So it has been a while since I last posted on my sports blog, mostly because I have been overwhelmed with school and my country music blog but I just a read a book and just have to write a post about it.
Josh Hamilton: Beyond Belief was one the best autobiographies I have ever read. Ever since spring training, I have been totally obsessed with the Texas Rangers and when my prediction of them winning the American League came true, it didn’t weaken my new found obsession.
Any baseball fan knows at least part of Hamilton’s story. A former number one pick and now, a former drug addict. I don’t want to regurgitate the book word for word but I will share some of my favorite parts and some “Did you know?” tidbits.
Hamilton was blessed with the skill of a major league ball player at an early age. As a 6-year-old, he was too skilled to play in his age group and was forced to play on his older brother’s team, at the time his brother was 11. Not long after he joined his brother’s team, he hit his first real homerun. I found it unbelievable for a kid his age to have that kind of strength.
It wasn’t until his freshman year of high school did the reality of going pro right after graduating was a possibility. He did verbally commit to North Carolina State University but never stepped foot on the campus as a student. Tampa Bay drafted him as the number one pick for a signing bonus if $3.96 million dollars.
His parents followed him everywhere until the Rays organization were aggravated with them as they claimed that they weren’t allowed him to grow up. Not long after his parents left, Hamilton got his first tattoo and started spending most of his time at the local tattoo parlor. After about six tattoos, he started hanging out with the guys who worked there and after that it was bad news. They introduced him to cocaine and everything spiraled out of control.
Long story short, he went to eight different rehab places and couldn’t get clean. It took everyone giving up on him except his Grandmother for him to realize what needed to happen. His Granny took him in, stood by his side through his toughest moments until he sobered up.
I could go on and on but I think everyone should read his book. Once somebody hits rock bottom there is nowhere to go but up and that is exactly what he did. He was reinstated to the MLB and started his comeback. The Cubs picked him up in a Rule 5 draft and right after that, the Reds traded for him. He made the major league roster out of spring training as a fourth outfielder. His first hit was homerun and after one season with the Reds, he was traded to the Rangers and the rest is history. The Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium with the chants of “Ham-il-ton!” to this past season, American League MVP, earning 31 of the 32 votes.
I can honestly say, I am now a huge fan of Josh Hamilton not just because he is a great player but everything he overcame to be the player he is now. There is so much more to him than the starting center fielder for the Texas Rangers.
