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7/11/05 After graduating from Seminole HS in Sanford, Florida in 1993, David Eckstein, the shortstop of his State Championship baseball team, had zero scholarship offers. So, he walked on at the University of Florida, and was promptly cut. He showed up the next day anyway, and the coach asked what he was doing. “ I just want to hang around and be a part of this team, “ he said. “Whether it’s shagging balls, emptying trash, or picking up gear, I want to be here.” He showed up day after day, refusing to pack it in. Soon he got to throw BP, then participate in drills, and even got to play in some intrasquad games. Coach Pat McMahon started to notice, in spite of his 5’6” frame, the kid could play. He had good hands, great instincts, a quick bat, and most of all he played with a great deal of desire. Any blind man that thought he was too small, never measured his heart. Eckstein went on to earn a scholarship, and was All-SEC twice before being drafted by the Boston Red Sox, who promptly gave up on him. After being traded to the Angels, he not only became their starting shortstop but he was a key cog on the 2002 World Series Champion Team. Now, as a member of the first place St. Louis Cardinals, after having signed a $10 million dollar contract in the off-season, he was the fan favorite and voted in as the starting shortstop for the National League All-Star Team. So when he takes the field Tuesday night at Comerica Park, he will have accomplished something that has eluded many fine major league players. You can bet one thing. He’ll show up… (c) 2005 Novi
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