Jack Hannahan is batting just .214 for the Cleveland Indians this year. But he dazzles in the field. As a matter of fact, he has the highest fielding percentage (.978) of any third basemen in the league!
Plus, he's a good teammate.
So, the other day, Hannahan's wife Jenny was in Cleveland and expecting to go into labor with the couple's first child at any minute. Only problem. Hannahan was with the team in Boston.
The journeyman ballplayer was desperate to get back to Cleveland as Jenny was on the phone from the dugout, telling Jack to "come home"!!
Only one problem. There weren't any flights out of Boston until the morning! No doubt, too late to witness the miracle of childbirth and the welcoming of their first born.
As he told teammates about his plight, Justin Masterson asked about a private jet as an option instead. A private jet and its $35,000 price tag was out of the question to Hannahan and his league minimum contract. That's when Masterson stepped in.
From the St. Paul Pioneer:
"Book it," Masterson told Hannahan.
"I can't. It costs too much," Hannahan replied.
"Book it!" Masterson said.
Then Masterson passed a hat around the clubhouse. Teammates immediately contributed $35,000 to help chip in for the flight.
Hannahan made it back to Cleveland to be by his wife's side with 15 minutes to spare. The baby, though born premature, is healthy. John Jack Hannahan V weighed 2 pounds, 12 ounces when he was born at 3:11 a.m. on Aug. 5.
"He's a little miracle," said Hannahan, who added that John is doing great and will remain in the hospital for another two months.
The Indians tried to keep the kind gesture quiet, but news trickled out in the past couple days, and Hannahan delivered a public thank you before Wednesday's game.
"It just tells you about this team that we have," Hannahan said. "That the guys would do that for me I think speaks volumes about the character of our team.
"I've played on four different big league teams and that just doesn't happen on any team. It takes a great group of guys to do that," he said.
Plus, he's a good teammate.
So, the other day, Hannahan's wife Jenny was in Cleveland and expecting to go into labor with the couple's first child at any minute. Only problem. Hannahan was with the team in Boston.
The journeyman ballplayer was desperate to get back to Cleveland as Jenny was on the phone from the dugout, telling Jack to "come home"!!
Only one problem. There weren't any flights out of Boston until the morning! No doubt, too late to witness the miracle of childbirth and the welcoming of their first born.
As he told teammates about his plight, Justin Masterson asked about a private jet as an option instead. A private jet and its $35,000 price tag was out of the question to Hannahan and his league minimum contract. That's when Masterson stepped in.
From the St. Paul Pioneer:
"Book it," Masterson told Hannahan.
"I can't. It costs too much," Hannahan replied.
"Book it!" Masterson said.
Then Masterson passed a hat around the clubhouse. Teammates immediately contributed $35,000 to help chip in for the flight.
Hannahan made it back to Cleveland to be by his wife's side with 15 minutes to spare. The baby, though born premature, is healthy. John Jack Hannahan V weighed 2 pounds, 12 ounces when he was born at 3:11 a.m. on Aug. 5.
"He's a little miracle," said Hannahan, who added that John is doing great and will remain in the hospital for another two months.
The Indians tried to keep the kind gesture quiet, but news trickled out in the past couple days, and Hannahan delivered a public thank you before Wednesday's game.
"It just tells you about this team that we have," Hannahan said. "That the guys would do that for me I think speaks volumes about the character of our team.
"I've played on four different big league teams and that just doesn't happen on any team. It takes a great group of guys to do that," he said.
