Adam Greenberg gets another chance slightly O/T

[Wite3]

For those of you unfamiliar...Adam Greenberg made it to the majors seven years ago and made one plate appearance for the Cubs against the Marlins. He came to the plate in the 9th inning in a late season game and was then struck in the head by a fast ball ending his dreams...concussion, blurred vision, pain all kept him out of baseball...

Earlier this year an amateur filmmaker started a social media campaign to get him an official major league at-bat (hbp did not count as an at-bat).

Yesterday, the Marlins announced that they would give him one major league at-bat on Oct. 2nd. They got permission from MLB, the MLBPA, and the Comish. office to make this happen.

Moonlight Graham will be smiling down on the MLB on Oct. 2nd.

Joshua

[7nohitter]

Ton of debate over this over on ESPN.....I get how many feel this is merely a publicity stunt...TONS of others have never reached the majors and would love the opportunity....what makes this kid so special?

[SetBuilder]

Originally Posted by 7nohitter

Ton of debate over this over on ESPN.....I get how many feel this is merely a publicity stunt...TONS of others have never reached the majors and would love the opportunity....what makes this kid so special?

He got hit in the head his first major league at bat and never had a second chance. That's incredibly tragic.

I don't think any other former player can say this situation applies to them. Most players, even if they're terrible, at least get a decent shot at proving themselves.

GO MARLINS!!!

[Cfern023]

Originally Posted by 7nohitter

Ton of debate over this over on ESPN.....I get how many feel this is merely a publicity stunt...TONS of others have never reached the majors and would love the opportunity....what makes this kid so special?

He got hit in the head with a 95MPH fastball on the first pitch of his first MLB apperance by a Florida Marlin.

If you think that it doesn't make him special, you may need to recheck the history books. He's the only one to ever have his MLB career end on the first pitch of it.

[z28jd]

Originally Posted by Cfern023

He got hit in the head with a 95MPH fastball on the first pitch of his first MLB apperance by a Florida Marlin.

If you think that it doesn't make him special, you may need to recheck the history books. He's the only one to ever have his MLB career end on the first pitch of it.

I think it is a great story too, he earned his trip to the majors, but had nothing to do with how it ended.

I do doubt that only MLB player to have his career end after one pitch "fact" I read a few times. There have been 38 players who have only pinch hit in their career and didn't reach base or strike out, but they went 0-for-1 in their only game. If you check baseball-reference, only one of those players (Rob Sasser) was recent enough to check the pitch-by-pitch during his AB and he saw 5 pitches. I have a hard time believing none of the 37 others only saw one pitch. I checked two newspaper accounts for each of the four Pirates players that are among this group and not one referenced a pitch count in any way so I doubt it is a known fact, likely just misstated.

He is(won't be for long) definitely the only one to have his career ended by a hit by pitch on the only pitch he saw, but that isn't what some of the articles were saying.

[npa589]

Fantastic story. I've been a Cubs fan my whole life, and always travel to Miami to watch the Cubs against the Marlins. I was at this game, and was anxiously anticipating watching Greenberg play, as I had been following him in the minors. I was just out of high school, and actually attending University of Miami, and was with my family. My dad, brother and I, were so thrilled for him getting his first at-bat, and were remarking "imagine what he's feeling right now, his dream as a little kid is coming true right now". My dad remarked further - saying "He's probably crappin' his pants. Cmon Adam!"

First pitch...


I followed him for a few years here and there, still remembering that gut-wrenching moment vividly from my point of view on the 3rd base side, about 10 rows up.

I'm thrilled for Adam, because he had already proven he was good enough to make it to a major-league club, 7 years younger than he is now.

[Wite3]

To answer an earlier question...

He had to get permission from the Comish and MLB because of the injury. I think he has to sign a waiver as well because of the danger posed. Granted, he has come a long way back but MLB is nervous about putting a guy out there who has had vision problems, migraines, post-concussion syndrome, etc.

