Watching Josh Hamilton tear the cover off the ball is pretty amazing on its own.
The guy has four home runs so far in the ALCS and his swing looks almost effortless.
This is all coming on the heels of a regular season where he hit an amazing .359 with 32 home runs and 100 RBI in just 133 games.
What makes all of this so incredible is the fact that just a few years ago just the thought of him playing baseball again was a long shot.
If you’re into sports books and inspirational stories, I urge you to read “Beyond Belief,” which takes you through his battle back to sobriety. He wasn’t just some guy with a drinking problem; he was completely stung out, addicted to cocaine and crack.
He sunk so low he even pawned his wife’s wedding ring for drugs when he could no longer afford to buy them.
Every time it looked like he was getting straight, he would break down again. He makes no excuses in the book, blaming himself for hurting all those around him and almost destroying his career, not to mention his health.
Aside from a one-night relapse in 2009, he’s been clean and sober for over four years now and he has a multi-layered support structure around him.
He no longer carries cash or credit cards and is rarely left alone.
When you see what he can do on the field you can’t help but cheer for the guy and hope he can remain sober. Baseball needs guys like Josh Hamilton.