NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Ozzie Albies flashed a bright smile when he was asked about recently showing up at suburban Atlanta’s Lockheed Elementary to surprise students with the delivery of a stocked fish tank and a goldfish that he had raised.
“When I walked in, the reaction told me everything. I mean, they were very happy,” Albies said. “They thought I was just bringing a fish to them, but I went and surprised them by setting up the whole tank.”
The joyous delivery was a product of how Albies and his wife, Andreia, reacted to the students’ request for the Braves second baseman to recommend a fish for their classroom.
Albies’ love for aquatic creatures dates back to his days growing up on the island nation of Curacao. His Atlanta home features a 600-gallon tank that includes many of his favorite fish. So, the students were well aware of his expertise.
“It was an opportunity to do something I love in front of the kids and I took full advantage,” Albies said. “I was like, ‘I’m all in.’”
Albies went above and beyond the request with his decision to provide more than just a recommendation for the type of fish the students should add to their classroom.
“I went through Seachem, a company I use in Atlanta, to help us with the tanks and all the supplies needed, the filter, the buffer, all the stuff to start up a new tank. After that, I knew they wanted a goldfish. I could have easily gone to Petco or a fish store to get one. But because I had some that had been born in my house, I was like, let me just donate my fish to the school. I knew that would be more special for them. I explained that to them, and they were very happy.”
When Albies arrived at Lockheed Elementary just after school began on Feb. 6, the students were thrilled to see the fish, the tank and the extra decorations the Braves infielder added.
“I was sitting at home the night before and I was thinking, ‘What decorations should I put in the tank?'” Albies said. “I could put trees or rocks. But this was for the kids and I wanted to entertain them. So, I said, ‘Let’s go buy some SpongeBob decorations for the fish tank.”
So, Albies decorated the tank with a SpongeBob figure and a Pineapple house. The students responded by naming the goldfish Sandy, a reference to Sandy Cheeks, a popular character from the SpongeBob world.
“It was a special moment and I’m happy they reached out to us,” Albies said.