Book Notes: The Phenomenon by Rick Ankiel

The Phenomenon is the incredible story of Rick Ankiel, who, at 20 years old, was one of baseball's next superstar pitchers until a playoff game in 2000, when he experienced what players call, "the yips." It's an anxiety phenomenon not well understood, but where an athlete essentially forgets how to do something he's always known how to do - like throwing a baseball.

In front of thousands in the stands and millions watching on TV, Ankiel lost control of his pitches and struggled to even reach the plate.

From drinking to self-help books and sport psychologists, he tried everything to quell the yips, but nothing worked. He was eventually sent down to the minor leagues, where, after struggling to overcome his affliction, Ankiel finally walked into his coach's office and quit the sport. Only hours later, his manager called him with an opportunity to return as an outfielder instead of a pitcher.

What follows is the story of a man who lost the ability to do what he had trained his whole life for and had to reinvent himself at an age that, for many baseball players, is the heart of their career. In the book, Rick opens up about his struggle with the yips, the game, and trying to make some sense of it all.

What a great read - Rick's story is one of courage, grit, and a guy trying to negotiate his way through circumstance. Rick's journey is a reminder that sometimes life can throw you from your "path," and while it may not go according to plan, with courage, grace, and tenacity, we can make it our own.

Below, Ankiel hitting a home run in his first game back in the major leagues after 7 years in the minors:

Highlights

"The yips," [Dr. Oakley] said, "can be explained in both psychological and neuromuscular terms, and it's extremely complicated. It's very difficult to treat and very difficult to understand... What it boils down to, a mistake is made, ultimate trust is eroded, pressure interferes with the lack of trust, and that compounds the problem. Now there's anxiety, and a vicious cycle ensues... This," he added, "is a phenomenon on steroids."

"... People do get through this. And I admire their courage. Whatever the result, it's something - this courage - they'll take with them through their lives, that's a part of their character, a part of who they are."

I could breathe again... By giving up what I'd thought was my life, I knew I'd gotten my life back.

It was going to be OK to fail once in a while anyway, which was liberating.

[Tony LaRussa, Ankiel's coach] went on, "I would tell my grandson or granddaughter, I'd say, 'How much of a story do you want to know? Do you just want to know the baseball-player part of it, as exciting a pitching-potential superstar as your granddad has seen, sixty years of baseball, who, in your granddad's opinion, got dealt a very unfair set of circumstances that curtailed that great potential? This guy had gifts of strength of character, determination that matched his physical gifts, and came back as an outfielder. He got back to the big leagues, and that's a pretty damned good success. Yes, a very tough set of circumstances growing up, but not making excuses, not being a bum of the street, and here he is a father of two, so I love him. I just will never quit hoping that he had a good quality of life.'"