Like Roy Hobbs, Hamilton came back from rock bottom to play major league ball.
Hamilton took the Rangers to a couple of World Series but never won the big one like Hobbs in that great movie, "The Natural". To be honest, it was not Hamilton's fault. It was the Rangers' bullpen who couldn't get the last strike in back to back innings.
"During his darkest hours -- after he had been banished from baseball in 2004 and was doing coke, downing a bottle of Crown Royal a day and burning through his entire $4 million signing bonus -- Hamilton had recurring dreams that he was "fighting the devil, an awful-looking thing," with a stick or a bat, swinging but always missing."
Like Chen wrote:
"Three hours before game time at Rangers Ballpark, fans are already gathering in the stands to watch the home team take batting practice, but the show doesn't really start until it's Hamilton's turn to step to the plate."
The Hamilton story ended abruptly in spring training 2016 when he couldn't overcome injuries. He is out of baseball now. Nevertheless, his performance in 2008 and for the next few years made baseball a lot of fun in Texas.
P.S. You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter.
P.S. You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter.
