Rick Ankiel Sits Down With InJupiter

JUPITER, FL – April 18, 2017 – On October 3, 2000, Game One of the National League division series started with great anticipation as the St. Louis Cardinals took on the Atlanta Braves. The Cardinals' 21-year-old pitcher, Rick Ankiel was on the mound. He had been lauded as baseball's next great pitcher — a kid with a "generational arm." So far, everything about the season had proven that to be true. He was on track for another great game. That is, until he suddenly threw a pitch that missed the mitt — by a long shot. Then he threw another wild pitch. And another. Followed by two more — five in all. That was the beginning of the end of his once-great pitching career. As he recalls, that was the day that the unwelcome, inexplicable Phenomenon arrived.

Ankiel, along with veteran sports journalist Tim Brown, tells the story of his career and of life with the Phenomenon in his autobiography, THE PHENOMENON: PRESSURE, THE YIPS, AND THE PITCH THAT CHANGED MY LIFE. 

Forced to retire from the game he loved, Ankiel refused to surrender. He made an amazing turnaround, triumphing over the demons in his own mind to reenter the game, returning to the major leagues — as a hitter — joining the ranks of Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle in the elite club of players to have successful careers in both positions.

In advance of his book's debut on April 18, Ankiel sat down with InJupiter for a revealing interview. Stay tuned to future issues for that article and for more from this local champion.