Two weeks ago Sunday Oscar Taveras stepped into the box with 1 out in the bottom of the 7th inning.
The Cardinals trailed the Giants 3-2 at the time.
I can’t say why, but I remember yelling across the bar table I was standing at to a friend that THIS is the moment that Taveras becomes a star. He was one of the most talked about Cardinals in 2014, yes. But THIS was his moment on a national stage where he would forever leave the ‘prospect’ label behind and became the ‘now’.
BTW- I’m sure I wasn’t nearly this elegant. But you get the idea.
It only took a couple of seconds for the line-drive to clear the right field wall, just inside the fair pole. A frozen rope. The Cardinals had tied the game and went on to win – their only one of the ’14 NLCS.
Taveras didn’t get many shots in the 2014 postseason. 7 at bats. 3 hits. And that huge home run. But we know the fact that he was there in the first place made him happy.
Thank you God! My first postseason! pic.twitter.com/LNhbpY7pvp
— Oscar Taveras (@el_fenomeno_18) September 28, 2014
He had finally arrived at the show – a lifetime of HIGH expectations getting checked off. He was on his way.
On Sunday afternoon, Taveras and his girlfriend were killed in an automobile accident in his native Dominican Republic. He was 22 years old. She was 18. Two lives taken way too soon.
The news raced like a intracardiac injection through Cardinal Nation. A 1000 watt lightbulb extinguished abruptly. Without warning.
We had seen the future of the Cardinals and now he was gone. A young man that brimmed with potential would not get the chance to showcase it any further.
Condolences to his and her families wherever they might be tonight. As much as we hurt, the loss of a loved one is a million times worse. No words will take away the pain; no thoughts will change what happened.
But if we can all take a collective solace in something, it’s that Oscar Taveras did what many of us wake up each day trying to do – achieving a dream.
I’m sure OT had bigger ones in mind for 2015 and beyond. It doesn’t diminish the fact that making it to the majors is a damn big thing. Something probably 100% of people reading this right now had wished for themselves at some point in their life yet never came to pass.
He made it.
It made him happy.
Oscar Taveras will be missed. Today, tomorrow – forever. Rest In Peace, OT. I’m pretty sure there’s an OK outfielder up there willing to give you a few tips if you still want to work on that swing.
Photo: MLB
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