Nick Adenhart tribute

Infield08,

Thank you for posting this. I think of Nick often, and shed more tears reading this article. But it is so amazing to read of Jon Wilhite's recovery.

Julie

Thanks for posting IF08.

Jon Wilhite's story is amazing. May he continue to recover, all all ways, from this tragic event.

Hard to read. Too easy to imagine any of us as parents in this situation.

God bless 'em all.

Thanks for posting.

Thank you for posting that

Did anyone read the other story on the high school ref?

I just read the rather lengthy article about the ref.
WOW, I'm glad things worked out for him. Special guy.

I just viewed the latest Real Sports with Bryant Gumble on HBO. The lead story is a very emotional one about Nick Adenhart, with lots of heart rending comments by his dad Jim. I can't begin to imagine what the family is going through. We are all with you, Jim, and one thing we can relate to is the very special relationship between parents and their ball playing sons. God Bless.

Angels vote full playoff share to Nick Adenhart estate



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The article is mostly about shares and $$$, but what a grand gesture.

Very classy decision by Arte Moreno and the team. As it should be...

It was a grand gesture. Just one of so many that they have made over the past months. I have been wanting to share the story of how the Angels have reacted to this tragedy but have been unable to find the proper outlet. I feel that the baseball people on this site will understand and hope you all will bear with me a little.

From the moment that this occurred the Angel organization has been supportive. On the morning of the accident they were here for us and helped us craft a statement to the media. They realized very early that we wished to maintain a large degree of privacy throughout the process and did everything in their power to respect our wishes. Our desire to have a private service was very difficult on them because of the way the media *****s feel it necessary to invade at these times. They went out of their way to shield us from the TMZ's of the world and deflected a lot of the attention.

They ask our permission and consulted us on every aspect of their tributes and always remembered the person, not just the player, and the family that he left behind. It had to be very difficult to have so many requests for us to respond to the media and deflect them all. When the controversy arose regarding the locker room celebration, I contacted the media department and offered to make a public statement that the family supported the players and that we were moved that they included Nick in their celebration. I was advised that it would not be necessary, that as long as the players knew that we supported them, they would handle the media.

In the seven months since this occurred our private phone numbers have never been released to the media. In a day and age where nothing is private that shows how dedicated the entire organization was to our request.

The players were phenomenal. We had the opportunity to spend some time with them and they could not have been classier. When they were in Chicago, they invited my younger son to spend the day with them at the ballpark. He was extremely hesitant because he did not want to feel as if he was intruding on their space. My younger son actually got to take BP, shag flies, have a bullpen session with the guys, and actually sat in the dugout in uniform for the entire game. It was handled so well that the media not only did not know he was there but the opposing team did not even know. The way they took him in and treated him, healed his broken heart to some measure and made baseball alright again. If you could have seen Mike Scoiscia and Mike Butcher and all the players with him that day it would restore your faith in professional athletes. I hope all locker rooms are full of this quality of people.

The money they have donated to the memorial fund, the money they donated to MADD in Nick's name, the way they included the Stewart family and the Pearson family in all their tributes, the fact that they supported and still support Jon Wilhite and his family has been truly amazing. We have always tried to remind people that three other families were deeply affected by this tragedy and the Angels did this without any prompting from us because they understood.

And their fan base is amazing. In a cynical world, that to often disappoints, they have been wonderful. Cards and letters, donations to the memorial fund, and the fact that they maintained a memorial in front of the stadium for the entire year speaks volumes to the fans. One day a box showed up at my door. It was full of cards from fans who had stopped to donate blood at the stadium in Nick's honor. Hundreds of handwritten notes, some with stories, some with just thoughts and prayers. How do you thank so many people?

Voting Nick a full playoff share was an easy gesture, the way they remembered and cared for his family and his memory were constant acts that truly were felt and healed. It takes special people to do what they did and continue to do. How do you ever put into words what they have done for your family?

If you ever get the opportunity to see them play, a round of applause for class and dignity would be greatly appreciated.

Deldad,

Thanks you for sharing all of that with the rest of us.

Thanks deldad...

deldad,

There is just something about the HSBBW, and so many who post here, that creates meaning, when none seems apparent.
Your willingness to trust and share these aspects of this very difficult journey is truly special.
Thank You for providing this glimpse into how wonderful and respectful people really can be!

Deldad, I can only imagine what you have been through. Thanks you for the posting. I was touched, deeply.

Eric Ridener

Duane (deldad),

Thank you so much for sharing that with us. What a wonderful, touching story of a baseball organization with a huge heart. And what a fitting tribute to Nick.

My thoughts and prayers are still with you and your family, as well as the other families affected by the accident.

Julie

There are biblical principles at work here imho where people are taught to do their good works in secret. Not one time did anyone from the Angels' organization try and do anything other than help the families of these tragedies and they did it in private and without expecting anything in return. My thanks as well for sharing these wonderful, heart-warming stories. It restores my own faith.

