(intense music)
(gentle music)
[Darrell Sr.] My Dad really wanted us to play sports,
to use sports to get to college.
Having a mom and dad that really understood
and really pushed us hard, just God's grace really
to be honest with ya.
Cheryl's arguably the best basketball player ever.
She's the only eight-time all American ever.
Reggie's a Olympian and 19 years in the NBA
and was set three-point record.
And then Tammy going to Cal State Fullerton
and being all that she was at Cal State Fullerton
as a volleyball player.
So, my major league career, I replaced Rod Carew
at first base for my first month and a half.
Then I backed up Reggie Jackson for two years
and then backed up Bob Boone,
arguably one of the best catchers of all time.
Getting to the playoffs in 86 was a tremendous feat,
but to back up and come in and play with
two hall of famers was truly amazing.
When I met Kelly, I really wanted to convert her
and get her outta the church.
I really felt like all Catholics were lost
and they had no clue that they were lost.
She was invited to be on staff at the Catholic church,
started bible study in a young adult group,
but the bottom line is I was intrigued by the Eucharist.
That led to me asking more questions and more questions.
That became the beginning of my conversion.
I saw the guys that were in the Knights of Columbus
and they go, "Well, we're coming to your bible study.
"You should become a Knight."
I said, "Okay, I'll become a Knight."
And it's a great relationship because of the passion
of the knights to move the mission of who we are
as Catholics forward.
[Darrell Jr.] Dad was really good about
making sports about life lessons
and what you can take from everything
to make you a better person and ya know,
there was a little pressure but it was more
a personal pressure put on by myself.
The pressure actually ended up making me a
pretty good athlete.
I was on track to be drafted in the high round
and it kinda got stripped.
I've had four surgeries.
After my fourth surgery, I got in a car accident.
I was in a very dark place.
I was actually hangin' up my cleats.
I was actually gonna give it up.
My mom and dad would always tell me that
even the worst things that seem to happen,
God has a plan.
I said, "You know what, man?
"What do I have to lose?
"I'm just gonna give baseball one more shot."
Three months later, I get a call from the
Kansas City Royals.
"Do you wanna play baseball?"
"Yes, I wanna play baseball."
[Darrell Sr.] We all have those opportunities and those
chance sand you don't ever wanna look back and say,
"I didn't give it all I had."
We have to actually use sports to help develop
our young men and women to be better people,
to be major league contributors in society.
[Darrell Jr.] Dad taught life lessons, ya know?
What did you learn today?
How can you become a better person today?
Not how could you hit a farther home run?
It wasn't about that, it was how's that gonna
strengthen your character.
[Darrell Sr.] My coach would always say,
"Show us who you're running with
"and I'll tell you what you are."
You're running with stallions, you're gonna be a stallion.
So, you always surround yourself with good people,
Godly people to be around you, and you're gonna have
a really good chance to be a good influence
and successful.
As you walk and you grow in your faith,
you need other men 'cause iron does sharpen iron.
I like the mission of the Knights because it's about
men getting together and iron sharpening iron
so that we can now be true Catholics
not only just in word on Sundays but every day in between.
(light music)