“Once you can’t hit any more home runs or strike any more guys out, trust me: They forget about you.â€
Eric Davis was addressing the University of Northern Colorado’s baseball team after last month’s Friends of Baseball Breakfast of Champions youth fundraising event in Greeley, Colo.
After speaking to a few hundred people at the annual program, which has featured All-Star and Hall of Fame players, managers and executives since its inception in 1988, the 59-year-old former outfielder was bestowing upon the UNC players the wisdom he gained from a 21-year professional baseball career, including 17 seasons in the Major Leagues.
Davis was by no means suggesting that pursuing a career in baseball was a bad thing, or somehow not worth it. To the contrary: He was cautioning the young men about allowing others to dictate their legacies.
“Life is about chapters,†he told them. “How many of y’all played Little League? That chapter’s over. High school ball? That chapter’s…