Fresh Start Devotionals

Determination Playing baseball in October is a normal part of the game for 25 year-old Derek Jeter, the All-Star shortstop of the New York Yankees. The 2001 World Series was the fifth he’s played in during his brief career. Jeter is undoubtedly one of the premier players in the game. When Jeter was still in diapers, 42 year-old Mike Morgan pitched in his first Major League game. Morgan’s played for 12 Major League teams in his 24 year career, but has never made it to the World Series, never that is until 2001. During the top of the 8th inning of game 1 of the Series, Arizona Diamondback pitcher Morgan took to the mound and retired the Yanks in order. The third batter was Jeter, who ended his 14 game World Series hitting streak when he flied out to deep centerfield. “My father taught me a lot of things, and one of them was perseverance,” Morgan said. “I’m glad he did. Because I don’t think my career would have felt complete if I didn’t make it to the World Series.” Morgan will probably never make it into the Hall of Fame, he’s lost more games than he’s won and his ERA is over 4. But after 24 years there’s something no one can take from him, the 8th inning in game 1 of the 2001 World Series, the world championship ring that is on his finger,and the perseverance that got him there. Jim L. Wilson, Fresh Start Devotionals (Fresno, CA: Willow City Press, 2009).