Lester Wins in Return From Cancer
After Beating Lymphoma, Red Sox Pitcher Picks Up a Big Victory
Jul 24, 2007
No matter what team you follow, you had to be rooting for Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester in his start on Monday, July 23 against the Cleveland Indians. You see, this was Lester's first major league start in almost a year. That is because on August 23, 2006, the 23-year old left-hander was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, a form of cancer that attacked and could have destroyed his lymphatic system. If left untreated, it would have ended the life of the Boston phenom.
Lester Gets Treatment for Cancer
So Lester had to step down from the Red Sox in the midst of his impressive rookie campaign, at a time when he was 7-2 and had 60 strikeouts in 81 innings. Instead of going Fenway Park the next day, he had to go to the hospital to begin cancer treatment.
Over the next four months, Lester would undergo six chemotherapy sessions that eventually eradicated the disease.
By December of 2006, Lester was already throwing again, and he showed up at spring training this season two weeks ahead of time. Although he appeared ready and able to pitch in the majors again, Boston management decided to bring him along slowly, allowing Lester to pitch in the minor leagues for more than three months before recalling him to the bigs on Monday from Triple-A Pawtucket.
A Triumphant Return
In the opener of an important four-game series against Cleveland, Lester showed the same form that made him instantly popular in Boston last season. Just the sight of Lester walking to the mound drew a standing ovation from both Boston and Cleveland fans at Jacobs Field.
After his teammates staked the lefty to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning, the kid breezed though the first two innings, holding the mighty Cleveland Indians lineup at bay. But in the third inning, Indians centerfielder Grady Sizemore connected for a two-run homer. Then in the fourth, the Indians loaded the bases with just one out. Lester kept his poise, however, first getting Josh Barfield to ground into a force play and then striking out Sizemore in a hard fought at-bat to end the inning.
He would pitch two more shutout inings to pick up his first win of the year.
Lester's Boston Teammates are Amazed
"Wow, it's a great story," Boston's Tim Wakefield told reporters after the game. "It's been a long road for him, but today's a day where you can say he made it back. Words can't describe it. I can't even pick one. Maybe, perseverance."
Lester's comeback has inspired his teammates, who were impressed with his composure and maturity long before he took on the fight of his life. In 2006, he became the first Red Sox rookie to prevail in his first five decisions, and he had become a fixture in Boston's rotation when cancer threatened his career and his young life.
"This isn't even about baseball," said Boston's senior statesman, Curt Schilling. "It just doesn't get any better the way a guy like that comes back to us. It's about family. The big thing is he's a great human being and that makes it an even better story. That wasn't your run-of-the-mill DL stint."
According to his team, Lester wants to be known as a successful major league pitcher -- not just a cancer survivor.
"I think everyone in this room would want it the same way," Wakefield said. "He's somebody who survived cancer but he doesn't want that label. He's not the type of person that would want your sympathy. He wants to prove himself and show that he can compete at this level."
In total, Lester pitched six innings, allowing just two runs and striking out six in Boston's 6-2 win, a crucial victory that kept the Sox seven-and-a-half games ahead of the New York Yankees.
Lester could make his 2007 Fenway Park debut as early as August 2nd against the Baltimore Orioles.
All baseball fans should try to watch that one.
