Former Cub Adam Greenberg seeks one official at bat w/help of campaign and petition

[BiZmaRK]

There's a decent chance you're familiar with his story as it has been told by many outlets, including a "SportsCenter" segment earlier this season. Back in 2005, Greenberg was a 24-year-old member of the Chicago Cubs when he stepped into the batter's box for the first plate appearance of his major-league career. His big-league career ended almost as quickly as it began, though, as the first pitch from Florida Marlins reliever Valerio De Los Santos hit Greenberg in the head. The immediate result for the young outfielder was a concussion, but the lingering effects of vertigo and blurred vision put Greenberg on a difficult road to a lengthy recovery process that included stops with three additional organizations but never another call-up to a big-league club.

To this date, Greenberg remains one of only four position players — and the first since Philadelphia's Fred Van Dusen in 1955 — to be hit by a pitch in his only career plate appearance. Of those four, he's the only one to have his career end on the first pitch.

For more on this, go to http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-bi...3871--mlb.html

[PeteU]

I was going to post this.

It's a shame Bill Veeck isn't alive today. He'd take Greenberg in a heartbeat.

Call me sentimental, but I'd like to see this happen....just because. Bring him up for a day, let him get an at bat or two, then have him "retire" at the end of the day. I can't see the Cubs or the Astros being hurt if they do something like that.

[GiambiJuice]

It would be really ironic if he gets beaned again.

[chicagowhitesox1173]

I forgot about that, it would be kinda cool if the Cubs let him play one game. I always thought that the ondeck hitter Ben Christanson hit really got screwed. I know Mickey Morandini did too.

[dominik]

isn't it quite expensive to call up a player for one day? I have heard that you at least have to pay the minimum salary if a player only plays one day. that would mean this day would cost a few 100K. but I'm not sure if this is true.

[Bulldog19]

isn't it quite expensive to call up a player for one day? I have heard that you at least have to pay the minimum salary if a player only plays one day. that would mean this day would cost a few 100K. but I'm not sure if this is true.

Pretty sure they'd have to pay him (minimum salary/162). So if minimum salary is $400k, then they'd owe him like $2500...

[BiZmaRK]

Pretty sure they'd have to pay him (minimum salary/162). So if minimum salary is $400k, then they'd owe him like $2500...

When Alfonso Soriano is getting paid some 5 to 10 million per year, do you think $2500 out of the Cubs pocket is going to be the difference between making or breaking it?

[Cowtipper]

The Marlins signed him. Looks like he'll get that at-bat.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/0...rade+Rumors%29

[GiambiJuice]

When Alfonso Soriano is getting paid some 5 to 10 million per year, do you think $2500 out of the Cubs pocket is going to be the difference between making or breaking it?

Try $18 million.

And another $18 million in 2013

And another $18 million in 2014

Dear god, no wonder the Cubs are so bad.

[wu-tang clan]

I don't know why other losing teams didn't jump on this earlier; it honestly seems like an absolutely tremendous moneymaking venture that will likely transcend the world of baseball into the world of national news for a day or two. I'm glad my team didn't do it because of how cheap, exploitative, and gimmicky it is, but hey, I'm a mark, and I shall be tuning in on October 2nd.

[metfan13]

He'll finally get his AB, and face RA Dickey

[J W]

Of all the people to face, that's an interesting choice.

[Bigfoot 88]

I watched him get the offer live on a morning show this morning. It was pretty cool to see his reaction.

[Ben Grimm]

Great to see him get his chance.

Does anybody remember the name of the kid from the Red Sox who was diagnosed with a malformation that required brain surgery a few years ago? Last I heard, he was trying to make a comeback. I recall he had alot of promise at the time.

[Pere]

Great move for the Marlins. Have you seen this guys OBP?

[Nimrod]

Oh well,Greenberg struck out in his sole at bat last night!

[dominik]

Oh well,Greenberg struck out in his sole at bat last night!

yeah he looked pretty bad never coming close to touching the ball. but of course dickey is about the toughest guy you can face. dickey should have laid one in for him.

[metfan13]

yeah he looked pretty bad never coming close to touching the ball. but of course dickey is about the toughest guy you can face. dickey should have laid one in for him.

Sorry, Dickey is trying to complete his own second chance story by winning a Cy Young Award.

[RaysFan_98]

Of one of the few classy moves the Marlins have made this tops em all.

[Tyrus4189Cobb]

Good for him. Not like the Marlins' playoff was in the balance.

[brett]

Oh well,Greenberg struck out in his sole at bat last night!

At first I thought you wrote that he sold his bat.

[EdTarbusz]

Oh well,Greenberg struck out in his sole at bat last night!

Greenberg sounded grateful that he struck out rather then get a batting practice type pitch from Dickey.

[ol' aches and pains]

At first I thought you wrote that he sold his bat.

No, that was Pete Rose.

[Gary Dunaier]

dickey should have laid one in for him.

Sorry, Dickey is trying to complete his own second chance story by winning a Cy Young Award.

Dickey said he was going to treat Greenberg like any other batter, and I don't think Greenberg wanted any special treatment at the plate. At least he can rationalize striking out by pointing out that he had to face Dickey.