Congratulations to Josh Hamilton on winning the AL MVP. In recognition of his accomplishment, here’s a look back at an interview I conducted with Josh for Horizon and Direction Magazines (Fall 2009).
Outside the Box Score
In 1999, Josh Hamilton was selected by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays as the first overall pick in the Major League Baseball draft. As an elite prospect, Hamilton was christened “the next Mickey Mantle” even before taking his first major league at-bat. However, as chronicled in his book Beyond Belief, after suffering through a car accident, an injury, and the realization of being on his own for the first time in his life, Hamilton began to turn to tattoo parlors, alcohol, and drugs to escape the realities of life. After multiple battles with alcohol and drug abuse, God got a hold of Hamilton’s heart in his grandmother’s North Carolina home. After years of running, he decided to put his past behind him and surrender everything to God.
We spent a few minutes talking to Josh Hamilton to discuss his story, his advice for teenagers, and the upcoming season.
David: You spent several years battling drugs and alcohol, which led to problems within your family and multiple suspensions from baseball. What was the turning point when you decided things had to change in your life?
Josh: There were many times I felt like I needed to change. When I got into the drugs and alcohol I wanted to change, but I obviously didn’t want it bad enough. The circumstances weren’t there for me to feel like I needed to change. The night in October 2005 when I showed up to my grandmother’s house was definitely the night it all came together. The Lord allowed my heart to open up and see the pain on her face. She said a lot of things I had been told so many times, but it stuck at that moment.
David: Since you surrendered your life to Christ, you haven’t shied away from talking about it. Why have you been so outspoken about your faith?
Josh: I don’t want to be a hypocrite. The reason I’m here is because of the relationship I have with Christ. It’s because of Him being beside me through all of the dark times, even when I didn’t realize He was there. He never turned from me; it was me that turned from Him. I want people to know whatever they go through in life and no matter how much trouble they have, there is a way to get through it, and that comes with a relationship with Christ.
David: With all of the attention you’ve received, do you ever get tired of sharing your story?
Josh: I feel like it’s a privilege to talk about it, rather than an obligation, so I don’t get tired of talking about it. As my career goes on, I expect the attention I receive to move from my past and more to baseball and our team moving forward and trying to win some games, but I still want to be able to have the opportunity to tell my story to youth groups, churches, halfway houses, and different things like that.
David: When you speak to youth groups and churches, what’s the one thing you want them to come away with?
Josh: The choices teenagers make in high school are in some way going to determine what they do with the rest of their lives, whether it’s going to college, getting a job, playing sports in college, or whatever. They need to realize the choices they make in high school are very important. Don’t take them for granted.
David: What advice would you give to a teen that may be struggling with an addiction, whether it is drugs, pornography, etc?
Josh: It’s okay to ask for help. I was always good at everything I did. I really never needed help doing anything. However, when it came down to alcohol and drugs, I couldn’t overcome it on my own. For the first time in my life, I couldn’t figure it out. It’s okay to ask for help. Trust your parents. It’s a little different when you’re hanging around with other people who don’t know how to help or are doing the same things you’re doing. They’re not true friends, they’re just acquaintances. But you have those true friends you have a good relationship with that can help. Don’t be afraid to ask for it.
David: Do you have a specific Bible verse you lean on for support?
Josh: It started off with James 4:7, which says to humble yourself before God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you. That was the first verse I read when I rededicated my life to Christ. Since then, one of my favorites is 2 Peter 3:18, which says, “But grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.” That really sums up what I need to do in my walk. Every time I sign hats, baseballs, jerseys, and other things, people ask if I’ll put my favorite Bible verse on there. Even if they don’t ask I put it on there anyway.
David: Do you get mixed responses from people when they see that on there?
Josh: I’ve had a few people say “Please don’t put any Bible Scripture on there. You can believe what you want to believe, but I don’t believe that.” [Laughs] When they say that, usually I put two or three different verses on there.
David: What advice would you give to a teenager who wants to be a professional athlete?
Josh: There are so many things to focus on that should come before that, such as schoolwork. The thing that needs to be focused on the most is your relationship with Christ and the direction and the focus of your life. You need to realize what’s really important and what your priorities need to be. For so long I was prioritizing baseball as my life, and that shouldn’t be the case. A relationship with the Lord is first and foremost, family comes after that, and everything else comes after that. If you have your priorities straight, and you can learn it at a young age, it helps things go a lot smoother.
David: Can you tell us about Triple Play Ministries?
Josh: Sure! I was riding down the road with my wife and it hit me that I’d like to start a ministry one day to help people in different ways. Within the next 15 minutes, we had a name for it. That was kind of a sign from God saying, “Yes, you’re going to start a ministry and this is what it’s going to be.” The ultimate goal of it is to share Christ and the Word of God with people through sports, community outreach, and mission projects. We kicked it off in November with a baseball camp at NC State University and had Phillips Craig & Dean come in and do a concert, and Katie and I spoke for the services. One of the things we’re doing right now is supporting a ministry called “Arise Africa,” where we’re teaming up with our church back in North Carolina and building an orphanage in Uganda. We’re excited about where the ministry is and where it’s going.
David: What’s on your iPod?
Josh: I’m a big Casting Crowns fan. I love Phillips Craig & Dean, MercyMe, and Aaron Shust. I really like Hillsong. All kinds of stuff.
David: When you were in high school, you were also a pitcher and could throw 96 miles per hour. If there were a blowout in Texas, do you think you could come out of centerfield and throw a few innings?
Josh: [Laughs] I miss pitching; I do miss pitching. I’ve always wanted to come in and close the game out, but I don’t think that will happen.
David: Do you ever get the urge to come in during a blowout?
Josh: Absolutely! But I’m afraid that’s exactly what would happen—I might blow something out.
David: Do you have any goals for the season?
Josh: Of course! If you don’t have goals, you’re not trying. It would be nice to hit over .300 again. Last year I set my goal at 30 home runs. I’m hoping to have at least that many home runs this year and hoping to have 100 RBIs again. I always set my goals a little higher than everyone else does.
David: In 2008, you were elected to the Major League Baseball All-Star Game and became a household name when you hit a record-breaking 28 home runs during the first round of the Home Run Derby. Along with the incredible feat, you also fulfilled a promise you made in high school by asking Clay Council, one of your childhood mentors, to throw to you in the Home Run Derby. Can you tell us about that experience?
Josh: It’s really a funny story. For my first round I went up to Clay and said, “C’mon, Clay, we’re going to go pray about this thing.” We went underneath Yankee Stadium in the hall and prayed. In the second round I went out and swung a little bit and got loose. In the third round, before they announced me to go up, I was hanging out behind the plate and walking around, and I prayed, “Lord, if you want me to win this thing, allow me to. But if not, accomplish what You want to accomplish.” Obviously I didn’t win it, but shortly after it was over, it sort of hit my heart that God is not worried about accolades or trophies or awards. He’s worried about how we glorify Him in everything we do. I got to share Christ with 55,000 in Yankee Stadium that night and to people in their homes on TV.
