Called Up: Stories of Life and Faith from the Great Game of Baseball

by Dave Dravecky, Mike Yorkey

Overview

During eight seasons of major league baseball, pitcher Dave Dravecky learned more than the importance of getting ahead in the count or wasting a pitch when he had the batter in the hole with an 0-2 count. Baseball taught him lessons he could apply to his life and his relationship with God. That’s what Called Up is about.In this fast-moving and compelling book, Dravecky retells classic baseball stories and introduces readers to some of baseball’s greatest players—and characters. Taking you inside the game, his insights will prompt you to think. You’ll actually feel the tension, for instance, as you relive the final three outs in Sandy Koufax’s electrifying no-hitter against the Chicago Cubs in 1965. And as you consider the huge odds Koufax faced, you’ll be encouraged about your own performance in this pressure-cooker world. In life, unlike baseball, no one pitches a no-hitter—and thanks to God’s grace, you don’t have to. Filled with well-researched stories and spiritual insights, along with hilarious quotes from the players, Called Up also tells you about:• Branch Rickey’s secret ambition to integrate Major League baseball• how Jackie Robinson’s faith sustained him in 1947, the year he broke the color barrier • why freezing Ted Williams’ body so he can one day be resurrected doesn’t make sense• the wit, wisdom, and spiritual truths behind Yogi Berra’s sayings • Dravecky’s all-time, all-century, best-ever All-Star team• the challenges Dravecky faced living out his Christian faith in front of his teammatesGod doesn’t waste any pitches when it comes to teaching you about life from the game of baseball. You’ll love the breezy stories, the quick applications, the timeless thoughts and funny quotes in Called Up. Are you ready for the first pitch? Good—because the umpire is yelling, “Play ball!”

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780310871590
Publisher:	Zondervan
Publication date:	05/11/2010
Sold by:	HarperCollins Publishing
Format:	eBook
Pages:	256
File size:	841 KB
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Dave Dravecky is the best-selling author of eight inspirational books, including his gripping story, Comeback. He and his wife, Jan, live in Denver, Colorado, where Endurance, his ministry to encourage those who are facing serious illness, loss or depression, is located.

Mike Yorkey is the author, co-author, editor, or collaborator of one hundred books. He has written for The Los Angeles Times travel section, Skiing, Tennis Week, World Tennis, City Sports, and Racquet. He lives in Encinitas, California.

