LINCOLN PARK — When former Cubs pitcher Steve Trout gives motivational talks to kids, he tells them to respect their names.
"You come into this world and all you have is your name and you should respect it. If you respect it, other people will respect [it] because you've done everything you can to make it a good name," Trout told DNAinfo Chicago.
The now 58-year-old is involved in a legal dispute involving just that: the use of his name. Trout is suing Lincoln Park Baseball Academy for allegedly using his name in the source code of its website for monetary gains, Trout said.
From 2011 - 2013, Trout coached with the academy as a founder and partner. Then, in 2014, the former major leaguer was "abruptly" let go, and told he was "no longer needed because he was an independent contractor," he said.
As a result, Trout decided to create his own baseball camp, Trout Baseball Academy. While setting up his website, he noticed that his name was still being associated with the academy, he said.
"My name should be associated with things that I allow it to be. This was not the case," Trout said. "I felt that this needed to be looked at by my legal counsel."
A representative with Lincoln Park Baseball Academy was reached, but declined to comment.
The lawsuit, obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times, alleges that the use of Trout's name "was done for the sole purpose of obtaining a commercial and monetary advantage over its competitor."
Trout is seeking at least $200,000 in damages.
Even though both baseball camps are situated at Oz Park, 201 N. Burling St., Trout said he hasn't let the dispute with his former employer interfere with his work on the field.
"I don't let anything interfere with what I do on my field. Plus, it's out of my hands, it's in the court system," he said.
Trout knows a thing or two about rivalries. He played for both the White Sox and the Cubs, among other teams, in the late 1970s and '80s during his 11-year tenure.
With his major league days behind him, he said he can't see himself doing anything but coaching young hopefuls — even if his competitor is coaching on an adjacent field.
"I love teaching baseball to kids. Nothing makes me happier than a young boy or girl making a great catch 'cause they worked for it," he said. "That's what gives me so much joy today. I'd rather do this than coach in the major leagues."
To find out more about how to enroll in Trout's camp, visit his website.
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