A One-Legged Pitcher and a One-Armed Outfielder

“Prayer helps us secure the power and assistance of Omnipotence so that our lives achieve more than we could have achieved ordinarily.” – William F. Kumuyi

On Monday evening, I was privileged to speak at halftime during our Living H2O Initiative. In case you’re not familiar with our program, it is a weekly basketball outreach for at-risk youth in our community.

Since our program has been going on for 13 years and many of these young men have heard me speak dozens – if not hundreds – of times before, I always try to come up with a topic that will capture their interest. Once I have their attention, I then transition to a spiritual application, and ultimately to an invitation to trust Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.

Monday’s topic was four men – Jim Abbott, Pete Gray, Billy Hoy, and Monty Stratton – and what they had in common. I offered a free Chick-fil-A sandwich card to anyone who could make the connection, but no one could.

Could you?

All four men played professional baseball… and overcame serious physical disabilities to do so. Jim Abbott was born without a right arm and yet, he became a star pitcher and quarterback in high school. In fact, he was such a gifted pitcher that he earned a baseball scholarship to the University of Michigan and won a gold medal at the 1988 Olympic Games. Abbott was then drafted sixth overall by the California Angels and went on to have a successful 10-year career in the Major Leagues, winning 18 games in 1991 and throwing a no-hitter in 1993.

Unlike Jim Abbott, Pete Gray was born with all four limbs but had his right arm amputated above the elbow when he was seven following an accident. Undaunted, Pete became a standout baseball player, teaching himself to catch the ball with his gloved left hand and then throw it with the same hand after tucking the glove under his stump. After batting .333 and stealing 63 bases in 1944, Pete was named MVP of the Southern Association, which earned him a contract the following year with the St. Louis Browns. Pete batted .218 that season with a .958 fielding percentage.

A bout with meningitis left Billy Hoy deaf and dumb at the age of three. However, Hoy overcame his disabilities to forge a very successful 14-year MLB career during which he recorded 2,048 hits, scored 1.429 runs, and stole 596 bases.

Monty Stratton had no physical handicaps until – after the 1938 season – he tripped while rabbit hunting and accidently shot himself in the leg. The injury was so bad that doctors had to amputate his right leg and fit him with a prothesis. That ended Stratton’s promising MLB career, but not his professional one because he taught himself to pitch with a wooden leg well enough to play in the minors for another eight years. In 1949, a movie was made about Monty’s courageous comeback titled, The Stratton Story, starring Jimmy Stewart and June Allyson.

As I told the young men in the gym on Monday night, the Bible says that “For with God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37) and “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” (Genesis 18:14). I then shared with them how they each have unlimited God-given potential and with God’s help, they can overcome any obstacle just like Jim Abbott, Pete Gray, Billy Hoy, and Monty Stratton. “But the key is,” I added, “you must turn your life over to God, trust Jesus as your Savior, and allow Him to unlock that unlimited potential that lies within you,”

When I was finished, one of the most talented basketball players in the gym came up to me and wanted to know more about Pete Gray, whose story had inspired him the most. “I can’t believe he batted .333 swinging with just one arm,” Eddie said. “That’s incredible!”

I gave Eddie a printout about Pete that I had used as my notes and he gladly accepted, shaking his head in amazement as he walked away to start the second half.

My friend, you may not have been in the gym on Monday night, but the same lesson – and the same offer – applies to YOU! God created you with a special plan in mind and filled you to overflowing with unlimited potential. Try turning every area of your life over to Him and watch what happens!

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 (BSB)

- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President

Editor’s Note: To their everlasting credit, when WWII broke out, both Pete Gray and Monty Stratton tried to enlist in the Armed Forces, but both men were turned down because of their disabilities. Gray responded to being rejected by the Army by saying, “If I could teach myself to play baseball with one arm, I sure as heck could handle a rifle.”