A Baseball Disappointment, Josh Hamilton

Baseball Will Make You Cry

Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers

Tragic Career

Baseball has been victimized by numerous cultural influences. The worse of it are drug and alcohol abuse that destroyed careers. Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers was a prime example of one who lost his career to drug addiction.

Josh Hamilton was the number one draft choice of the Tampa Devil Rays in 1999. He had all the tools, plus he was handsome and articulate. The world was his, except – for drugs and alcohol. He posted fantastic numbers in his minor league career despite fighting addiction at an early age. However, the problems held him back from joining the major leagues until 2007. When he arrived, he was special. By 2008, Josh was elected to the first of five All Star teams and featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated. He was being compared to Ted Williams. Everyone adored baseball’s new hero. The addiction problems became nationally known in 2009. There were suspensions and times off for rehab which made him a questionable and very expensive asset. However, in 2010, he batted .359, 32 HRs, 100 RBIs, and was voted the AL MVP. In 2013, Josh was traded to the LA Angels and signed a $125 Million, 5 year contract. However, there were relapses and he could never be counted on to play. He came back to Texas for one season before being released in 2015 citing knee injury problems.

His personal life was in shambles. There was a divorce in 2015 and several assault charges, including an assault incident with his 14 year old daughter in 2019. He has since rehabbed, remarried, and has became an active voice in promoting drug prevention. He was wildly cheered by the fans when he participated in All Star ceremonies at the 2024 All Star Game in Texas.

How good could he have been? In the five seasons in which he played 120 or more games, he averaged over .300 BA, 30 home runs, and 110 RBIs. Multiplying those numbers over a 12 - 15 year career would have made Josh an easy choice for the Hall of Fame.