By Tiernan McKay

On Opening Day 2003, Cal Eldred took the mound with a six-run lead in relief for the St. Louis Cardinals. He felt the familiar weight of the ball in his hand as he turned to face

Milwaukee Brewer Eric Young. Peering in to good friend and catcher, Mike Matheny, Cal took a deep breath and launched a fastball to the plate. High and outside for a ball.

That one pitch set the tone for this outing, which was far from his best. On the way home that night, Cal started rethinking his new role as a reliever. "Facing guys who have already had a few at-bats in a game is hard because they are really aggressive at that point," says Cal. "With only four or five relief appearances in my entire career, I had to make a huge adjustment to my approach."

Even though he left that game humbled, this particular outing was as sweet as any he could remember. Two years ago, Cal thought he heard the door shut on his baseball career. It appeared that his major league run would be cut short by numerous injuries. But things aren't always as they seem…especially in baseball.

The Path Divergent
In January of 2000, approaching his eleventh season with the Milwaukee Brewers and preparing for spring training, while working out at an Arizona clinic, Cal saw his face in a split-screen with White Sox pitcher Jamie Navarro. Although the sound was muted, the message was clear. Cal had been traded to the White Sox for Navarro. In typical baseball fashion, this is how he found out about the trade. "At first I couldn't believe it," he says. "I felt like a kid switching schools during sophomore year in high school."

Although his path had been diverted, this new course proved fruitful. Cal pitched well for the Sox, racking up wins in the double-digits by the All-Star Break. He felt strong and was excited about the possibility of pitching in the playoffs. But, soon after the season's halfway mark, Cal discovered that he had fractured his elbow for the third time. "I was throwing against the Cardinals and there was one pitch in particular that really hurt," he remembers. "I threw another pitch and it barely reached the plate. Fortunately, the batter swung for strike three and then our catcher threw out a guy trying to steal to end the inning. It's a good thing because I don't think I could have thrown another pitch."

That August, doctors inserted a five-inch screw into his arm hoping to stabilize the area and possibly spark the healing process. Two weeks later, his elbow still ached but he pitched through the pain hoping to contribute in the second round of playoffs. He would never get the chance, as the Seattle Mariners eliminated the White Sox in three first-round games.

Pitching Through the Pain
The off season represented an opportunity to rest and recover from the injury. Although many people advised Cal not to have the screw placed in his elbow, he was sure the procedure would give him the opportunity to extend his pitching career. The pain followed him into the next season and began to take its toll on his body. "I could possibly come back on five or six days rest after an outing, but then I needed fifteen days to recover," says Cal. "It's hard to help a team when you need so much rest."

In early April, Cal took the mound as the White Sox's starting pitcher against the Cleveland Indians. By this time, the pain was a familiar, but unwelcome partner. The first two innings were pain-free, but when he left the game in the third inning, his wife, Christi, and his teammates knew what was wrong. "When I saw him leaving the game, I knew it was his elbow," says Christi. "He didn't even remember walking off the field and the pain made him nauseous."

As a last resort, Cal submitted to bone stimulation, twenty-three hours a day for several weeks. That effort eventually failed. The doctors painted a grim picture, telling him that if he wanted to avoid irreparable damage, heading to the DL was the only option. Not willing to risk his long-term health, he reluctantly agreed and hung up his cleats in May of 2001. "Reaching that decision was hard, but telling my teammates that I wouldn't be there to contribute any more was harder."

After posting years of solid and consistent performance, Cal's body apparently had other plans for the future. "I was frustrated because I had just reached a point where the mental side of the game was just as easy as the physical side. I knew I could pitch but the physical side was letting me down."

He immediately faced the difficult question looming in the back of every player's mind…what does life after baseball look like? "I went home that day upset because I wasn't leaving on my own terms, but then I remembered that most guys don't leave on their own terms."

Blessings in Disguise
Three weeks after returning home to Iowa, Christi and Cal found out that they were pregnant with their fourth child. "It really turned out to be such a blessing," says Christi. "Thanks to the sudden turn of events, we now have Abby."

Not ready to define his new life, Cal chose to avoid any major commitments or decisions for at least a year. Instead, he took time to pursue some personal interests. He helped a friend with a political campaign and spent plenty of time with his family. Although the hectic pace and grueling schedule of baseball seemed a world away, part of Cal remained with the game. The challenge of competing and the thrill of pitching in the big leagues lingered like the scent of potent perfume. He wasn't ready to leave it all behind and still felt the shock of such an abrupt end to his career. "I didn't mind not leaving for spring training but when April rolled around, I felt a burning in my heart to start throwing again."

Although the screw had been removed from him arm, the prognosis was still unclear. With the advice of a good friend, physical therapist Keith Kocher, Cal decided to pursue the only remaining option…complete rest.

After eighteen months without throwing, Cal started long-tossing, almost expecting the pain to kick in again. But it didn't. In fact, he felt stronger than he had in a long time. With renewed hope, he and his family traveled to Arizona so that he could continue his workouts. "At first I wasn't sure about everything that was happening. Then I figured I had nothing to lose and everything to gain, so I went for it." By September, he was throwing off the mound and throwing well. Cal was even surprised by how strong he felt and relished the opportunity to pitch again…pain free!

On November 6, about twenty scouts gathered to watch him throw for a third time. "I felt like a rookie all over again. I had never even thrown in front of scouts like that before so I felt like I was on display."

He was obviously impressive. Just before the start of spring training, several teams offered him invitations to camp. In February, he joined the St. Louis Cardinals in Jupiter, Florida. He continued to perform throughout spring training and broke camp with the team. "I knew heading to the bullpen was going to be an adjustment, but I was just happy to get a second chance."

"He's come so far," says Christi. "It's hard to see your husband in pain when he reaches up to scratch his head or grab the steering wheel. I couldn't be happier for him."

Credit Where Credit is Due
Although he credits patience, hard work and the body's ability to heal, it is his unyielding faith in his Savior, Jesus Christ, that enabled Cal to overcome his numerous setbacks.

"The reality is, the Lord has given me another chance to use my talent and do the best I can…for Him, not for me."

Baseball is Cal's career and it's also an opportunity for him to share his faith with teammates and fans. "When you truly yield to the Lord's plan and take your hands off of tomorrow, the path becomes clear."

What was once a cluttered and meandering path is now straight and unobstructed. "Regardless of what happens in baseball, my eyes are always pointed upward towards God the Father."

He once thought he heard the sound of a door closing, but it turned out to be the creak of a door opening wider. A small percentage of ball players signed ever make it to the big leagues and even fewer come back from an severe injury stronger than before. With God's provision, Cal not only made it once…but twice.

Given everything he's been through, the second time around is just a little sweeter.