It has been said before, and it will be said many times over: If this was a Hollywood script, no one would believe it.
Already leading the league in RBI with 95 (eight shy of the first-half record), triple-crown hopeful Josh Hamilton's miraculous season reached astounding new heights last night as he crushed 13 home runs in a row on his way to a 28-homer first round in the Home Run Derby last night at Yankee Stadium.
If this is "The Dream", don't pinch me.
After recovering from an addiction to crack cocaine and re-entering the league after being removed for three years, Hamilton has become a hero and a household name for baseball fans around the country.
Fans erupted after just his second home run and 50,000 echoed Hamilton's name in harmony for the next 26 as he made the Derby a real show—taking water from Manny Ramirez's son, singing baseballs with the famous Sharpie, and getting cleaned off and coached by teammate and fellow All-Star, Milton Bradley.
And not to mention, giving his 71-year-old high school coach, Claybon Counsil, a pretty good work out.
He displayed a power that is almost unreal, posting three of the top-eight longest homers in Derby history—one of those hits nearly left the stadium.
But more important than the 28 first-round home runs, or the fact that he did not win the Derby, is his making the best of a second chance.
Josh Hamilton, upon sight, is not the typical guy that Major League Baseball would normally promote.
His body is covered in tattoos—a far cry from the choir boys that are the faces from the MLB. He used drugs in an era where drugs have destroyed the image of one-time first ballad Hall-of-Famers like: Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and Barry Bonds.
And he rose above it.
I have fallen in love with Josh Hamilton's story and was pulling for him to get those six home runs that he needed, but in a week, I will not remember who won this Derby.
I will remember that a star was born last night. I will remember that everyone deserves a second chance. I will remember that dreams do come true.
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