My Third World Series Ring: The Story and Lessons Behind It

As we approach the 2026 MLB World Series, I think of the last World Series team I was part of.

I started the year on the disabled list because of nerve damage that kept me from being able to raise my right arm. I had pushed my body to the limits by pitching with a hole in my rotator cuff and complete tears in my labrum and biceps tendon in my throwing arm.

By mid-summer, the nerve still hadn't regenerated, so we gave in to season-ending surgery with the hope that repairing the tears would also repair the nerve.

My role on the team went from starting pitcher to finding any way I could to support the club on its championship run.

I guess you could say that I had the best seat in the house, watching my teammates from the dugout with no chance to perform on the field.

I am grateful for the times I spent in the Fall Classic with the Toronto Blue Jays, but this time was completely different.

Enough about me. Let's fast-forward to Game 7 of the 2001 World Series, where two of the best right-handed pitchers in baseball were facing one another.

Roger Clemens for the Yankees and Curt Schilling for the Diamondbacks.

Both guys showed us why they were two of the best in the game. They pitched unbelievably well in the pressure cooker of Game 7.

The Yankees led 2-1 going into the bottom of the 9th, with Mariano Rivera, the game's best closer, on the mound.

Almost impossible to beat him.

I was sitting in the office of our traveling secretary and head clubhouse guy with teammate Matt Mantei, both of us in our Diamondbacks uniforms.

The conversation went something like this:

Can you believe we came this far to lose the World Series in Game 7 by one run?

Rivera just seemed unbeatable, and he had the record to prove it.

Don't get me wrong, I believed in our teammates. It just seemed like the mountain was too big to overcome.

But there was something getting ready to happen that we weren't prepared for.

The guys playing the game weren't focused on the scoreboard or the story of coming up just short.

They were focused on the process. Pitch by pitch. Moment by moment. Doing what they had to do.

Let's take a look at the bottom of the 9th, with the Yankees leading 2-1.

Mark Grace led off with a single, and David Dellucci came in to pinch-run for him.

Damian Miller laid down a bunt, and Rivera made an errant throw to second base, allowing both runners to reach safely. This was a miracle in itself because Rivera was one of the best fielding pitchers in the game.

Midre Cummings came in to pinch-run for Miller.

Jay Bell came in as a pinch hitter and laid down another bunt, but Rivera threw out Dellucci at third for the first out.

Tony Womack hit a double down the right-field line, scoring Cummings to tie the game 2-2 and moving Bell to third.

Craig Counsell was hit by a pitch, loading the bases with one out.

And then came the moment.

The Walk-Off: Luis Gonzalez hit a bloop single over Derek Jeter's head, with Jeter playing in on the infield grass. Jay Bell scored the winning run, and the Diamondbacks fans went crazy!

We had just won the World Series!

Yes, it was different for me, but I was just as excited, and I was damn proud to be part of my third World Championship team.

## What Did I Learn?

The process is more important than the outcome. If you are alive, you still have time.

The story can change fast as long as you are sold on doing everything you can in the moment.

The future story you are telling yourself is probably not the real story.

Maybe you find yourself in a situation where the pressure and stakes are running high.

Keep your head down and focus on the process.

The only thing that matters is the moment.

If you find yourself imagining the ending, stop yourself and get back to the moment.

My favorite question I ask myself in high-pressure situations is:

WHAT CAN I DO NOW???

Hope this helps,

#BeRelentless

Let's climb,