(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Dravecky began a furious rehabilitation effort, which resulted in his much-publicized return to the majors on Aug. 10, 1989, against the Cincinnati Reds.
The game was played at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, and Dravecky did not disappoint.
Receiving standing ovation after standing ovation, Dravecky pitched eight stellar innings and beat the Reds in front of a packed house, 4-3.
The classy Dravecky would give much of the credit to the man he wanted behind the plate, catcher Terry Kennedy. This is what Dravecky had to say about that game:
“It was the most amazing, fun time I ever had playing baseball. I was able to throw the sinker and slider to spots, and that's how I pitch when I'm on. Terry Kennedy and his knowing how I worked was a big reason for my success that day.”
The comeback, however, would be short lived.
Five days later, in Montreal Stadium, Dravecky’s career would end.
Dravecky went the first three innings by holding the Expos hitless. He chose to ignore the sensation in his arm, as well as his doctor’s advice to stop pitching if he felt anything in the arm.
In the top of the sixth, Dravecky gave up a leadoff home run to Damaso Garcia.
He then hit Andres Galarraga with a pitch and Galarraga advanced to first base. Galarraga would himself be diagnosed with cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, 10 years later.
Tim Raines then stepped up to the plate.
In Dravecky’s own words, this is what transpired:
“I concentrated on Raines and threw a pitch. You could hear the popping noise of my arm breaking all over the stadium. I never felt that kind of pain in my life. It felt like my arm was coming off.”
Later that year, the Giants beat the Chicago Cubs in the National League playoffs, and in the obligatory pile-up at the end of the deciding game, Dravecky’s arm was broken again.
Upon examination of the ensuing X-rays, doctors discovered that the cancer had returned.
After several surgeries, and both internal and external radiation treatments, doctors finally conceded the inevitable and on June 18, 1991; they amputated Dravecky’s left shoulder and arm.
As you can imagine, both Dravecky and his wife struggled with the sobering realization that life would never be the same for either of them.
But where one story ends, another begins.
I have shared with you how Dravecky felt on that horrible day in Montreal, but what he kept thinking of was something his friend, teammate, and fellow pitcher, Bob Knepper, had told him earlier:
“God has provided a platform through baseball for you to share his love for those who hurt.”
Dravecky kept going back to this statement turning it over and over in his mind. He had an idea what it meant, but at first he wanted nothing to do with it.
Relying on their faith, Dave and Jan persevered. To help others would now be their main focus in life.
The first of Dravecky’s two motivational books about his experience, Comeback, was published in 1990, co-authored by his wife Jan and Ken Gire. When You Can’t Come Back was published two years later.
Comeback was republished as a children’s book in 1992.
In 2004, Dravecky penned a motivational Christian book entitled, Called Up.
Dravecky has been serving as a motivational speaker for the last several years and operates two Web sites. The first, DaveDravecky.com, bears this quote:
“Do not deny the impact your life can have on others.”
The second of the two is Outreach of Hope. Its mission, as stated on the home page, is hope, “Hope for those that hurt.”
I implore you to not let Dravecky’s story be forgotten. He is a true hero and a testament to the human spirit, turning his tragedy into so much hope and help for so many others.
Please remember Josisah Herring (Gray Ghost’s four year old Grandson who lost his fight with cancer earlier this year).
From Zander Freud:
“I also ask that you consider donating to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, who made Josiah's final days truly special. In Gray Ghost's words:
[The Make-A-Wish Fund] picked Josiah's family up at their house, drove them to the airport, flew them to Orlando, gave them a rental car, provided all tickets for Disney World, put them in a $645 a night Disney hotel room, gave them food, passes to the front of the lines, set up breakfast with Disney characters—and treated them like they were the most special people in the world.
When Josiah lapsed into his coma on his 5th day there, they did everything they could to help, and after a week in the hospital there in Orlando, they flew the little guy home in an air ambulance so that the family could be in familiar surroundings. We will never forget what they did for him.
Charities like this that help families in need cannot exist without our support—to donate, please visit their site and make sure that the contribution is in honor of Josiah Herring.”
Please remember, we are not asking for donations of $100, $50, or even $20. We are only asking for what you can afford. Can you afford $1? Think what is possible if everyone that reads a b/r article today donated $1, and then the next day, and so on.
Thank you.
Please feel free to edit this list if you would like to honor anyone you know who has battled cancer.
Please join me in your hearts while we honor the following Bleacher Report writers who have had family members and friends stricken by cancer:
Gray Ghost: Grandson Josiah
Brian Clothier: Grandmother and uncle
Cameon Shiflett: “...cancer has hit my family so hard.” (link to Cameon’s article below)
Patti Rodisch: Grandmother
Nick Signorelli: Father
Jeff Hubbard: "I'm guessing cancer cheated. I never saw Paul lose before." (link to Jeff’s tribute to Paul below)
Cassnadra Adkins: Herself a two-time cancer survivor and huge Cubs fan!
Ethel Lair: “Many lost to cancer, but many more healed!”
Tyler Spence: Grandfather Tex
Kara Martin: “I've experienced personal loss due to cancer in my own family”
Tim Coughlin: Father—prostate cancer survivor
Nick Colon: Mother—three-time cancer survivor
Craig Brown: Mother battling metastatic terminal lung cancer
Cecelia Tameta: “I have some family members who got afflicted by this deadly disease”
Patrick Mauro: “I found out today that a friend has breast cancer”
Hazen Vennard: “I have 2 friends with their mothers diagnosed with breast cancer and my neighbor up at college was diagnosed with testicular cancer.”
B Brand: “I lost my mother to cancer six years ago...Have an aunt who has beaten both breast cancer and colon cancer.”
Richard Marsh: Mother
Mark Smith: Grandmother-multiple survivor.
Jamie Ward: "I lost two grandads to cancer, one in march and one a couple of years ago, also my g/f had breast cancer 8 months ago but caught it early luckily"
Mary Jo Buchanan: "I lost my sister-in-law Shelly Bombardo after a three year battle of breast cancer at the age of 43."
Doug Rush: Father
For other articles on this topic, check out the links below:
The Relay for Life: From Bill Walsh to Bleacher Report, from Tragedy to Hope
Please Donate To THe Josiah Herring Memorial Fund
Zander’s tribute to Gray Ghost and Josiah: Mourning a Loss in the B/R Family
Jeff's tribute to his brother Paul: Why Sports Really Matters
Cameon's article: A Life or Death Situation: How Far Would Your Rivalry Go?
Doug Rush's article: Gone But Never Forgotten A Tribute To My Late Father
Author's note: You can contact the American Cancer Society at:
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp
or phone: 1-800-ACS-2345
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