My father was murdered when I was 6 years old. It was a shocking & Devastating time for the family. Especially my mother.

But she had no time to mourn. She had two kids to feed. She worked overtime at Winn-Dixie while going to night school to get her teaching....
#MothersDay

degree. To take our minds off my dads death my mom came home early one day & surprised my sister & I with tickets to the Texas Rangers game. At the time I was beginning to watch a lot of the @Rangers at my grandparents house. I even painted a Rangers logo on a canvas & brought..

it with me to the game in hopes of getting some autographs. We got there right at batting practice time. I held my canvas high in the air next to the Ranger dugout. Jeff Huson my grandmama’s favorite player approached me with a smile. “You paint that young man?” “Yes sir I did.”

Jeff signed my painting and called over 10 more players to sign it. Including Juan Gonzalez, Raphael Palmeiro, & Kevin Brown. I was so excited that night. The smell of the grass, the crisp night game air, and the roar of the crowd was intoxicating to me. On the drive home....

with my sister sound asleep I asked my mom. “Mom, I know what I want to be one day. A @MLB player! And if you buy me a batting cage I swear when I make it I’ll buy you a house and a car.” My mom responded as you would think a single mom with little income would, “awe that’s....

sweet honey maybe someday but mom can’t afford it right now.” 3 years past & I had become a baseball fanatic. I played whenever & wherever I could. My mom started to see my desire. It was Christmas morning 1985 & before we opened up any presents my mom blindfolded me & walked....

me out towards the back yard.
She took the blindfold off and before me was a fully assembled batting cage equipped with a pitching machine, and a 20 ball automatic feeder! I hugged my mom and told her I will pay you back when I make it.....

From that day until the day I graduated high school I hit 200 balls a day, with the burning desire to get my mom that house & car one day. Offseason of 2003 it was my 3rd year in the big leagues & I just signed a 3 year 15 million deal. I surprised my mom with a mother son...

day one morning. We got breakfast and I drove her to the @Dodge dealership for her to choose any truck she wanted. (She’s a Texas woman.) There were littles tears in both our eyes as the dealer handed her the keys. I told my mom to follow me I had one more surprise....

As she pulled into the drive way she nearly rear ended my truck she was so excited. We walked up to the realtor next to the for sale sign as she handed my mom the key to her brand new house in St. Petersburg, Florida next to the water. My moms tears made me cry. Hell it even....

made the realtor cry. Mom you loved my sister & I unconditionally. You sacrificed so much. I never once heard you complain or say why me. All I ever felt from you was love, happiness, peace, positivity, & contentment. On this Mother’s Day I want to say I love you, & I....

wouldn’t be the man I am today, or had the career I was blessed to have if it wasn’t for you! I love you so much.
#MothersDay