For those that may not know, I know that deldad has worked behind the scenes here at the hsbbweb to help others who have suffered. He did these things even while he endured his own suffering. These are the principles that are important.

Everyday we are blessed to have GOOD people touch our lives, even if we don't know it!

GOD Bless, Cpowe

deldad,

That post just touched my heart.It made my holiday season right there, just reading it.God is pleased at all who have been involved.Good being made out of ashes,the Bible talks about constructing good out of tragedy.You are an inspiration to myself and all of us on this site.God Bless you and your family during this holiday.

deldad,

Thanks for sharing. I know it does not get any easier.

Our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to you and your families.

quote:

Originally posted by ClevelandDad:
There are biblical principles at work here imho where people are taught to do their good works in secret. Not one time did anyone from the Angels' organization try and do anything other than help the families of these tragedies and they did it in private and without expecting anything in return. My thanks as well for sharing these wonderful, heart-warming stories. It restores my own faith.

For those that may not know, I know that deldad has worked behind the scenes here at the hsbbweb to help others who have suffered. He did these things even while he endured his own suffering. These are the principles that are important.

I call it a "Random Act Of Kindness", with no expectation of reward or acknowledgment. Or RAOK. I suggest every one do it once a day.

Thanks deldad for sharing the information and your feelings.
Fungo

Duane,
Thank you so much for your post.
There is not one day that goes by that I do not think of Nick and your family.
What a classy organization, my hats off to the Angels.
I miss our pm's. Please write.

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Deldad,

Thanks so much for sharing.

What an impressive display by an organization that gets it. Truly Angels on the field, in the dugout, in the front office and over the field.

We can only hope that in the end we touch others and leave a positive legacy. Nick so clearly has, and his goodness continues to spread out in positive ripples. As others have said, so much cynicism and poor press and idiocy out there, yet in such slefless acts our faith is restored, our belief that somewhere out there sanity and humanity is still valued and practiced. Nick's legacy, and through it our restored faith and continued good works can heal, and make the world a better place.

Thank you.

44
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deldad,

Thank you for sharing this...I'm a relative necomer to the HSBBW, but I can't think of a better group of baseball people to share your feelings.

Thank you and may the grace of God be with you and your family.

deldad - thank you for sharing your thoughts, my thoughts and prayers continue to be with you and your family.

Let me join the appreciation, Duane, for you telling us this. In this day and age, we are almost trained to expect the worst from the institutions of professional sports.

The Angels organization restores a lot of faith.

Thank you Deldad, I think of you and Nick often and keep your family in prayer. Your story, the story regarding the Angels Organization and Nicks Teammates is truely uplifting. Thank you for sharing.

deldad i pray things are going well with you. i recently learned that a family member was best friends with the young lady that passed away in the accident, such a small world.

We live in a time when true sports heroes are few & far between and anytime an organization or an athlete does something positive it seems as though its done with an eye toward maximizing the PR opportunity.

How terrific is it to learn of the grace and class of the entire Angels organization! Without seeking even a shred of publicity....rare in these times for sure. A Red Sox fan all my life, I will view the Angels a bit differently from here on in.

Thanks Deldad for sharing with us. The thoughts and prayers of so many remain with you and your family.

I don't log on as much as I'd like but still treasure the HSBBW.

deldad, my prayers are still with you and everyone affected by what happened.

Thanks for telling your story. Restores my faith in humanity.

God Bless.

Frank

Don't know if anyone has seen this/posted in the past. I apologize in advance for the repost if that is true. This is an account from an old childhood friend of Henry Pearson's, who was killed in the car accident along with Nick.


http://www.sharapovasthigh.com...iend-i-ever-had.html

quote:

There's so much more that I could say that I can't even think about right now as I write this with tears dripping down my face. I wouldn't be anything like I am today without Henry. He changed my life more than anybody. I've lost my best friend and the world's lost an unbelievably special young man that had such a bright future ahead. We'll miss you buddy, you have no idea.

JH, I had not seen that article, so thanks so much for posting it. What a moving tribute to Henry and also to the power of friendship.

Deldad, I just read your post from Dec. 2 and was so impacted by all you shared. I know that the holidays must be an especially difficult time for your family, and I'll be praying that you experience God's peace and joy in the midst of your loss.

I, too just saw this. It is all so sad and so amazing at the same time. Best of luck to deldad and all others who have lost loved ones this year. They are in our hearts. It is good to remember.

Thank You and God Bless!

Thanks you JH.

deldad and family are on Fox News program right now called Huckabee. They are remembering Nick. Just said that Nick threw 90 mph at 14 years old.

Looks like it will be repeated tonight at 11:00 pm Eastern Time if you missed it at 8:00 pm.

What a terrific tribute to Nick.