Born to Play: The Eric Davis Story, Life Lessons in Overcoming Adversity on and Off the Field

This autobiography is the best book I have ever read. I have followed ED for the last fifteen years and I still cannot find a better role model to look up to (disregarding my parents). His strength and ability to overcome numerous injuries and colon cancer are still amazing to me. I'm only 22 years old and I highly doubt I will ever find a greater person to admire. His book talks about his love for family, God, and baseball. Please do not have any doubts concerning the content of this book. You will find no greater athlete to read about and be amazed by.

When I was 10 years old I went to a Mets/Reds Game at Shea Stadium. After the game was over I was standing outside the player's exit area and a new rookie named Eric Davis came out of the door. I could only tell he was a player and I had no clue what his name was. It was "bat day" that day and I asked this man to sign my bat. He signed it 'Eric Davis' and stopped to ask me some questions about myself which I wasn't thinking he would...I figured a bigshot ball player would sign their autograph quickly and move on. Being only 10 years old, I had never encountered any type of person in the public eye such as a celebrity or major league ball player. I then followed Eric everyday in the papers. When I met him, he was just up from the Minors and hadn't gotten any notice yet. I took such pleasure following him and seeing him excel in the game. My parents would mail me box scores of the Reds' games when I was in sleepaway camp over the summer. I still remember getting excited when following Eric in the summer of 87 when he was on fire.This book gives the reader an idea of what a warm person Eric is. His courageous struggle through cancer and his triumphant return to the game are simply amazing. I hope that Eric reads this one day, and realizes that a fan from the age of 10 (27 now) still follows and admires him. From reading the book, I agree with one of the other reviewers that said that after reading the book, they weren't just a fan of Eric Davis, the baseball player, but they were a fan of the person.

Eric Davis and Ralph Wiley team up to bring us Life Its Ownself (to borrow from Dan Jenkins). They are as formidable a team as they are individuals. Davis has such an incredible attitude, maybe even greater than his incredible athleticism, both of which must be gifts from his terrific family. I do recall that autumn of '97, sitting in the 3rd deck of the Kingdome and watching as Davis stepped in against Randy Johnson. When he bounced one over the infield for a base hit and another Oriole run, I quietly applauded the man's seemingly bottomless supply of strength and courage. I had no idea at the time, just how much energy chemotherapy takes from the patient. I do know now, and I now know that my hero is an even bigger, better man than he is a baseball player. And that says quite a lot.

The love of the game of baseball is getting harder and harder to find. Eric Davis has displayed his love of baseball, by overcoming cancer, taking chemotherapy and playing ball on the same day. His emotional struggles would hold the average man back, but Eric decides that he is not going to waste his gift from God. Eric tells of his chilhood and how important his family was in his developement. The book is very interesting, dealing with time in the minors, to his most recent days in Baltimore. Growing up with Darryl Strawberry, and deciding on baseball or basketball. Eric has several hardships he most overcome. His brother Jimmy passes away, and of course the most obvious, Cancer. This is a positve outlook book, that shows that even when life deals you a bad hand, you have the oppertunity to complain about it, or you can make the best of it.

After having met and become acquainted with Eric, I knew that he would be something special. He has a wonderful family that supports him and that makes all the difference. Eric lets you inside of his world to share all of his joys and his griefs. He lets you know that he has and always will have the determination to survive any and every obstacle that is put forth before him. I think that he also tries to be very honest in describing his feelings for former Reds manager Ray Knight, Reds owner Marge Schott and Orioles manager Ray Miller. He did show with style. I admire Eric for his strength and courage. He dealt very openly with his cancer diagnosis and with the death of his brother. He has used both of these tragedies to make him an even stronger person(if that were possible) and he used his cancer diagnosis to educate the public and help others facing the disease. I thank him for his kindness towards me and for sharing his personal life story with the world.