Bernie Carbo shares his inspirational story at Hall of Fame

Written by: Bill Francis

Former big leaguer Bernie Carbo would seem to the casual observer as someone who succeeded his entire life.

He was selected 16th overall in the first-ever MLB amateur draft in 1965, played a dozen years in the big leagues, appeared in two World Series, and hit one of the more memorable home runs in Fall Classic history. But the native of Detroit was dealing with a host of off-the-field personal issues that ultimately affected his playing career and nearly took his life.

In an autobiography entitled Saving Bernie Carbo, co-authored with Dr. Peter Hantzis and released in 2013, the slugging outfielder shares his inspirational story. Both Carbo and Hantzis were at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum on Wednesday, July 26, the most recent participants in the 2017 Author Series.

“To be asked to come to the Hall of Fame to talk about the book, I was in awe,” said Carbo prior to his speaking engagement inside a full Bullpen Theater at the Museum. “It’s an honor for me and Peter to be here. Who would have ever thought Bernie Carbo would write a book and I’d be at the Hall of Fame talking about it? It was a privilege to be here as a player and it’s a privilege to be here now with this book.”

In a much earlier trip to Cooperstown, Carbo homered in the 1976 Hall of Fame Game to help the Brewers to a 9-3 win over the Mets.

Inarguably Carbo’s most memorable hit came in the 1975 World Series for the Red Sox, a three-run pinch-hit homer in the bottom of the eighth inning of Game 6 off Cincinnati’s Rawly Eastwick that tied the score at 6. The contest would end in the 12th when Boston catcher Carlton Fisk famously clouted a walk-off homer.

Carbo played in the major leagues from 1969 to 1980, dividing his time between the Reds, Cardinals, Red Sox, Pirates, Indians and Brewers. In 2,733 career at-bats, he finished with 96 homers and a .264 batting average. In 1970, while with the Reds, he finished second behind Atlanta pitcher Carl Morton in National League Rookie of the Year voting, having finished his freshman campaign with 21 homers and a .310 batting average.

“I was a functioning alcoholic and drug addict at the beginning,” Carbo said. “Then I lost every ability to catch a ball, hit a ball and field a ball. Because of the choices I made, I burnt so many bridges, I got into so many fights, and it just went completely downhill. Writing the book, I came to understand that I did not respect the game of baseball. I didn’t know what I had. You think you’re going to be in the big leagues forever. I look back and I didn’t set any goals. I was just happy to be there. And then I got caught up in things I couldn’t change. And when I wanted to change things I ended up getting myself into more trouble.”

But after Carbo’s struggles came redemption, his inspirational story evolving with a spiritual awakening after a conversion to Christianity.

"I made a lot of bad choices in my life, but I have faith now and have belief in Jesus Christ and how he’s changed my life. It’s been a journey for me,” he said. “I was an alcoholic and a drug addict for 28 years of my life, but now I’ve been clean for 23 years by the grace of God.

“The book tells a lot of great baseball stories, but it also shows the redemption and how a man’s life can be changed.”

Reflecting on his turbulent past, Carbo today marvels in the knowledge that his 70th birthday is around the corner. He’ll reach the milestone on Aug. 5, a few days after getting an artificial right hip.

“When I look back, I thank God because I never thought I would see 70 years old and be as healthy as I am,” he said with a smile.