THE CHALLENGER: WHAT AM I WILLING TO FIGHT FOR?
Fighting the Good Fight

Growing up I had two heroes: Sandy Koufax and Vida Blue. They were left-handed pitchers. And all I cared about as a little kid was throwing a baseball like they did. That dream came true when I made it to the Major Leagues. 

In my seventh year, pitching for the San Francisco Giants, a cancerous tumor was discovered in my left arm—my pitching arm. The tumor was removed along with half of the muscle. And the doctors said I would never pitch again.

But 10 months after surgery, I was back on the mound. That was August 10, 1989, a comeback I’ll never forget. Then five days later I threw a fastball, and as I let go of the pitch my left arm snapped. The tumor had returned.

I lost my arm and my childhood dream. But I realized there was something going on in my life that was a whole lot bigger than baseball. For all the endurance training I had as an athlete, I was just beginning to learn the real meaning—the personal and spiritual meaning—of endurance.

When I was out there on the mound in my comeback game, I wasn’t out there alone. I was out there with every other person who had faced adversity and who had the opportunity to overcome it. Now I’m without my arm, without the possibility of making a comeback, and I’m not alone here either.

I’ve learned from other people who have suffered and I’ve experienced other people’s love. That is why I share my story to encourage others who are on the journey of life and to let them know they are not alone.

(Portions adapted from When You Can’t Come Back, by Dave Dravecky, Zondervan Publishing, Copyright 1992.)