Read an Excerpt

Called Up

LEADING OFF 1
The one player I hated to see step into the batter's box was Tim Raines, a speedy shortstop who played much of his career with the Montreal Expos. Tim did not swing a home-run bat, but he was a line-drive hitter who could hit for average, beat out ground balls for base hits, and regularly turn singles into doubles when the outfielder didn't hustle to cut off the ball.
Tim was one of the best base-stealers of my era. If you walked him or held him to a single, he was a threat to steal second and third because of his blazing speed and uncanny timing. Everyone knew that his coaches gave him the green light when he roamed the base paths. Tim was such a base-stealing threat that my coaches continually harped on me to keep him close. 'Give the catcher a chance to throw him out,' they said.
Tim worked hard to get into the head of the pitcher once he took his lead. I know he tried to get into mine. My number-one priority was to get the hitter out, but when I took my stretch and watched Tim inch his way to a bigger and bigger lead, I was supremely aware that he was a huge threat to go at any time.
Tim knew that I knew that he knew he could steal second base just about any time he wanted to. He also knew that he had flustered hundreds of pitchers over the years to the point of distraction. Distracted pitchers 'lose' the next batter by giving up a base on balls or delivering a fat pitch that results in a 'gapper' all the way to the wall. Believe me, you give Tim Raines a running start, and he could score standing up on an extra-base hit.
That's why I concentrated very hard when Tim took his lead off first base. I focused on the job at hand: keep Tim close, stay ahead in the count, and make good pitches. Don't make a mistake. Keep your focus.
I've tried to keep that single-minded focus in my Christian life. Focusing on God's Word has become so important to me that I work hard not to be distracted. I do that through prayer, fellowship, and regularly reading God's Word. I'm not perfect in these areas, not by a long shot. But these are all things we can do on a consistent basis, which will help us not be distracted by the everyday happenings of life.
What do you do to remain focused in your Christian life? Are you reading your Bible each day? Attending church consistently every Sunday? Participating in a weekly Bible study, especially a men's group? Don't forget: Satan knows that you know that he knows he can distract you with the 'busyness' of life. If the Great Deceiver can distract your spiritual attention away from God's Word and fellowship with other believers, he can run wild on your base paths.
Nope, you never want Satan even to reach first base. Punch him out with your best pitch---a single-minded desire to follow Jesus Christ.
Belonging to the Chatter Class
When the San Diego Padres called me up in 1982, I felt as if I was the greenest rookie ever to put on a big league uniform. For the first couple of weeks, I tiptoed around the clubhouse as if I didn't belong there. I kept my head down and my mouth shut.
Once the game started, however, I wanted to help out the team anyway I could, so I cheered from the bench. I guess I could still hear my old Little League coach bellowing, 'Let's hear some chatter, guys.'
So I chattered. I yelled at the opposing pitcher ('You're losing it, Two-Nine!') and jumped up whenever one of our guys made a great play or stroked a big hit. I was first in line to shake the hand and slap the back of our home-run hitters. In those days, the high-five, bashing forearms, or rapping knuckles hadn't been invented yet.
I guess my cheerleading bothered a few of my 'cooler' teammates. One time, shortstop Garry Templeton---one of the flashier players in the game---eyed me after one of my leather-lunged outbursts.
'Dave, calm down,' he ordered. 'You're in the big leagues now.'
I felt every teammate's eyes boring down on me.
'Sure, Tempy,' I mumbled. 'Anything you say.'
Later that night, however, I began to have second thoughts. Wasn't I playing a kid's game? Wasn't it funner to play baseball that way? What's wrong with having a good time at the old ballpark?
I decided that I would have a 'kid's game' attitude for as long as I was in the big leagues. Of course, I tempered my enthusiasm whenever Tempy was in the neighborhood, but by golly, I would keep up the chatter.
And I sure had fun doing it.
They Said It
'I bleed Dodger blue and when I die, I'm going to the big Dodger in the sky.' ---Tommy Lasorda, Los Angeles Dodgers manager
'Wait until Tommy meets the Lord and finds out that he's wearing pinstripes.' ---Gaylord Perry, Hall of Fame pitcher
A SAD SHOW 2
Baseball fans think that when major league ballplayers leave the game---or are handed their pink slips---that we traipse off to our winter retirement homes in Arizona, kick off the shoes, and watch ESPN SportsCenter around the clock.
Believe me, even listening to Chris Berman say 'back-backback- back' can get old. For most people, loafing around is okay for a few months, but most of us are eager to do something, whether it's opening a pizza parlor or starting up a Web site that sells gum chewed by Luis Gonzalez and Sammy Sosa.
Once the cheering stops and you have to reenter the 'real world,' it can be difficult to adapt, even if you have millions in the bank to comfort the blow. Some struggle more than others. Some of my former teammates didn't handle the post-baseball years very well. Alan Wiggins, a second baseman-turned-junkie, died of AIDS after being infected by a needle. Pitcher La Marr Hoyt was arrested at the Mexican border with a trunk full of drugs. John 'The Count' Montefusco was arraigned before a judge for beating up his wife.
Then there's the sad tale of Eric Show1 (rhymes with pow), who was a pretty good pitcher in his day, winning more games in a Padre uniform than anyone in franchise history. When I was called up to The Show for the first time in 1982, one of the first persons to greet me was Eric Show. As far as I was concerned, Eric was a borderline genius, who not only knew the Bible inside and out but could expound on philosophers such as Kant, Hegel, Freud, and Kierkegaard. He was an accomplished jazz musician who self-produced several albums. He liked to think big thoughts and study God's Word intensely. I was a new Christian at the time---and a lightweight when it came to heavy thinking---but this charismatic pitcher took me under his wing even though I had nothing to offer him.
When we were on the road with time to kill, Eric invited me and a fellow pitcher, Mark Thurmond, to study the Bible with him. Those were some intense sessions. Articulate and self-assured, he could preach without notes at our Sunday Baseball Chapels or share his testimony on cue before church and community groups. Eric was such a natural born leader that I never minded when he challenged me to live a deeper life for God. As I said, he was one studly Christian.
Yet for all his biblical knowledge and leadership acumen, Eric was a hurting individual. No one, not even I or my teammates, knew he was struggling with drugs. Eric couldn't let his guard down, lest anyone think he wasn't the person that everyone thought him to be.
No one knows when Eric started abusing heroin and cocaine, but he had a couple of bizarre episodes after he left the Padres. The Oakland A's cut him after he couldn't explain why he showed up to training camp with nasty cuts on both hands. At the age of thirtyfour,
Eric was out of baseball.
It was a huge shock to hear the tragic news on a March day in 1994: Eric Show was found dead in his bed, the victim of a massive heart attack after taking a 'speedball'---a toxic mixture of heroin and cocaine. He was only thirty-seven years old.

Table of Contents

CONTENTS Introduction 9 1. Leading Off 13 2. A Sad Show 16 3. Step on a Line, and You’re Doing Fine 19 4. The Underground Tapes 24 5. You Can’t Fake It 28 6. Twenty-Seven Outs 31 7. He’s Your Best Friend 35 8. Like Father, Like Son 39 9. What Scouts Can’t Measure 42 10. Baseball’s Scufflaws 44 11. What’s in a Name? 51 12. Go Warm Up, Seamhead 55 13. We’re All Winners 61 14. The Gods of the Game 64 15. Freezer Burn 70 16. My Big Fat Greek Miracle 74 17. Take Me Out to the Bank Before You Take Me Out to the Ball Game 80 18. Big Brother Is Watching 85 19. A Look at the Babe 87 20. The Curse on the Angels 95 21. Baseball Age 98 22. May I Take Your Order? 103 23. Chasing My Dreams 106 24. Throwing Slang a Curve 111 25. The Wit and Wisdom of Yogi Berra 113 26. Out for a Walk 118 27. Take Your Base, Son 122 28. Breaking Down Walls 125 29. Sign Me Up 127 30. Greener Pastures 133 31. Take Me Out to the Balf Game . . . 135 32. The Solomon-Like Decision 140 33. Don’t Look Back 145 34. The Feared Closer 151 35. Closing the Deal 154 36. The Hollywood Darling 158 37. Family Feud 161 38. Baseball and Poetic License 170 39. Playing on the “God Squad” 174 40. The Bible of Baseball 179 41. An Angel on the Mound 183 42. Pete Gray: The One-Armed Wonder 189 43. Wartime Baseball 195 44. Say It Ain’t So, Pete 204 45. The Natural 211 46. The Day the Earth Shook in a World Serious Way 216 47. Branch Rickey’s Secret Ambition 224 48. The Jackie Robinson Story 235 49. Where Have You Gone, Joe DiMaggio? 241 Subject Index 247 Name Index 251