It has been an extremely emotional time for the fearless 18-time All-Star winner and seven batting titles champion, Rod Carew (#10 BCAR). It was 11 days before his 70th birthday months ago, and as he was stepping off the tee box during a round of golf, he suddenly felt his chest burn. He quickly went to the clubhouse and lay on the floor, asking a woman there to call a paramedic. The next thing I saw was a man with paddles in his hands, Carew says. He was yelling, We’re losing him! We can’t lose him! Then I blacked out.
Carew survived the ordeal, but his recovery has been slow, and he continues to wrestle with his weakened condition and the terrible experiences he endured while in the hospital. My wife will tell you I get up in the morning and cry and wonder, Why me? Carew says. But you can’t say that. I go back to when my youngest daughter was dying. I never asked my friend upstairs, Why me? And He’s the only one who has the answers.