A Special Lunch Date

Today was one of my off Fridays and Julie planned a special lunch for us. The Rotary Club of Santa Clara hosted a luncheon today which we attended. The keynote speaker was Dave Dravecky who played many years ago for the San Francisco Giants.

Julie and I moved to California in the summer of 1984. The first few years we were here we had a difficult time rooting for any of the local teams. It wasn't too difficult to shift allegiance to the 49ers because, unfortunately, the Detroit Lions - our 'home team' never were very good. Even when Barry Sanders was there dazzling fans the team itself was pretty much a disaster.

However, it took some time for us to warm to the local baseball teams. There is something very special about listening to baseball on the radio as a child and following your home team. For me that was the Tigers and I can tell you the entire lineup in those golden years; Al Kaline, Mickey Lolich, Denny McLean, Mickey Stanley, Norm Cash, Bill Freehan, Gates Brown, Jim Northrup. They were all larger than life heros! I must have listened to thousands of games with Ernie Harwell at the mike. The Tigers won the World Series in 1968 when I was just 7 - and it was a magical time.

The Tigers returned to greatness in the mid 1980s. In fact, the Summer we moved to California (1984) the Tigers would go on to win the American League Pennant and the World Series. Alan Trammel, Sweet Lou Whitaker, Jack Morris, Lance Parrish... ahh.. the Tigers were fantastic.

So - it took us years to really warm up to our local team - the Giants. We picked the Giants because they played in the National League. So, we could still root for the Tigers and not feel like we were betraying our first love. We started following the Giants in earnest around 1987 which was the first year that Dave Dravecky played for the Giants. In fact, in 1987 the Giants won the National League West - eventually losing the NL Pennant to St. Louis; just missing the World Series.

Many of you may know the story - but the following year a cancerous tumor was found in Dave's pitching arm and in late 1988 he underwent surgery to remove the tumor and a big part of his shoulder muscle. A major story during the late 1989 Giant season was the remarkable - miraculous - return of Dave Dravecky to the mound on August 10, 1989 against the Cincinnati Reds. I remember watching that game - along with most of the Bay Area - and being amazed by his story. Dave pitched 93 pitches - leaving the game after 8 innings and the Giants went on to win 4-3. In was the feel good story out here in 1989.

However, the story turned tragic just 5 days later when Dave retook the mound against the Montreal Expos and in one horrific moment made a pitch which caused his left arm (his pitching arm) to snap in two. We all watched as he writhed around the ground in pain before medical help could get to him. I personally can remembering being so stunned at the time. It appeared that it was such an unfair loss after all Dave had done to rehabilitate his arm.

Eventually, Dave would have to have his left arm and half his shoulder amputated to fully remove all the cancer from his body.

The good news is that God is in control and has used Dave in unbelievable ways since 1989 to inspire people. Dave's unbelievable career and inspirational rehabilitation story opened up doors to speak to hundreds of thousands of people since - telling them of the strength he found in his relationship with Christ to overcome his cancer and his crisis of self worth that occurred after his loss.

It was a privilege to hear Dave this afternoon and to hear him be able to honestly say that he views getting cancer as a true blessing in his life. He didn't always feel that way, honestly. But, he has come to a deep understanding that without the cancer in his life he would not have developed the depth of character he has over the last few years. And he would not have had the doors opened that have occurred - allowing him to share the Good News with people and the encouragement that his story inevitable brings to those that hear it.

I am so glad I got a chance to speak with him for a few moments today - share with him how much I valued the memories of his career in San Francisco - and how delighted I was to see the results of my prayers, his prayers and the prayers of so many in those days that followed his tragedy answered so beautifully. It was a great lunch.


A funny side note. We had no idea she was coming.. but we ended up sitting right behind Sue - Diane Smith's sister. How funny is that. Here she is in rapt attention as Dave spoke!