MLBPA had to give him permission because of the roster spot. This was tough but because the Comish and MLB cleared him and allowed him to play, he will not take anyone's roster spot (causing that player to be sent down, lose money, lose mlb service, etc.).

If you read or see interviews with Greenberg, he is one of the good guys. He really never wanted this and when the movement started to snowball, he was shocked and embarrassed and flattered but did not think he had a shot at all.

I do not care if it is a publicity stunt. It is the right thing to do and should be a great moment for baseball.

Joshua

[Leon]

That's a cool story. Thanks for sharing.

[howard38]

/

[packs]

I don't think anyone is treating this guy as a special person and I don't understand the arguments at all. He is not someone being given a gift of making it to the pros. He made it to the Major Leagues himself. No one did him any favors. He is getting a second chance because of a fateful incident beyond his control that effectively ended his career. Guys who didn't make it to the majors don't deserve a chance like this.

Edited to add they needed permission because MLB does not allow one day contracts. If he were to sign with the team and be placed on the roster someone would need to be sent down. In this case they have permission to sign him to a one day contract and keep their 40 man roster.

[Jay Wolt]

Originally Posted by packs

I

Edited to add they needed permission because MLB does not allow one day contracts.

Adam stated he will be donating his 1 day salary (about $3000.) to charity.
Its easy to root for this kid.
By the way, it looks like he'll be facing R.A. Dickey on the 2nd.

[novakjr]

Originally Posted by Jay Wolt

Adam stated he will be donating his 1 day salary (about $3000.) to charity.
Its easy to root for this kid.
By the way, it looks like he'll be facing R.A. Dickey on the 2nd.

Yeah, that's all he needs, is for Dickey to lose one of those knuckleballs on him...

All joking aside. I wish the guy luck.. It's a great story..

[HOF Auto Rookies]

Originally Posted by packs

I don't think anyone is treating this guy as a special person and I don't understand the arguments at all. He is not someone being given a gift of making it to the pros. He made it to the Major Leagues himself. No one did him any favors. He is getting a second chance because of a fateful incident beyond his control that effectively ended his career. Guys who didn't make it to the majors don't deserve a chance like this.

Edited to add they needed permission because MLB does not allow one day contracts. If he were to sign with the team and be placed on the roster someone would need to be sent down. In this case they have permission to sign him to a one day contract and keep their 40 man roster.

Just because he made it up their 7 YEARS AGO does not mean he deserves to be up in the show now. He hasn't played at a high level of baseball in years, and he got one at bat in the WBC qualifiers, he wasn't even on a good team. He is nowhere near as skilled as he was, what makes him get a shot? If he did not have that plate appearance, he would not have gotten this opportunity. He took an at bat away from someone who deserves it. He does not deserve it because he does not have the skills, that's why he is playing semi-pro baseball and not on a major or minor league roster. They are doing this for PR and a 'feel good' story.

[novakjr]

Considering the season will be pretty much over for both teams, what are the odds that he's given a meatball?

[howard38]

.

[Shoeless Moe]

He should bunt. They'd never expect it.

[mark evans]

In the unusual story department, I have a personalized autographed ball from Greenberg (a well-used minor league ball). One of his friends in the minors (David Aardsma) once dated the daughter of my college roommate, who knew I collected baseball cards and memorabilia, especially of Jewish players. One day the ball showed up in the mail unannounced...a neat gift.

[Jason]

I think it's a great story.And it will be a great movie if he gets a base hit.

[CobbSpikedMe]

Originally Posted by mark evans

In the unusual story department, I have a personalized autographed ball from Greenberg (a well-used minor league ball). One of his friends in the minors (David Aardsma) once dated the daughter of my college roommate, who knew I collected baseball cards and memorabilia, especially of Jewish players. One day the ball showed up in the mail unannounced...a neat gift.

Now that's a cool thing to have happen.