Josh Hamilton Day

Three cities honor Raleigh baseball star Josh Hamilton by making December 12, 2007, Josh Hamilton Day.

Posted 3:19 a.m. Dec 13, 2007 — Updated 3:19 a.m. Dec 13, 2007

Jeff Gravley

The Capital City Club was packed with some of the most influential men in the Raleigh area. It was Michael Dean Chadwick's Annual Christmas Luncheon. The man of the hour, the day and maybe the year is former Athens Drive baseball star Josh Hamilton. He and his wife Katie will soon launch Triple Play Ministries to share his complex story.

Hamilton's baseball heroics began in the area little leagues growing through Athens Drive High School and on to become the top pick in the 1999 Major League Baseball draft. Hamilton's baseball career was nearly derailed by drugs and alcohol. He was suspended by Major League Baseball in 2002 and his layoff continued through 2006.

On October 6, 2006, Josh Hamilton stopped using drugs. It was his first step toward getting his life in order and re-introducing baseball to his life again. The Cincinnati Reds took a chance on the big left-hander and this year he delivered beyond anyone's wildest imagination. In his rookie season with the Reds, Hamilton hit .292 with 19 homers and 47 RBI's. Incredible numbers for someone who has fallen so hard.

Three Wake county cities agreed on one thing. December 12, 2007 would be Josh Hamilton Day. Representatives of Raleigh, Cary and Garner each took time to read their proclamation at the Christmas luncheon and they shared a similar message. It's a snapshot of Josh Hamilton. The good, the bad and the brutally honest. Here's a copy of what Hamilton called, a constant reminder that you can't run away from trouble forever.

PROCLAMATION FOR JOSH HAMILTON DAY

Whereas, Josh Hamilton was born in Raleigh and blessed with extraordinary athletic gifts that he displayed on the mound at Athens Drive High School; and,

Whereas, despite his great good fortunes, soon after being the number 1 pick in the Major League Baseball draft, Josh began a tragic descent into the non-life of a crack addict; and,

Whereas, for the next four years Josh was, by his own admission a bad husband and a bad father whose life was void of dreams yet consumed by guilt, depression and addiction that prompted three suicide attempts; and,

Whereas, Josh has been clean now for more than two years and is once again a husband to his wife Katie, a father to his daughters Julia and Sierra, a son to his parents and a messenger for his proclaimed savior, Jesus Christ; and,

Whereas, this past year Josh’s was one of the sports world’s great stories as he posted a slugging percentage of .554 and cranked 19 home runs to grab second place in the National League Rookie of the Year race; and,

Whereas, Josh states his life today as being a “mission to be the ray of hope; the guy who stands out there on that field and owns up to his mistakes and lets people know it’s never completely hopeless”; and,

Whereas, the book of Matthew quotes Jesus: “he rejoiced more of that sheep that is brought back to the flock than the ninety-nine which went not astray.”

Now, therefore, do I, Charles Meeker, Mayor of the City of Raleigh, North Carolina, hereby proclaim December 12, 2007, as JOSH HAMILTON DAY in Raleigh and encourage all of our citizens to support him and all of our prodigal sons and daughters in their lifelong struggles against the demons of addiction.

IN WITNESSES THEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the City of Raleigh, North Carolina, to be affixed this Twelfth Day of December 2007

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