Recently, the ESPN program Outside the Lines, had a feature on Don Carman, a former pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies. Carman pitched from the mid 1980’s until the early 1990’s and after retiring form the major leagues, he became a sports psychologist. A normal guy who had his time in the spotlight is what you would think if you looked at the overall story of Don Carman. He had the opportunity to live his dream and now he helps others as they live out their dreams.

Just a short time ago, Don began cleaning out his garage and when he did, he came across a box full of letters that he had forgotten was there. It was a box with over two hundred fan letters from his days in Philadelphia, roughly fifteen years ago. Most people might have read a few letters and some may have read them all, but for the most part, those letters would have been discarded in the trash or perhaps kept for a souvenir. However, Don Carman is not like most other people.

Carman decided to respond to each one, signing autographs for fans who had written in their childhood years and were now in their upper twenties and thirties. Most of them had probably forgotten that they had written the letters and the ones who hadn’t forgotten had probably assumed that they would never hear back form their Major League hero, especially not over a decade later.

Carman fulfilled their dreams years later just as his dreams had been fulfilled years earlier when he stepped on the field for the Phillies. Outside the Lines featured some of the people who had received the letters from Carman and each one was amazed that Carman had responded. One had written Carman about the death of his wife, whom Carman had spent time with while she was hospitalized. That man was awestruck when he received his letter from Carman. Lives were touched as this former big leaguer gave of his time for them, valuing their support and being respectful of the time that they had spent writing to him.
We can learn a valuable lesson form Don Carman. In a day and age where many athletes and owners take the fans for granted, Don understood that the fans were the ones who got him to where he was. His abilities helped him to play the sport but without the fans, the sport could not have served as a career. His admiration for his fans continued long after his playing days were gone.

As it applies to us, we have to remember those who helped us to get where we are at in life. Whether it was your parents who went to great lengths to help you along the way or maybe a teacher or a youth pastor who spent that extra little bit of time with you, we have to remember their sacrifices and pour ourselves into someone, just as they did for us. If we remember those who helped us get there, we can remain humble, understanding that it wasn’t simply the result off our own efforts. If we return the favor by helping others to get further in their lives, the world around us will be a better place.

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