He swung as hard as he could helping fulfill a dream he once had a few years back wondering if he’d ever make it back to the big show while recovering from alcohol and drug abuse with a potential star career wasting away. Now it was that dream becoming a reality for former Devil Rays’ 1999 No.1 overall pick Josh Hamilton, who at the age of 27 is in his second big league season hammering AL pitchers all summer while starring for the Texas Rangers.

All these years later even with all the personal bouts with substance abuse, that once in a lifetime talent is still there being put on display in his first year over in the Junior Circuit after coming over in one of those great straight up deals which works out remarkably for both teams with current Reds’ All-Star starter Edinson Volquez enjoying the show.

As the AL leader in RBI’s (95) who also ranks third in home runs (21) and ninth in batting average (.310) took each measured cut at specially chosen 71 year-old volunteer former BP coach Clay Counsil’s offerings, it was like recreating a magical scene out of The Natural where a young Roy Hobbs has a catch with his Dad and then strikes out the legendary Babe on three pitches with many spectators looking on in amazement at a carnival. Only this time it’s a real comeback story for the ages with a starry eyed kid from Raleigh, North Carolina taking swings at the same coach who threw for him when he was a teenager back home.

Here he was as he pictured in that dream at the legendary old Yankee Stadium for the final All-Star Game festivities in the House That Ruth Built putting on an amazing display of power never before seen in the first round of the Homerun Derby. Blast after blast traveled as far as possible with quite a few even defying logic threatening to leave the old ballpark in the Bronx. There were a couple of shots which went more than 500 feet with one even going 518 leaving a crowd of better than 53,000 screaming wildly while chanting, “Hamil—ton, Hamil—ton, Hamil—ton” as he got further along breaking current Yankee and former Phillie Bobby Abreu’s Round One record of 24 homers.

“Obviously, the dream, I didn’t know how many I would hit,” he told ESPN’s Erin Andrews following a jaw dropping performance which saw him hit 13 straight out to all dimensions with a couple of outs to go including a couple deep on the black in Reggie territory and one off the facade leaving sluggers such as David Ortiz speechless.

“I just feel blessed to have played here.”

This was a night anyone who was at the big event won’t forget and it sure won’t be forgotten by those who caught Hamilton’s First Act which lasted approximately half an hour while eventual winner Justin Morneau watched even noting afterwards that the Texas outfielder deserved to win just due to how many he hit.

Though Twins’ first baseman, who took home AL MVP a couple of years prior edging out Yankee captain Derek Jeter, he was outhomered just in the first round alone by Hamilton 28 to his 22 for all three rounds. Unfortunately, like others before him who wore down, he couldn’t keep it up getting defeated by Morneau 5-3 in the final round. 

Instead, he finished with 35 on 59 swings from Counsil, who got to be at his first ever All-Star Game thanks to such loyalty from a former student and enjoyed every moment even if his arm needed some rest after that epic first round.

“I got chills,” he later admitted of the chants of his name making everyone realize how much it really meant. This was what they came to see. A story as good as this one making it all the way back and giving us as great a show in an exciting event which will always be a crowd pleaser.

No A-Rod. No Ryan Howard. No Papi. No problem.

Hamilton’s big night in the Bronx.

“They should have juiced the ball up. I’d have hit the subway.”