Disabato: His father. His confidant. His best friend. Marty Bechina plays baseball in memory of 'Stevo'

Within 20 minutes of Marty Bechina being drafted on June 5 by the Oakland A’s, his Mount Greenwood home was filled with well-wishers.

“Sparty Marty,” the Michigan State and St. Rita graduate, had gotten the job done.

He was going pro.

“There were at least 30 people in my house,” Bechina said. “This community has been so supportive.”

There was one person, however, missing from the celebration, which included his younger brother Luke and mom Lori.

Marty’s father, Steve, died on Sept. 3, 2018. A sergeant with the Chicago Police Department, he was 47.

There was no bigger fan of Marty and Luke during their baseball careers at St. Rita than their father.

Whenever I’d cover the Mustangs, Steve would come up to me, a big smile on his face, and ask if I needed anything to eat or drink.

He was genuine and generous.

A guy’s guy.

And, man, did he love his sons.

Steve and Marty had a relationship that was more than father and son.

“My dad was one of my best friends,” Marty said. “He was like another brother for me and Luke. That’s how close we were. He took the term ‘No. 1 fan’ to a whole new level.”

When the A’s called Marty to tell him they had drafted him in the 32nd round, he became emotional. He had fulfilled a lifelong dream, one he worked hard to achieve.

But the man who had been with him every step of the way wasn’t there physically to share in the joy.

“I was pretty much crying on the phone with the A’s,” Marty said. “My dad would have hugged me for 10 minutes. He would have been so happy. It was something we had talked about.

“It wasn’t just my dream — it was his dream. That’s why it feels like he was drafted, too. I really believe he was in that room. I could feel him there.”

There were moments during Marty’s senior season at Michigan State where he would look into the crowd for his father.

It was a natural reaction. For most of Marty’s life, Steve was there, supporting his son and commiserating with fellow parents.

“People loved my dad,” Marty said. “He was fun.”

After games, the two would often talk, with Steve providing words of wisdom and a shoulder to lean on.

Special moments between a father and a son.

“Not seeing him at games, that was tough,” Marty said. “I’d make a great play and look for him. He was at every game he could be. He traveled to Malibu to watch me. He’d come up for scrimmages. That’s how he was.”

While earning academic all-conference honors in the Big Ten, Marty put together a season at Michigan State that would have made his father proud. The senior shortstop hit .262 with 13 stolen bases, 17 doubles, five homers and 35 RBIs.

In other words, a typical season for the 6-foot, 200-pound slugger who bats right-handed.

But there was nothing typical about the hole in his heart.

Marty misses the man they called “Stevo.”

Still, Bechina intends to go full steam ahead in his baseball career — and in life.

That’s what his father would have wanted.

“My grandma (Bechina) gave me a quote that said, ‘You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have,’” Marty said. “I’ve felt how strong I can be and handle situations.

“My dad wouldn’t want us moping around. He would want us to keep moving on and doing great things. He’ll be there every step of the way.”

He certainly will.