Happy Sunday! 🐶 

We officially crossed 75,000 total social followers 🎉

To celebrate, I’m giving away a free NFL jersey to one lucky Instagram follower!

Tap on the post below and follow the rules to enter. But hurry! The deadline is Wednesday, 10/7 👇

Instagram post

In today’s edition…

He finds joy in pain and “meaning in suffering.”

After a Stage 4 terminal cancer diagnosis, he did what few others would even consider.

Now, he’s outlived the timeframe given by doctors and is gearing up to compete in one of the toughest races in the world.

Let’s dive in 👇

"Why Are These Things Happening For Me?" How Jim Logan Transformed Stage 4 Cancer Into Extraordinary Purpose

No time to read now? Click here to save it for later 🐶

29 months ago, longtime endurance athlete Jim Logan received news that would change his life forever. He was given a Stage 4 terminal cancer diagnosis. With this came an expected lifespan of six to 24 more months.

"I was 60 years old, 180 pounds, 10% body fat, training at a high level, performing at a high level, the healthiest guy I knew,” he said. "To get hit with that diagnosis without really any kind of symptoms leading up to it, it's hard to put into words how devastating that was."

This month, Logan will be competing in the IRONMAN World Championships in Kona, Hawaii. This will be his ninth attempt at competing in the world-famous race. Previous attempts all ended in DNFs (did not finish), cut short by various complications, including his April 2024 terminal diagnosis.

But October will be his chance to finally finish the grueling race that spans a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-mile run (full marathon length).

Instead of quitting after each DNF, Logan has done the opposite.

With each failure, he kept fighting. He kept pushing. And to this day, he's refused to give up.

But many endurance races later, what many might view as a detrimental setback has given him a brand new lease on life.

"I've shifted my mindset from, you know, I used to complain almost, 'Why are these things happening to me?',” said Logan. “That's the wrong question. 'Why are these things happening for me?' They're meant to make me stronger, wiser, more courageous."

Forged In The Back Of The Pack

Jim grew up in New Jersey and instantly gravitated to almost every sport imaginable. As a kid, he played baseball, basketball, football, joined the swim team, and ran track.

But it was long-distance endurance sports that truly called his name. Inspired by his dad running some of the world’s most famous marathons and watching Julie Moss’ perseverance in the 1982 IRONMAN on TV, Logan was all in.

Over his lifetime, he’s competed in several hundred long-distance races.  But when he crosses the finish line in The Aloha State, it will be his first time saying he is an IRONMAN finisher. Odds are he’s likely one of the few people to compete in the race facing such a harrowing diagnosis.

“I’ve done probably 300 races over the last 30 years, mostly triathlons,” Jim said. “I entered into cancer, physically, mentally, and spiritually, pretty fit."

Despite his extraordinary accomplishments – both physical, mental, and emotional – over the course of his life, Logan doesn’t see himself as any more gifted than the average person. Rather than competing for fame or awards, he continues to put himself through these grueling races out of pure passion. And to prove that he can do anything he sets his mind to.

"We're all born ordinary, with the potential to be extraordinary,” he said. “But you have to choose it, and I think, for whatever reason, people don't choose it all, because it's hard. But I enjoy the hard. There's joy in pain, and there's meaning in suffering."

As a “back of the pack”, otherwise ordinary guy, he also sees himself as a great example of what a real-life underdog is.

"Underdog mentality means to never give up, just keep trying,” he explained.

“And I am a bit of an underdog because I'm a back-of-the-pack guy; I've got tremendous passion for the sport, but I'm not the guy that's gonna be on the podium."

“There’s nothing special about me. I just choose to do these things.”

The Brutality of a Cancer Diagnosis 

Behind Logan’s unwavering positive spirit is the physical toll that a terminal diagnosis brings.

"I've done 29 chemotherapy sessions, five radiation treatments, and then surgeries to remove 40% of my colon, 60% of my liver, all of my gallbladder, all of my rectum, and resulting in the ostomy that I'll compete with [in Kona],” he said.

In true Jim Logan spirit, he’s taken every chemo session, every physical setback as further motivation to keep moving forward.

"Nothing you can do to me, swimming, biking, and running, that I haven't had done to me in the last 30 months of chemo and surgery, setbacks, and side effects, and blood clots,” he said. “So I'm prepared physically for any amount of pain."

For as many times as he’s gotten knocked down, he has a knack for jumping two steps higher thereafter. 

“I feel like I’m [now] stronger mentally and physically,” Jim exclaimed. 

After a brutal attempt at IRONMAN Chattanooga in late 2024, where he lost 35 pounds, Logan began to prepare himself for the possibility of dying much sooner than he ever would have expected.

