in Clearwater — about an hour south.

So three or four days a week, after work, Christine would drive Ryan there. On the way, she’d sometimes ask a favor of her son.

“She was so tired that at red lights, she would put it in park and quote-unquote ‘rest her eyes,’ ” Ryan said. “She used to ask me to wake her up when the light turned green because she was so tired from working and driving me all over the place.”

As a new dad himself, Ryan said he understands better the sacrifices his parents made for him, his brother and sister … and can’t believe it.

“I can’t even put into words how much I appreciate her and how much she’s done for me,” Ryan said. ”Now, I want to pay her back in any way I possibly can. My mom’s the best. She’s been my No. 1 fan.”

Christine has been equally as happy. She gets to be a grandma to Harper and travel the country watching her son play. Every year Christine picks out a few cities she wants to visit, and Ryan will take care of the rest.

The one place Christine hasn’t been to yet, though, is Pittsburgh.

Sure, she’s watched the Pirates enjoy a different type of season from afar. She’s seen how fans have embraced her son, and she can’t wait to experience PNC Park for herself.

Call it a delayed Mother’s Day gift.

“We’re so grateful for Pirates fans embracing us because it hasn’t always been that way; it means everything to us,” said Christine, who plans on visiting later this month. “It looks gorgeous. It looks like a beautiful city. I wanna see it all and do it all there.”

Jason Mackey: Jason.Mackey@pirates.com and @JMackey_PGH on X.