I’ve had the privilege of getting to know Andy Pettitte through various FCA related projects and occasional communication here and there. One thing I was certain of was the retired Yankees pitcher’s desire to stay retired. Last I heard from him, he was happy to be a stay-at-home dad with the opportunity to pursue other opportunities, particularly those involving ministry.
So when I heard that he had signed a one-year minor league contract with the Yankees today, I was a bit surprised. But maybe I shouldn’t have been. After all, other than some injury issues here and there, Pettitte has been the same consistent force on the diamond and in the clubhouse for most of his record-breaking career. And because he is ridiculously in shape at the age of 39, I shouldn’t have been shocked that he might want to give it one last go to see how much gas he actually has in the tank.
But mainly, I was excited to see him coming back because Major League Baseball (and all of sports for that matter) needs guys like Andy Pettitte. He’s an honorable man who has been honest about his mistakes and has set an incredible example for his teammates throughout the years.
Check out this interview I did with Pettitte last year where he talked about how he was enjoying retirement at the time. And if you want to read more about him, pick up the FCA book Teamwork for which I served as general editor and wrote the main 12 chapters (including one featuring Pettitte).
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