I used to tell my players at Hinds that they had a better chance of being struck by lightning than to play in the big leagues. Just help us win a game every now and then, I pleaded.
On April 3, 1996, I got a call from Steven James Bourgeois and with his deep Cajun accent, he said,
“Coach, this is Bou. I just got struck by lightning.”
Indeed he had!
The former Texas League Pitcher of the Year had been called up to the majors by the San Francisco Giants and made his MLB debut against the Atlanta Braves that night.
He was the second of three Hinds Eagles to be struck by lightning. Pat Rapp and Chad Bradford were the other two.
Yes, lightning does strike. And it just goes to prove that sometimes you have a better chance to pitch in the big leagues than to be struck by lightning.
Lesson learned: Always listen to your coach, but keep doing what you have to do and you just might end up where you only dreamed you would ever be.
A surprise visit from Bill “Spaceman” Lee.
Rick Clarke's Diary of a Mad Baseball Coach 