Getting There By A Different Route

For some months now, I have been following through the pages of Sports Illustrated magazine and nightly Baseball Tonight broadcasts, the inspiring story of Rick Ankiel.

Rick Ankiel was a pitcher for the St Louis Cardinals. He was a good pitcher, and he LOVED being in the Major Leagues. Playing Major League Baseball had been his dream since boyhood, and he was just happy to b there.

Then, things began to go terribly wrong. Suddenly, Rick Ankiel, the highly touted and talented young pitcher, could no longer throw a baseball anywhere near the strike zone. He had blown out his elbow, and his pitching days were at an end. So, it seemed, was his career in Major League Baseball.

On the day that he was formally dismissed by the Cardinals, Ankiel asked General Manager Walt Jocketty, "Isn't there ANY way I can get back to the Majors?" Jocketty's answer was a rather gruff "Sure, kid, just not as a pitcher".

Rick Ankiel took those words to heart. He determined that he WOULD someday return to the Major Leagues. He went home and worked hard, staying in shape and practicing hs swing. Soon, he asked for and received a chance to try out for a St Louis minor league team~as an outfileder.

No one expected much, if ANYTHING, from Rick Ankiel's attempt to return to Major League Baseball. I mean really~the only pitcher to ever successfully switch positions like this was Babe Ruth, and he didn't have an injury to overcome!

But, Ankiel was persistent. For 3 years he toiled in anonymity, and for MUCH less money, in the St Louis minor league system.

This week, that work and persistence paid off. Rick Ankiel was called up from the minors to once again join the St Louis Cardinals~this time as an outfielder. It was obvious to everyone in the stadium that night that Rick Ankiel was just glad to be there. Also obvious was the joy of St Louis Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa, who has been following Ankiel for all this time, and was thrilled to see him back in the Major Leagues.

Rick Ankiel walked to the plate for his first at bat amid loud cheering from the crowd. The noise grew to a deafening level a few minutes later when Rick Ankiel connected for a 3 run homer in his very first at bat.

Tom Hanks has a line in the movie "A League Of Their Own" that says "There's no crying in baseball!" But when Rick Ankiel crossed home plate and was greeted by his teammates in the St Louis dugout, there was indeed crying in baseball. Tears were being wiped away by several of Ankiel's teammate, and even his manager, Tony LaRussa.

Ankiel has, in the week since his return, hit 2 more home runs and has made some spectacular catches in the outfield. He has absolutely found his way back.

So, why am I sharing all of this with you? Because it inspires me, and I hope it will inspire you as well. What Rick Ankiel wanted was to be a Major League Baseball player. He's there now, he just didn't get there quite the way he thought he would. He had to find a different route. But, he didn't let that stop him. He found that route, and he worked hard to follow it, and now he is right where he wants to be.

I don't know what goal you have in mind that you want to acheive. I just want to say to you, don't give up. If you tried getting there one way and it didn't work, look for another route. My grandfather used to tell me "If that mule won't move, get off and ride a horse!" :}

So, if you're mule won't move, get off and ride a horse.
If you can't pitch, then learn to play the outfield.

Try a different route. You just might find yourself hitting a home run.

Blessings,
Vicki

UPDATE: Rick Ankiel has since been traded to my favorite team, the Atlanta Braves, so now I get to watch him on a regular basis. And by the way, the Braves pulled out a 5-4 post season win over the San Fransisco Giants last night, thanks to Rick Ankiel's 11th inning MONSTER home run :))