Monday, May 25, 2009

Hamilton's Wild Ride




“I’m proof that hope is never lost”

That’s my favorite quote, and it was said by my favorite baseball player, Josh Hamilton. Not only has he been to hell and back, he’s a great baseball player who can steal the show wherever he goes.

Think back to last year’s Homerun Derby at Yankee Stadium. It wasn’t the Homerun Derby; it was the Josh Hamilton Show (as fans and announcers called it) He broke the record of most homeruns hit in the first round when he knocked 28 out of the park, making the crowd go wild.

I would assume most Rangers fans and diehard baseball fans know Josh Hamilton’s story. If not, the short of it is he got heavily addicted to drugs and alcohol, destroying his body and his relationship with his family. He signed with the Tampa Bay Rays in 1999, signing a $4 million bonus and I bet you can guess where he spent it. As he got farther out of touch with baseball and even himself, it wasn’t until his grandmother and wife, Katie, could bring him back.

It was his faith in God and the support from his family that helped him get his life back on track. He is currently playing for my beloved Texas Rangers, clean and sober. He was on the Cincinnati Reds when he was finally allowed back into baseball, and the Rangers sent scouts over to listen to him speak before they decided whether or not they wanted to offer him a contract. They liked what they heard, and he is now the centerfielder for all fans to see at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

Because of a rib injury he had sustained, Hamilton has only played in 28 games this season. Even though he only has six homeruns, there’s plenty of time for him to catch up and be on pace for possibly a thirty homerun season.

One thing I love most about watching Hamilton play, is his determination. I not only see it from him making a tremendous comeback to baseball, but when he plays you can just see it. On base, he runs as if his life depended on it. In the outfield, he makes sure he does whatever he can to stop a player from getting a hit, and at the plate, he makes it happen.

The Texas Rangers are 26-18 this season, which is very successful compared to the last few seasons. Although they haven’t made the post-season in a while, if they stay on track they’re on pace for a very successful season.

5 comments:

  1. Great piece. Hamilton's a guy who knows how lucky he is to be getting a second chance and is certainly making the most of it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thankyou :) & thanks for following my blog by the way.

    Yes, Hamilton's story is really inspiring. Especially when you hear him tell it himself.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hailey, you never cease to amaze me. Another well written, well informed post. Congrats on the new blog!!
    AmandaLyn

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great story, great come back. I love to see players who play for the love of the sport. It shows on and off the field. The homerun derby was fun to watch, he killed that ball. I felt bad he didn't win, he certainly earned it.

    ReplyDelete

I appreciate you checking out my blog. I try to respond to all comments :)