Just weeks later, a scan unexpectedly revealed his liver tumors had disappeared, opening up new surgical options and completely shifting his mental outlook from waiting to die to learning to live in the moment more than ever.

"The entire time, I was planning to die, and now, I realize that the doctors don't know what's gonna happen,” Logan recalled.

“Nobody knows what the future holds. And once that window opened up, that window of hope, it was like a light for me. It was like, I'm no longer worried about dying. I'm worried about how I live between now and then."

The Road To Kona 

IRONMAN Kona is one of the world's most elite races. Only 2,500 people are accepted, and almost all are among the top athletes on the planet. Most participants who race in Kona have already won smaller regional IRONMAN.

But a chance encounter with a former high school classmate, who’s the Executive Director of the IRONMAN Foundation, provided Logan with a clear path to entry. 

Now Logan is just a couple of weeks away from competing, and in the process, he’s fundraising $100,000 in support of the IRONMAN Foundation.

“Another [reason] I'm thankful for cancer is, I don't get in [IRONMAN Kona] without cancer."

Focus, Legacy, and The Choice To "Keep Tri-ing"

Jim Logan doesn’t have much interest in staring out into the distance.

Much like riding a bicycle on a choppy road, he maintains a tight, deliberate perspective on the journey ahead.

"When you ride a street, a bicycle, on the road, you can look a little bit into the horizon to kind of see what you're facing, but you don't look behind you because that's past,” Logan explained.

“You look 10, 12 feet in front of you, because that's where the danger is, and you're hyper-focused on any little nook or cranny in the road. That kind of focus is really smart to use in your day-to-day approach."

Simply put: don’t lose sleep worrying about tomorrow. As Logan eloquently said, if you do what you need to do today, tomorrow will take care of itself.

That daily focus is a lesson he has worked tirelessly to pass down to his 21-year-old son. For two decades, like any father, he taught him how to navigate the world and build a life.

Now, Jim is passing down his ultimate curriculum. Facing down a terminal diagnosis with quiet resolve, he's showing his son how to meet life’s hardest moments with meaning, purpose, courage, charity, and faith – all traits his father has lived out every single day over the last two and a half years.

"I thought I was doing this to help other people,” he said. "Turns out, it's helping me more than anyone else. It's keeping me positive. It's keeping me focused. Makes my life meaningful."

That spirit of service extends far beyond his own household. In May, Logan published his book, Just Keep Tri-ing, with all proceeds benefiting the IRONMAN Foundation.

But beyond raising tens of thousands for charity, the book serves as a physical blueprint for anyone standing in the shadow of a life-altering storm.

When faced with devastating, seemingly insurmountable circumstances, Logan’s journey stands as proof that a terminal diagnosis or severe hardship isn't the end. It’s just the beginning of an extraordinary new chapter if you choose to keep moving forward.

"Sometimes you can't see the finish line," Logan said. "But if you point it in the right direction, you'll eventually get there. Just keep trying."

Editor’s Note: Huge thanks to Jim for his time and for sharing his inspiring message with us. You can follow his journey on Instagram @stage42025 and donate to his fundraiser here.

🐶 

Today’s story was written by Alex Horowitz.

If you enjoyed it, why not share it with a friend and encourage them to subscribe?

And remember, there are 300+ underdog stories over on my website, Joker Mag. Here are two you might’ve missed:

• Orel Hershiser: From Hitchhiking Home To Baseball History

• How a 5'10" Division III Hooper Won the NCAA Slam Dunk Contest

I’m always on the hunt for inspiring stories that the mainstream media is missing.

Got a tip? Reply to this email and drop me a line.

Thanks for your support 🤝 

Til next time,
Tyler

Extra Innings…

🌟 Trivia Answer: C) 1993 Colorado Rockies. They were a first-year expansion team, and the Denver fans apparently couldn’t get enough. First baseman Andrés Galarraga batted .370(!) on the season (up from .243 with St. Louis the year before), but the team went 67-95. The ‘94 Rockies actually beat the record in per-game attendance, but fell short of the year-long total due to the strike.

🏈 TikTok introduced me to a new and agonizingly fun way to experience your favorite football team. Give it a shot with your family today!

📕 Book recommendation: I haven’t enjoyed a self-help book in a very long time, but this one became a new all-time favorite, and I finished reading it in a week: How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big by Scott Adams

🦁 Astonishingly impressive: This little guy can name every player on the Detroit Lions.

👀 In case you missed it: Meet the undrafted former QB who became a secret weapon for the Philadelphia Eagles (he’ll have to step up big with #6 out!)

