So much has been made over the season and especially this week about the great story of Josh Hamilton. The former #1 overall draft pick who blew his $4MM signing bonus on alcohol, drugs, and tattoos staging one of the greatest ‘comebacks’ in the history of baseball. Really in the history of sports in general. And, in fact, you could make the case that it’s one of the greater comebacks in the history of life itself. Sure, there are plenty of people suffering from addictions who overcome their demons to lead successful lives later. But few, if any, go on to achieve success in such a magnificent way as Hamilton, or on as great a stage. That said, we’re not here to write another puff piece on Hamilton’s fall from grace and his amazing climb back. We’re here to write a puff piece on just how great he is at baseball, and how great he’s always been.
Those who’ve followed Brahsome for any length of time know we’re from North Carolina. 3 of the 4 of us live in Raleigh, with two (Stamos and The Piler) having lived their childhoods here. Know who else lived their childhood in Raleigh, NC? If you were thinking about Chris Wilcox, power forward for the Soon-To-Be-Oklahoma-City-Sonics, you’d be correct, though that’s not who we’re talking about. If you thought of Clay Aiken, get the fuck off our website. The answer we’re looking for is Josh Hamilton. A superstar at Athens Drive high school in West Raleigh, Hamilton dominated both in the box (know how you know you’re not really a grownup yet? If you just snickered a little bit…) and on the mound. During his senior season in high school, Hamilton hit .529 with 13 HR, 35 RBI, and 20 SB… in 25 games. He also finished with a 7-1 record, a 2.50 ERA and fanned 91 batters in 56 IP. Let that sink in for just a sec. Then think about that as a junior, he hit .636 (49-77, 12hr, 56rbi, 20sb) and finished 11-2 as a pitcher (87ip, 159k). 
He was talked about around Raleigh like the next Mickey Mantle, and those comparisons seemed to be reasonable after his 28 bomb in a round performance at the Home Run derby last night. While many people across the nation found themselves battling emotions as they watched such a humble and gracious young man rise to the occasion on the biggest stage last night, some of us in Raleigh were just happy to see a local kid make good.
Hamilton might be a role model for troubled youths who need to see that it’s possible for someone to sink that low, and still be able to turn their life around and achieve greatness. But he’s also just a role model for everyone, these days, and he’s finally capitalizing on the potential he’s had for years. 95 RBI at the break is the 5th most ever, and just 8 shy of the all time record held by Hank Greenberg. Hamilton’s batting .310 (top 15 in AL) with 21 HR (top 3 in the AL). Who would have though that a guy who didn’t even pick up a bat for 4 years, and never even played minor league ball higher than the single-A level would be in the MVP or possibly even triple crown contention? People just don’t hit the ball as hard as he does very frequently.
So way to go, Josh. You went from being a cautionary side story to being front page, center stage. Way to represent.
