This is my page about
Andres, my favorite player. He is one of the greatest players in the National
League, but many people like Mark McGwire. The Big Cat is one of the most
exciting players you will ever see, and he had led an impressive life both
on and off the field.
Ever since he was a kid, Andres loved to play baseball. He spent years playing games with older kids. In 1979, with the help of Felipe Alou, he was drafted to the Montreal Expos. It wasn't much longer until he made his presence known. By 1985, he was ready for the big leagues after a great season in the minors. Andres, who won a few Gold Gloves, was one of the best first baseman in the late 80's, but started to struggle later on. Prior to the 1992 season, he was traded to the Cardinals where he suffered another bad season and broke his wrist.
In
the 1993 Expansion Draft, the Colorado Rockies chose Andres to be their
first baseman. At this time he was struggling at the plate when Don Baylor(also
from the Cardinals) was selected to manage the Rockies. He developed a
new stance with Andres, and apparently it worked. The Big Cat won the National
League batting title with an average of .370. Andres was the main weapon
on a fairly good Rockies team. After the 1997 season, the Rockies decided
not to sign him, and the Braves picked him up.
Even though he had another stellar season in 1998, it was around this time
he started to experience pain in his back....
Then the bad news
came. Before the 1999 season had begun, the seemingly strong and powerful
Galarraga was diagnosed with non-hodgkins lymphoma. He was to undergo chemotherapy
and miss the entire season. The treatments were severely torturous, and
even though he knew he would be better, sometimes he felt as if he was
going to die. When he did have energy, he ate Froot Loops and spent
time on his favorite hobby, painting landscapes. In the winter, his doctors
cleared him to play and he started to take batting practice again. He hasn't
skipped a beat since, and he has definitely made a great comeback. Once
again, the Big Cat is back to slugging huge homers and leading his team.
All this from a guy who thought death was near less than a year earlier!
Now he is ready
to win that World Series ring....
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