💌 Your comments keep me going, so please keep ‘em coming! Here are a few recent favorites:

• “This is incredible! Many normal fans always think these stars made it easy. Great video.” – Sweeper Away Sports on TikTok

• “Now you’re WRITING good stories?!” – halos_fan30 on Instagram

• “I like this new format better!” – debbieoreo1 on Instagram

Happy Sunday! 🐶 

Two quick things:

1. I’m planning a very exciting giveaway on Instagram. Make sure you’re following me there so you don’t miss it 👀 

2. I worked with a new editor for my latest mini-doc on YouTube. Drop a comment and let me know what you think of the style 👇

In today’s edition…

He didn’t learn his position until college.

He wasn’t invited to the NFL Combine.

He didn’t expect to get drafted.

Then he became the secret weapon no one saw coming.

Let’s dive in 👇

_{TODAY’S STORY IS POWERED BY Looptimer}

🫵 You can help us get 50 Looptimers into a special education classroom

A special education department in Bloomsburg, PA needs our help.

The goal: donate 50 Looptimers to the Columbia Montour AVTS special education department.

Looptimer is a visual timer that shows time as a band of light moving around its face, helping students see exactly how much time is left.

It's made a strong impact on students with ADHD and has received wonderful feedback from special education teachers.

Through Looptimer's Pay It Forward program, every donated Looptimer goes directly to a school in need. Right now, that school is Columbia Montour AVTS.

Let's help them reach all 50.

👉 Donate a Looptimer today.

Every donation goes straight to a student who can use it.

Quick note: by supporting our sponsors, you’re helping me keep The Underdog Newsletter free for everyone. They back the stories you love + help us all discover fun, cool, or interesting things 🤝

How Darius Cooper Became an Unlikely Secret Weapon for the Eagles

No time to read now? Click here to save it for later 🐶

Heisman Trophy winners aren’t easily impressed.  Especially those who’ve reached the pinnacle of football at the highest levels – winning two NCAA National Championships and a Super Bowl in less than a decade.

And yet, DeVonta Smith’s jaw was on the floor.

After watching his teammate dominate in a preseason matchup, the Eagles star pulled up YouTube and searched “Darius Cooper highlights”.

"He's a freak of nature," Smith said. "He's fun to watch."

Their journeys couldn’t be more opposite – one a highly touted first-round pick, the other an undrafted, overlooked player who wasn’t even invited to the NFL Combine.

But that’s the beauty of football.  Somehow, they both ended up in the same place.

Darius Cooper grew up in St. Louis, Missouri.  He went to Hazelwood West High School, on the outskirts of the city, where he played quarterback.

He was pretty good at it, too.

A two-time team captain under two head coaches, Darius was an All-Conference first-teamer and Co-Offensive Player of the Year.

Despite a senior season where he threw for 1,275 yards and ran for 870 more, he was a zero-star recruit.

In the end, he only received three college offers.

All were from Division II programs, except for Tarleton State, a school making the leap from D2 to Division I FCS.

When head coach Todd Whitten got a tip on Cooper’s film, he saw a raw athlete with the ability to make plays under pressure.  It’s something you can’t teach.

Even if he wasn’t college QB material, Whitten figured they’d “find something to do with him.”

After committing to Tarleton State, Darius made the 11-hour trip down to Stephenville, Texas – where, as The Athletic noted, the population (22,147) is smaller than the football stadium’s seating capacity (24,000).

It wasn’t long after Cooper arrived on campus that receivers coach Tate Whitten pulled him aside.

“I was trying to get ahead of the game before any of the other position groups tried to scoop him up. He was all for it.” Tate said.

Darius had been a quarterback his whole life, but adjusted to the new position quickly.

“You see the whole field as a quarterback,” he said. “So when I moved to receiver…it was kinda easy to gauge and see different coverages and see how people disguised things and see if they [were] in man or zone coverage…I think it even slowed the game down for me even more.”

Every day, he aimed to set an example for his teammates.

Before and after every practice, he got extra reps in catching balls from the Jugs machine.  Even when he landed an internship that ate into practice time, he still found ways to get his work in.

After only catching 6 passes in his first 16 college games, the work finally paid off in his third year.

In September of 2022, he had his breakout game on the national stage against TCU.  He torched the eventual title contenders with six catches, 117 yards, and a touchdown.

“That was kinda when we and everyone else knew that we had a really good player there,” head coach Todd Whitten said.

All of a sudden, big schools were calling about Cooper.  Coach Whitten said the number of offers was “well into the teens, maybe 20.”

