Have Heart: David Eckstein

Positively for Kids

by David Eckstein, Greg Brown

St. Louis Cardinal shortstop David Eckstein shares his inspirational story of overcoming his 5-foot-7 stature to becoming the 2006 World Series MVP. David's first-person prose reads like a conversation that is really a peptalk on life. He shares his ups and downs, along with colorful family and action photos, and tells how he beat the odds to become a professional baseball player. The book also details the family dynamics that have helped the Ecksteins overcome kidney failure in three of the five children and their father.

Genres: Baseball, Biography, Sports

56 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2003

About the author

David Eckstein is a former Major League Baseball player known for his Just Enough style of play. The youngest of five in a family affected by kidney disease, David learned early on that life is precious and should never be taken for granted.

He made his major league debut with the Anaheim Angels in 2001, and despite always being considered an underdog, led the league in grand slams while contributing to the Angels’ 2002 World Series victory.

In 2006, with the St. Louis Cardinals, Eckstein helped lead the team to his second World Series championship and was named the World Series MVP.

Over Eckstein’s ten-year career, he was a two-time All-Star, the 2006 Babe Ruth Award winner, and the first-ever recipient of the Heart & Hustle Award.

Off the field, David has dedicated himself to advocating for organ donation and, since 2007, has partnered with Mid-America Transplant. Post-career, he can still be found on the baseball field, mentoring young players. He has earned three gold medals as part of the 18U Team USA Baseball coaching staff, and also works with MLB International, coaching kids from all over the world.

He lives in Orlando, Florida, with his wife, Ashley, who is the voice of Ahsoka Tano in Star Wars. Together, they can often be found at Walt Disney World.

Reviews

[Kayla Lindley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I reread this book after,
A long time, and it still hits home even to this day. David has always been my role model, and to see this biography in a way that’s great for kids. I think it’s so important, because it shows that despite your circumstances, you can do great things in the world. And we need more books like this for kids to show them how to overcome things in spite of difficult circumstances , seeing this play out in real life. The book really takes you down a place of understanding, his family life, and how his family raised him with values, traditions, and morals. And showing that how those taught him to be the person that he is today. He’s the same person that you see in the book as in real life and he is a really honest person. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a good wholesome heartfelt writing definitely would recommend.

[Jim Gleason · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story of baseball hero/"good guy" from family of kidney donors and failing kidneys

see this and more than a hundred other organ donation/transplant related books - many with my personal reviews - at http://www.trioweb.org/resources/book...

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book for my 15 year old grandson originally. I read it, of course. It's a very inspirational life story of David Eckstein, a short stop for the St. Louis Cardinals and his battle to overcome physical obstacles and attain his dream of playing in the Major Leagues. It's a heartwarming book designed especially for teenage boys with the same dream or ANY dream and how perserverance can overcome many things. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and recommend it for parents to give their children anywhere!