A Cancer Diagnosis and a Snapped Humerus Bone

"The place of your greatest pain often becomes the place of your greatest triumph.” – Os Hillman

Dave Dravecky was always an underdog, not being drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates until the 21st round of the 1978 MLB free agent draft. I guess that’s what you can expect when you go to college at Youngstown State University, not exactly a baseball powerhouse.

Dravecky labored in the minor leagues for three years before being traded to the San Diego Padres, who called him up to the majors on June 15, 1982. Over the course of his rookie season, Dravecky posted a 5-3 record with a 2.57 ERA. The next year found Dave representing the Padres at the All-Star Game, where he pitched two scoreless innings. He also pitched well in the 1984 postseason, appearing as a reliever in five games without giving up a single run.

On July 4, 1987, Dravecky was traded along with two other players to the San Francisco Giants in a seven-player deal. He went on to record a 7-5 record with three shutouts coming down the stretch, helping the Giants to reach the playoffs. In Game 2 of the World Series, Dravecky shut out the Cardinals before tossing another gem in Game Six, losing a heartbreaker 1-0.

Like he had done in San Diego, Dravecky forged friendships with three other committed Christians on the Giants: Atlee Hammaker, Scott Garrelts, and Jeff Brantley. Because they preferred to conduct Bible studies in their hotel rooms instead of partying with their other teammates, the four players became known as the “God Squad.”

Dravecky’s stellar postseason performances in 1987 earned him the starting nod on Opening Day of the 1988 season, where he defeated the LA Dodgers, 5-1. Shortly after that start, Dravecky experienced tightness in his arm and was placed on the disabled list. In September of that year, he was diagnosed with a desmoid tumor in his left (pitching) arm. A month later, doctors removed half of Dravecky’s deltoid muscle and froze his humerus bone to try to kill any remaining cancer cells.

Doctors advised Dravecky not to try pitching again until 1990, but Dave was determined to get back on the mound ASAP. He started a minor league rehab assignment in July 1989 and on August 10th, he pitched eight strong innings in a 4-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds. Five days later, while throwing a pitch to the Expos’ Tim Raines in the sixth inning, Dravecky’s humerus bone snapped in half, a sound that echoed throughout the stadium. Dravecky’s arm was broken a second time that October during a victory celebration against the Cubs.

When doctors discovered another lump in Dravecky’s arm that fall, he decided to retire from baseball to avoid further injury. However, the cancer soon returned, and Dave’s left arm and shoulder had to be amputated. Dravecky ended his career with a 64–57 record with 558 strikeouts and a 3.13 ERA in 1,062 innings… very respectable totals, but not exactly Hall of Fame caliber. However, by overcoming adversity time and time again, Dravecky gained a national platform and started a new career as a motivational speaker. He also wrote two books, Comeback in 1990, and When You Can’t Come Back – co-authored by his wife Jan – in 1992. I’ve read them both and they are excellent.

From the depths of a devastating injury, a cancer diagnosis, and the amputation of his pitching arm, Dave Dravecky has gone on to encourage and inspire millions of his fans as well as cancer survivors around the world. As Os Hillman said in today’s quote, Dravecky turned the place of his greatest pain into the place of his greatest triumph.

Guess what, my friend? God can – and will – do that in your life too, if you give Him the chance.

“Then Samson said, ‘Let me die with the Philistines!’ And he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life.” Judges 16:30 (NKJV)

- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President