In the age of NIL and the transfer portal, it would’ve been easy for Darius to leave Tarleton State behind.

A bigger program meant more attention.  If he decided to transfer, he could’ve gotten on the NFL’s radar a lot sooner.

“He could have gone off anywhere — anywhere,” Tate Whitten said.

But taking the easy way never came easily to Cooper.

He didn’t leave.  Instead, he stayed loyal to the program and coaching staff that believed in him from the beginning.

That loyalty allowed him to break into the record books.  He finished his career as the school’s all-time leader in receiving yards (3,185) and second in touchdowns (29).

In 2024, he was a first-team FCS All-American after leading the subdivision with 1,450 receiving yards.

He did all that while maintaining a 4.0 GPA, which earned him a spot on the 2024 Academic All-American Team.  He was just one of just 53 Division I athletes – not just football players, but all athletes – to receive the honor.

But it wasn’t until the NFL’s pre-draft process that he discovered the downside of staying at Tarleton State.

Scouts typically question how an FCS guy would look at the NFL level.  So it’s important to see how they stack up against players from blue-chip programs.

Darius didn’t get that chance.

He wasn’t invited to the NFL Combine, the Senior Bowl, or the East-West Shrine Bowl.

He did have a pro day, but his numbers didn’t stand out.

NFL.com graded him a 5.65 out of 8 as a “candidate for bottom of roster or practice squad”, citing weaknesses like “sloppy footwork” and “rarely scares cornerbacks.”

The 2025 NFL Draft came and went.  Cooper’s name was never called – he didn’t expect it to be.

“I wasn't disappointed at all," he told CBS Sports.

“God has a plan for everybody. God has a purpose. My plan wasn't to go to the draft, so I focused on training, my pro day. We thought we'd go maybe late seventh round, but [my] name didn't get called – and that's okay.”

Luckily, Howie Roseman called a short time later.

How’d the reigning champs find out about the star of the United Athletic Conference?

“We give our area scouts a chance to put their names on free agents and go get those guys, and our area guys did a great job,” Roseman told Yahoo Sports.

“(Southwest Area Scout) Cam (Bradfield) did an unbelievable job. I think (Director of Player Personnel) Phil (Bhaya) was a big part of that too.”

Making the team as an undrafted free agent – especially as an FCS guy – is an uphill battle.  And the NFL is a notoriously short-sighted league.  A star today could be gone tomorrow.

Since the first day of camp, Darius Cooper was practical.

He knew that nothing lasts forever.  His original temporary jersey number – 41 – was a reminder of that.

Plan A was to go crush it in training camp, perform in the preseason, and claw his way onto the Eagles’ final 53-man roster.

If that didn’t work out, Plan B was to go back to school for physical therapy – a career he plans to pursue regardless.

But whether his NFL career lasted a day or a decade, he wanted to make an impression.

On the night of the Eagles’ first preseason game against Cincinnati, he stood in front of reporters at his locker.  With a gleaming smile, he formally introduced himself.

“Darius Cooper. Graduated from Tarleton State University. Originally from St. Louis, Missouri. It’s just a blessing to be here.”

That moment set the tone for his entire preseason.

The same night, Darius recorded a team-leading six catches for 82 yards and a touchdown – all against the Bengals’ first or second-team defense.  In other words, real players who suit up on Sundays.

"I think he has a lot of good tools, catches the ball obviously really well," head coach Nick Sirianni said after the game.

“Those are some tough catches that he made today…He's continuing to get better, learning all the different spots that he needs to play. I think he's got an opportunity to do some good things. Obviously, you saw that out there today.”

It wasn’t just the coaches who were impressed.

A.J. Brown praised Cooper’s strong hands and body control.  DeVonta Smith marveled at his dominance in one-on-one matchups.

As beat writer Reuben Frank noted, he even beat Pro Bowl corner Denzel Ward for a touchdown in a joint practice.

Still, there were growing pains.

“Being at that school, sometimes in the offense he was in, there's some adjustments that we have,” Eagles receivers coach Aaron Moorehead said.

“He was never in a huddle. He never heard a play out of a huddle. So he's all of a sudden got to hear the play out of the huddle, and all of a sudden he's got to get to his spot. He's got to learn his assignment, his alignment, what adjustment we have on a certain play, and then he's got to go do it at a high level against an NFL corner.”

From training camp through the preseason, Darius did everything he was asked.

When it was all said and done, he survived every round of cuts and made the final 53-man roster.

The fact that he’d only played wide receiver for five years made that accomplishment even more impressive.

“I feel like I’ve shown just a little something that I can do, just scratching the surface,” Darius told The Athletic.

