PETERSBURG, Fla. - It looked like a typical clubhouse celebration to those who tuned in to watch the Texas Rangers party after beating Tampa Bay 5-1 in Game 5 of the AL division series. Champagne flowed. Players took beer baths.
But what many didn't see was that the opening moments of the celebration had no alcohol at all in them. The players, in a nod to centerfielder Josh Hamilton's long battle against alcohol and drug abuse, started the party with ginger ale. The MVP candidate was in the center of the storm of spray.
Soon after the Champagne and beer came out and Hamilton quietly slipped out of the room. He did interviews in the corridor outside the clubhouse as the festivities went on.
"The guys were waiting on me and they dumped me with ginger ale," Hamilton said. "It says a lot about my teammates and (understanding) my situation and not wanting (me) to send the wrong message to people out there."
Hamilton's career nearly was ruined by his battles with addiction. He conquered them to become a star, but had a brief relapse in January after three years sobriety...... He recovered to have a season where he won the batting title and is one of the frontrunners to win the AL MVP.
"It was the coolest thing for my teammates to understand why I can't be a part of the celebration," he said. "For them to adapt it for me to be a part of it says a lot about my teammates."
Teammate and likely Game 1 starter C.J. Wilson also does not drink and is believed to have been behind the idea of working Canada Dry into the festivities.
Source NYDailyNews.com
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