Big League Stew - MLB

As mentioned in this morning's Juice, Jon Lester isn't the first baseballer to triumph over cancer and then return to the diamond better than ever.

Indeed, just like in real life, baseball is full of courageous stories of battles with the disease. In fact, you could probably field a pretty good lineup with players who have helped raise plenty of awareness and money for the fight. 

So without further delay, here's the MLB All-Cancer Survivor team. It's not a complete list, but it seems to make for a rather formidable lineup card. Plus, take look at all of the lefty pitchers. That's scary stuff for southpaws.

1. Brett Butler, CF — In '96, four months after being a throat cancer patient, Butler returns to the lineup, walks and scores the winning run for the Dodgers.

2. Mark Loretta, SS — Diagnosed with skin cancer in '04, same season as his first All-Star appearance, and still is going.

3. Eric Davis, LF — Doctors find a — no kidding — baseball-sized tumor in his colon in '97, but Davis hits it out of the park and responds with one of his finest seasons in '98.

4. Darryl Strawberry, RF — The guy comes back from colon cancer in '98 to hit 24 homers for the World Series champ Yanks, but other demons had messed up his career long before that.

5. Andres Galarraga, 1B — Had three 40-plus homer seasons leading to '99 season, which he missed because of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, but comes back in '00 with a .302/28 HR/100 RBI performance.

6. John Kruk, DH Loses his right testicle in '94 and, as he recovered from treatment, wore a T-shirt that read on its front, "If you don't let me play..." and on its back, "I'm going to take my ball and go home." Plays final season on Chicago's South Side.

7. Mike Lowell, 3B — Had testicular cancer in '99, but he played on. Won World Series with Marlins and Red Sox, named Series MVP in '07 and to the All-Star Game four times.

8. Eli Marrero, C — Thyroid cancer in '98, but had 66 career homers in parts of 10 seasons.

9. Mike Gallego, 2BFeared death when diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1983, but he's the Rockies third-base coach today after 13 seasons in the majors as a player.

Dave Dravecky, LHP — Many have seen the horrible video of his arm breaking on a pitch to Tim Raines in '89, but he was looking like a real, regulation miracle up to that point. His story still offers hope.

Jon Lester, LHP — "I can't tell you which one means more to me than the other," Lester says. "The World Series is, obviously, the World Series. How many people get to say they've won that? And a no-hitter is a no-hitter. How many people can say they've done that?"

Scott Radinsky, LHP — Hodgkin's disease disrupts darned good career in '94, but he had several very good seasons thereafter. Now the pitching coach for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, and still a punk rocker as frontman for Pulley.

Danny Jackson, LHP — Thyroid cancer helped to end his career prematurely, but today he runs a first-class bowling alley near KC.

Scott Schoeneweis, LHP — Ambulance rushes him to the hospital just last week with agonizing pain in his abdomen, which scared the bejeezus out of a guy who was treated for testicular cancer in '93.

Doug Davis, LHP — Rehab in minors continues for Davis, who pitched (and did well) just hours before surgery to remove a cancerous thyroid last month.

Derek Lowe, RHP — Recruited for Shonda Schilling's Shade Foundation after a skin cancer scare in '03 makes him live in the dark.

Joe Torre, manager — Docs find prostate cancer in '99, which would have sealed the deal for a TV movie right there — except they already had made it two years before.

Dusty Baker, coach — Baker's prostate cancer in 2001 preceded a World Series berth with the Giants.

Bud Selig, commissioner — Removes Brewers from portfolio, adds "Spider-Man 2" logo to bases, has skin cancer removed from forehead — all in '04.

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13 Comments

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  1. MalibuHero
    1. Posted by MalibuHero Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:52 pm EDT

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    First
    go blue jays
  2. ZACK
    2. Posted by ZACK Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:43 pm EDT

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    Truly AMAZING to survive cancer. Nice pitching yesterday Jon Lester. I hope Doug Davis can make a full recovery.
  3. Juni
    3. Posted by Juni Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:26 pm EDT

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    And do notting forgot Ichiro. He arriving and destroy americaro and even miniscule now more he is.
  4. mikey
    4. Posted by mikey Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:41 pm EDT

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    good to see those guys doing well, I have to battle this crazy disease myself now
  5. bluejays
    5. Posted by bluejays Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:11 pm EDT

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    yankees sucks balls, thats all we wanna see
  6. kyle P
    6. Posted by kyle P Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:53 pm EDT

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    #5 - no sense.
  7. Paul C
    7. Posted by Paul C Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:25 pm EDT

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    Good luck #4 (Michael B) - I'll keep you in mind. Best wishes for full recovery.
  8. Duk
    8. Posted by 'Duk Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:07 pm EDT

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    I'll echo Paul C ... best of luck, Michael.
  9. Holly D
    9. Posted by Holly D Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:20 pm EDT

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    ditto michael b
    my hubby beat it in 04
  10. Joe
    10. Posted by Joe Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:36 pm EDT

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    Cancer is the dumbest thig a human body has ever created, and good for anyone that has pushed on through the ordeal.
  11. mikey
    11. Posted by mikey Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:41 pm EDT

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    thx Paul C and Holly D, I hope to be able to post here for a long time, and good to see your hubby made it Holly D good for him!!!!
  12. Steven L
    12. Posted by Steven L Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:36 pm EDT

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    my wife is fighting it now. wiseapple she is, she's loving all the weight she's losing.
  13. MCDRUNK713
    13. Posted by MCDRUNK713 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:22 pm EDT

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    GOOD LUCK MICHEAL B!!!!!! Congrats Lester on a brilliant performance against cancer and yesterday you weren't too shabby either, Go Red Sox and EVERYONE who has fought/still fighting cancer....keep fighting the good fight......we all are pulling for every single one of you........

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