< Previous page

Hamilton said God had a plan: "For me not to lose my eye-hand coordination. Not to have brain damage from all the mess I did. Not to be in jail or dead. And be able to come back and be able to perform at this level, he's got a bigger purpose."

Michael Dean Chadwick can testify to the difficulty his son-in-law has faced. He overcame his own 15-year bout with drug addiction. Chadwick, himself a motivational speaker, has encouraged Hamilton to tell his story to others. The ballplayer often goes with him to speak.

Hamilton said he feels an obligation to keep on telling his story. He plans to speak up during the All-Star Game. "I've got a big responsibility as far as making sure people know why I'm there," Hamilton said. "It's not because I did this myself."

The Narron connection

Johnny Narron, too, will have a serious rooting interest.

While he serves as a hitting instructor for the Rangers, Narron also is a confidant to Hamilton. When Hamilton was picked up by the Cincinnati Reds last season, manager Jerry Narron, Johnny's brother, thought they would work well together.

Narron, who is from Goldsboro and lives near Smithfield, met Hamilton when he was 8. Narron coached him in basketball and later on a showcase baseball team as a teenager. For the past two years, first with the Reds and now with the Rangers, Narron has coached Hamilton in the majors.

Hamilton needed support after 3 1/2 years away from the game, and Narron helped Hamilton climb back into the professional ranks. There were long, repetitive workout sessions, where Hamilton had to retrain his muscles and instincts. He stayed for hours in the batting cages.

Narron was there for all of those batting practices and Pilates workouts and running sessions. He provided a familiar face when times got rough. Last season, Narron said, Hamilton realized he could play at the top level.

Hamilton's joy for hitting and commitment to improving were evident last week as he took batting practice. He attacked every pitch. Outside the cage, Narron shouted encouragement.

It's people such as Narron and his relatives whom Hamilton will think about tonight. These days, he takes as long as necessary to sign autographs, and, last week, he ran into the stands before the game to make sure a young boy was happy about the batting gloves he signed.

"Every chance I get, I thank those people who prayed for me," Hamilton said. "That's one of the reasons I think I made it through. ... It makes me feel good that I've been able to turn my life around and make those people proud."

< Previous page