In 1998, the Montreal Royals drafted an unknown 22-year old pitcher by the
name of Joe Hetrick. In 1999, the Royals drafted a 34-year old philosophy
teacher by the name of Lance Ternasky, who had not played baseball
professionally for 6 years. In this year's draft, the Montreal franchise
continued this tradition of drafting uncanny players.
Guaranteed, no one has a stranger career path than recently signed Montreal
Royal, Richard Galen. At 38-years old, Galena has a slight frame and weighs
only 145 pounds. A former Laudromat owner in Sarasota, New York, Galen is
probably the last guy you would choose for a pick-up baseball game. But
looks can be deceiving. In fact, he has the deadliest knuckleball in all of
baseball.
Richard Galen was born in White River Junction, Vermont and never strayed
far from his hometown. He was to the New York state All-Star baseball team
in 1977 as a pitcher. Still, scouts shied away from him because he was
essentially a two-tool player. He played in the minors for a year, but quit
because his manager said he couldn't improve.
That was the end of Richard Galen's baseball career... Or it should've
been. At the age of 34, Richard was involved in a freak snowmobile accident
that disfigured his right hand. He lost movement of his index finger and
due to an improperly-healed joint he can twist his wrist in a full circle.
This hampered his ability has a carpenter, so with the help of a close
friend he started up a laundromat.
In 1998, while playing baseball in a local business league, Galen
discovered his ability to throw knuckleballs with his right hand. Because
his wrist was so loose, he could make the ball do all sorts of wierd
movements. Thanks to this discovery, he single-handedly (no pun intended)
lead his team to a county championship, where scouts noticed his
knuckleball.
Will Galen be a success in big-league baseball? He hasn't played
professional baseball for more than 18 years. It's a risk all right, but
according to Royals GM Carbonetto it's well worth it. "Next to Doug Flutie,
Richard Galen might very well be one of the greatest success stories in
sports."
