Dave Dravecky's Day In The Sun (And The Bitter End)

(Photo by Facebook)

When you watch baseball, you have to know that at times, emotion plays a big part into the game. Hell, it plays a big part on sports in general. Whether it's Lou Gehrig's farewell speech, Cal Ripken Jr's final All-Star Game or the way a player overcomes the odds to contribute to his team.

This story is about a player who overcomes unspeakable odds, only for it to end in tragedy.

Dave Dravecky was a Youngstown, Ohio prospect who excelled at baseball and basketball at Boardman High School. He would do the same at Youngstown State University.

Baseball was his calling though. The Pittsburgh Pirates drafted him in the 21st round of the 1978 MLB Draft and despite spending three years with the organization, the Bucs traded Dravecky to the San Diego Padres. This move would change Dravecky's life professionally and personally. Despite not having overpowering stuff, Dravecky used his tenacity to capture Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 1981. During that year's Spring Training, Dravecky was introduced to the Bible and Christianity by his roommate Byron Ballard. Dave wanted to be a family man and not party like some of his teammates. He took the Christianity route to heart as he and his wife, Jan, were baptized that year. In 1982, Dravecky got the call to join the Show with San Diego, and he was solid (5-3 record, 2.57 ERA, 2 SV, 1.3 WAR).

1983 was the zenith of his career as Dravecky was once again solid and became an All-Star for the first and only time. The Padres used him as a hybrid starter/reliever during this time as it was effective. In 1984, he was able to become a complete pitcher as his stat line was rather impressive (2.93 ERA, 7 complete games, 2.5 WAR, 2 shoutouts and 8 saves). His contribution this season helped the San Diego Padres go to places that they never been, a NL pennant and a World Series appearance. During his Padres tenure, Dave Dravecky was a dependable pitcher when it was needed. However, the Padres' chief rival, the San Francisco Giants, wanted him.

On the Fourth of July 1987, San Diego traded Dravecky, Kevin Mitchell and Craig Lefferts to San Francisco for Keith Comstock, Mark Davis, Mark Grant and Chris Brown. Everyone was happy with the trade, except Mitchell, who threatened to retire.....and just like SD, he was dependable for a team that was gunning for the postseason. The Giants did make the postseason by winning the NL West but lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in a seven-game series for the NL pennant. 1988 was going to have promise and Dravecky was primed for another solid campaign. He was named the Opening Day starter and his views on Christianity rubbed off on teammates such as Atlee Hammaker, Scott Garrelts and Jeff Brantley. They formed a bible group calling themselves "The God Squad," where they didn't want to party. It started out well for SF, however, Dravecky looked less than himself. Stat wise, he was still solid. People could see a difference in how he was pitching. It was determined that Dave was suffering from stiffness in his arm and took a trip to the DL.

Then, things took a turn for the worst, like the real worst.

Doctors found a desmoid tumor in his left arm. He had the six word that causes fear in people: Cancer. He had surgery to remove it and his season was over. The humerus bone was frozen in an effort to prevent the cancerous cells from returning. Dave wanted to pitch in 1989, but doctors said it was better to wait till 1990.

You see, Dave Dravecky was a fighter, and he wanted to do what he loved. He was going to defy the odds no matter what. Even if was a short-term situation, he wanted to be on that mound. Trainers allowed him to pitch in the minors as he grinded his way towards his MLB comeback. The date was set....

On August 10, 1989, my 10th birthday, Dave Dravecky defied the odds and told cancer to go (bleep) itself to return on a Major League mound to face the Cincinnati Reds in front of an energized crowd at Candlestick Park. Dave Dravecky pitched eight innings as the San Francisco Giants defeated the Reds 4-3 as he received the win. While writing this part, I started getting tears in my eyes because this man was willing to risk everything to return to what he loves to do despite cancer and everyone telling him not to.

I wish I can conclude this blog on a happy ending, unfortunately, many remember this portion of the story.

Five days later, Dravecky was slated to start a road game against the Montreal Expos. He had pitched brilliantly going into five innings. From my research, Dravecky's arm had a tingling sensation during this point. He was set to face future Hall-of-Famer Tim Raines, then it happened....

Dravecky delivers the pitch and immediately falls to the ground. The only footage that I have ever seen was the silent skybox footage from Olympic Stadium, but many have said that the noise was so loud that it pierced their hearing. Will Clark, an avid hunter and Dravecky's teammate said it sounded like a gun shot. Dravecky said on his personal website that it was the pitch heard around the world. His humerus snapped....if you saw the Tony Saunders or Tom Browning's injury, the look, pain and anguish on their faces when their arms can completely snap on them.

In an instant, Dave Dravecky's epic comeback from a cancer diagnosis to pitching in a MLB game after said diagnosis was inspirational, but unfortunately, this was the end of his career.

Despite that horrible setback, the San Francisco Giants paid homage to their fallen teammate and played the best ball that they could. They would go all the way to the World Series. Also, that Kevin Mitchell guy who wanted to retire after being traded to the Giants had his best season of his career.....and had this insane catch.

(Photo by YouTube)

However, an earthquake and a streamroller named the Oakland Athletics swept the Giants in the Fall Classic.

Uncertainty struck again for Dravecky as doctors found a lump on his left arm and the cancer had reappeared. Despite many surgeries on his arm, doctors told Dravecky that the cancer would spread unless they do something drastic. In 1991, Dave Dravecky had his left arm amputated. The thing that brought him wealth and joy was gone, however his faith and his unwillingness to get down has made him thrive.

As of today, Dave Dravecky is cancer-free, has written two books, has a website about his life and is a motivational speaker. He appears occasionally at Giants games and is prominent in franchise events.

Sports has stories that will cause you to cry or lift you up from tragedy. Dave Dravecky's story has that, and then some.

(Sources: DaveDravecky.com, Wikipedia, MLB.com, Baseball Reference, Society for American Baseball Research, Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame)

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