Former St. Louis Cardinal Rick Ankiel spoke on the importance of perseverance Thursday during the 6th Annual Steak and Burger Dinner, hosted by the Boys and Girls Club of Poplar Bluff.
Ankiel is the pitcher who is often remembered for losing his control on baseball's biggest stage (the National League championship series against the New York Mets). Considered at the time one of the game's rising stars, he threw wild pitch after wild pitch in that game and psychologically was never the same as a pitcher again.
Ankiel shared with the audience of more than 400 the story of how he returned to the minor leagues, ultimately reinvented himself (as an outfielder) and revitalized his career and returned to the major leagues.
"My story resonates with the Boys and Girls Club's mission," he said. "I didn't come from much and sports, being my avenue, was something I could look forward to and ultimately saved my life. That's why I'm here tonight."
Ankiel said he grew up in a dysfunctional home in a small town in Florida, which he described as similar to Poplar Bluff. He said when he was a kid, there were three options.
"You could fish, you could fight, or you could play sports," he said. "Luckily I was able to find baseball and find peace."
Ankiel was drafted by the Cardinals straight out of high school. He said just before his rookie year, his father and brother were sentenced to prison. He said baseball was an escape from a life he didn't want to lead.
Ankiel commended the purpose of the Boys and Girls Club, which is to keep kids off the streets, keep them learning, and to provide role models for many who wouldn't have them otherwise.
"Without (The Boys and Girls Club), I think they'd get lost," Ankiel said. "Knowing there's somebody here that is a mentor, or it's a sport, or something they connect with and is something they look forward to, can be a way for them to blow off steam, relieve stress, and it can make all the difference."
The Steak and Burger Dinner, sponsored by Southeast Health, Luecke Distributing and Butler County EMS, is a fundraiser that gets club members interacting with attendees. Held at the Black River Coliseum, a member is assigned to each of the 50 tables and given the task of auctioning a steak to the highest bidder, leaving everyone else to eat hamburgers.
Thirteen-year-old Devonte Hill is an eighth grader at Poplar Bluff Junior High. This was his first time auctioning off anything, let alone a steak dinner.
"I'm not sure what to say really," he said. "But the starting bid is $20 and it's a really good steak. It's worth it."
Hill said he enjoys spending time at the Boys and Girls Club, especially when there is an activity or trip that piques his interest.
"It can be a lot of fun," he said.
Jeff Rolland, Boys and Girls Club board member and retired deputy chief of police for the Poplar Bluff Police Dept., said last night's Steak and Burger is one of the best they've ever had.
"Rick Ankiel is an amazing individual," he said. "If you listen to his story, he is the American hero. You can knock him down but he comes back. He believes in himself, he believes in teammates, he believes in education. It's phenomenal to hear his story."
Rolland said many kids who belong to the club are experiencing the same life Ankiel had.
"His home life was not picture perfect and he came through that. He played baseball on the biggest stage there is. We can teach our young men and women that even if you don't have the perfect home life, you can persevere. Like he said, don't be afraid to fail."
The night's other festivities included a silent and live auction, raffles and opportunities to donate to the Boys and Girls Club. All proceeds from the benefit remain in Poplar Bluff and help fund the local chapter.
Rolland said the community is always a great supporter of the Boys and Girls Club's events. Steak and Burger, along with Taste of the Town, are two of its largest fundraising efforts. However, Rolland noted anyone who wants to donate or contribute doesn't have to wait for a special event to do so.
"We have a waiting list (of children). We have kids who can't get in. We want to serve all the kids, we don't want there to be a waiting list. We could have the next Rick Ankiel. The next president. These kids are super talented and just want to be loved," Rolland said.
After his speech, Ankiel welcomed questions from the audience. He said his favorite Cardinals legend to visit with is Whitey Herzog and that he thinks throwing someone out at a base is more important than hitting a home run. He said he hopes his sons play professional baseball, and that he may have intentionally hit a few guys during his days on the mound.
"Plus, I had (Mike) Matheny behind the plate, (Mark) McGwire over at first, and (Scott) Rolen at third, so if they wanted to come get me, I'd just dance around 'til they got there," he said with a laugh.
Ankiel retired from baseball in 2013, wrote the New York Times best-seller, "The Phenomenon: Pressure, The Yips, and the Pitch that Changed My Life, and is now a baseball analyst on Fox Sports Midwest.
While many folks were there on behalf of a business or organization, others simply came as Cardinals fans. Brothers Clay and Justin Pruett said they were there specifically to meet Ankiel.
"He was really a great player," Justin Pruett said. "The way he could throw that ball... man."
"The food was pretty good too," Clay Pruett said, referring to Karon Campbell's Tasteful Creations. "I ate way too much."
Anyone interested in contributing to the Boys and Girls Club of Poplar Bluff can call 573-776-1690.