Get Your Own Adam Greenberg Action Figure!

Have you tired of the Adam Greenberg story yet?  I know I haven't.

And if you're like me and can't wait to get your hands on the 2013 Topps trading card with his likeness on it...you're in luck.  Dude's "One At Bat" with the Miami Marlins has been immortalized with its own McFarlane sports figure.

Well, almost.

It seems that one enterprising individual took the time to create an custom McFarlane figure of Greenberg and, naturally, now it can be yours.

Here's the eBay listing.  And, man, if anyone's listening...that thing should would look good here at the home office!

R.A. Dickey Benefits from "One At Bat"

After the season he had, it's pretty safe to say that R.A. Dickey will still be the topic of conversation long after baseball hands out its postseason awards.

But one achievement might have eluded the New York Mets knuckleballer if not for "One At Bat".  You see, of Dickey's National League leading 230 strikeouts...number 229 came against, you guessed it, Adam Greenberg.

As if that wasn't cool enough...the Cy Young frontrunner even responded.

 

 

Adam Greenberg is Ready

The old adage "it couldn't happen to a better person" is, for the most part, trite.

But when you talk about Adam Greenberg and his opportunity to get one at bat in the Majors...it, well, it couldn't happen to a better person.

By now, you know Greenberg's story, but in case you need a quick refresher, more than seven years ago, dude was hit in the head by Valerio de los Santos fastball...ending his career with just that one plate appearance.

Enter Matt Liston.

Liston is a baseball fanatic and came up with a novel idea.  To get Adam Greenberg his one at bat.  And it worked.  Last week, the Miami Marlins, ironically the team that ended his big league career, offered the 31-year-old a one-day contract on national television

The team plans on using Greenberg as a pinch hitter during Tuesday night's game.

"Hopefully we can have it be for a pitcher, but I'm not going to pinch-hit him for the pitcher just because," said Guillen, who originally toyed with the idea of starting Greenberg and letting him hit in the leadoff spot. "If I need a base hit to take the lead or something, then I'll figure out another inning. I'm going to manage to win the game. I'll figure out how to play him, but if there's the game on the line, I'm going to manage to win the game."

I had a chance to talk to  Greenberg prior to the Marlins going all Willy Wonka and giving him his golden ticket...and I'll be talking to him when it's all done.

Until then...good luck, buddy.

Adam Greenberg to Get His One At Bat

The Miami Marlins were locked and loaded coming into 2012.  They had a new name, a new stadium, some new, big name players and high hopes.

With less than a week to play, and a lock on the worst record in the National League East, they've had just that one story to tell.

Until now.

More than seven years after he was hit in the head by Valerio de los Santos fastball, Adam Greenberg is going to be back in the Majors.  Ironically, the team that ended his big league career...is the one resurrecting it.

"I'm ready," Greenberg said on the "NBC Today Show" Thursday, holding back tears as Marlins general manager David Samson offered him a one-day contract.

“I’m extremely proud to extend this opportunity to Adam,” team owner Jeffrey Loria in a statement.   “He has earned this chance as his love and passion for the game never diminished, despite his career tragically being cut short. I look forward to seeing Adam step up to the plate and realizing his comeback dream next Tuesday night.”

But it won't come easy.  Scheduled to be on the mound Tuesday night for the New York Mets...Cy Young candidate R.A. Dickey.

According to The Palm Beach Post, Greenberg has agreed to donate his one-day salary to the Marlins Foundation.  In turn, they'll make a donation to the Sports Legacy Institute...an organization that advances the study, treatment and prevention of the effects of brain trauma in athletes and other at-risk groups.

You'll recall that it was just a few weeks ago, filmmaker Matt Liston's "One At Bat" campaign started getting national attention.

Adam Greenberg Wants One At Bat

All former big league outfielder Adam Greenberg wants is one more big league at bat.

That's all...just one.

You remember Greenberg, right?  Sure you do.  He's the cat who, in July 2005, was called up by the Chicago Cubs and, in his first (and only) at plate appearance, was hit by a Valerio de los Santos fastball.

Yeah, that's it.  One pitch and his Major League career was over. 

Matter of fact, Greenberg is one of only two players (Fred Van Dusen was the other in 1955 for the Philadelphia Phillies), to be hit by a pitch in their only big league plate appearance without ever taking the field.  And sure, like Van Dusen, that one plate appearance against the Florida Marlins July 9, 2005 is more than any of us would ever get, but Greenberg's not satisfied...dude still wants one more.

That's where Matt Liston comes in.

The filmmaker (and rabid Cubs fan) has launched "One At Bat"...and it's goal is simple.

I had a chance to catch up with Greenberg and, well, talk about that one plate appearance and, hopefully, that one at bat.

HOVG:  True baseball fans seem to know your story...you've even been called "this generation's Moonlight Graham". In a nutshell, can you break down that fateful July 2005 at bat?

GREENBERG:  The at bat in 2005 was the high and low point of my life. Just as my career was ready to get underway, it came to a screeching halt. I had the opportunity of a lifetime. I made it to the Major Leagues with the Chicago Cubs at 24 years old. Regardless of how it turned out, it was still the single greatest moment in my life!

HOVG:  I know while with the Bridgeport Bluefish in 2011, you faced Valerio de los Santos (then with the Long Island Ducks) and got a hit.  Had there been any contact between the two of you in the years prior? Did he or anyone from the Marlins organization ever reach out to you?

GREENBERG:  I had not spoken to or heard from Valerio, or anyone in the Marlins organization until that at bat.

HOVG:  Obviously, your name is back in the headlines thanks to Matt Liston's "One At Bat" campaign. How did that all come about?

GREENBERG:  Matt reached out to me prior to spring training this past year. He gave me some of his background and let me know what he wanted to do to help get me back to the big leagues. I gave him my blessing to, in essence, act as my agent to try and get me back with an organization to give me a chance to play my way back to the big leaguers. This campaign has taken on a life of its own and it has been amazing.

HOVG:   Have you heard anything from any teams since the video started going viral?

GREENBERG:  Matt keeps the correspondence between himself and the teams. I try and not get involved in who he is talking to...that makes it more fun and keeps me focused on the things I can control!

HOVG:  Let's say this all works out for you. I mean, crazier things have happened, right? Where, ideally, would you like to land?

GREENBERG:  Back on a big league diamond is where I want it to be. Any team that gives me that shot is the team I want to proudly represent. This isn't a charity case, I'm trying to prove that I can help a Major League club win games.

You can keep up with Adam Greenberg's via Twitter at @adamgreenberg5 or follow his pursuit of that one at bat over at One At Bat or through his company Lurong Living.