“Coming to the league is a big difference from college, and I’m very detailed. So just keep learning things like that and we’ll see how far we go.”

Starting out, he saw most of his playing time at special teams.  But that never bothered him.

“What can I do for the team? That’s what I want people to know about me,” he said.

“I’m not a selfish receiver or anything like that. I want to do whatever I need to do for us to win, so special teams is big for me. I love being a part of special teams. Whatever [position] you need me at, I’m gonna give my all…It’s about we, not me.”

As for the big picture: can he really stick around in an NFL receiving corps long-term?

Early signs are promising. In Week 2 of the 2026 season, Cooper caught a game-winning touchdown pass in the final seconds of the Eagles' win over the Titans.

“He always rises to the occasion,” Tate Whitten said. “When the lights are the brightest, the pressure’s on, it feels like everything’s raining down on top of you, he ain’t gonna flinch.”

“It doesn’t matter what’s coming at him; he’s going to hit it full speed.”

🐶 

If you liked today’s story, you’ll love my book, The Underdog Mentality: Sports Stories That Will Change How You See the Game (and Yourself).

You can pick up your copy here.

If you know someone else who might find today’s story inspiring, please share it and encourage them to subscribe:

And remember, there are 300+ underdog stories over on my website, Joker Mag. Here are two you might’ve missed:

• How Wade Meckler Went From 75-Pound High School Freshman to Playing for His Favorite Childhood MLB Team

• Michael Olowokandi: From No Experience to #1 Pick in 5 Years

We hit 75,000 total social followers this week! 🎉

Thank you so much for supporting my work across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, especially.

This is only the beginning 🤝 

Til next time,
Tyler

Extra Innings…

🌟 Trivia Answer: B) Minnesota. The franchise started in Minneapolis before moving to LA in 1960, and the nickname traveled with them.

🙋 Have a question, suggestion, or just wanna say hi? Reply to this email. I’m thinking about starting a “reader mailbag” where I’ll share one reader-submitted question/answer or suggestion each week. Think of it as a “letter to the editor” from the old days.

👀 In case you missed it: One little lie changed the entire course of his life. And if he weren’t bumming around at the beach on that exact day at that specific time, he wouldn’t be where he is today.

💌 Your comments keep me going, so please keep ‘em coming! Here are a few recent favorites:

• “Best creator I’ve encountered in a long time!!” – Bobby G. on YouTube

• “Great story and love the quote. Good work!” – RDaMan7 on YouTube

• “You do such a great job with these!” – Halosfan on Instagram

Good morning 🐶 

If you haven’t yet, take 45 seconds to fill out my subscriber survey!

By completing it, you’ll also be entered to win a free digital copy of my book, The Underdog Mentality.

In today’s edition…

A little white lie changed the entire course of his life.

If he weren’t bumming around at the beach on that exact day at that specific time, he wouldn’t be where he is today.

His rise from “teenage delinquent” to Hall of Famer is unlike any story in sports.

Let’s dive in 👇

_{TODAY’S STORY IS POWERED BY Looptimer}

Let’s help 50 special education students get the focus tool they deserve

There's a special education department in Bloomsburg, PA that could use some help right now.

The goal is simple:

Donate 50 Looptimers to the Columbia Montour AVTS special education department.

For children, time can feel like a slippery thing. "Five more minutes" doesn't mean much when they can't actually see it. One minute they're working, the next it's time to move on.

That's the exact problem the Looptimer solves.

It's a visual timer that shows time as a band of light moving around its face, like a progress bar you can watch shrink in real time.

No guessing, no abstract numbers ticking down. Just something a child can track with their own eyes.

Looptimer has made an outsized impact on students with ADHD, and they’ve received amazing feedback from special education teachers too.

Here's where you come in.

Through Looptimer's Pay It Forward program, every Looptimer donation goes directly to a school in need. Right now, that school is Columbia Montour AVTS.

I'd love to see Underdog Nation help crush this goal.

If you're willing to help, donate a Looptimer today. Every donation puts one directly into the hands of students who can use it and moves Columbia Montour AVTS one step closer to its goal of 50.

Quick note: by supporting our sponsors, you’re helping me keep The Underdog Newsletter free for everyone. They back the stories you love + help us all discover fun, cool, or interesting things 🤝

Meet the California Beach Bum Who Became a Hockey Hall of Famer

No time to read now? Click here to save it for later 🐶

“My entire NHL career was based on a lie I told during a 30-second telephone conversation in 1979.”

“My entire NHL career was based on a lie I told during a 30-second telephone conversation in 1979.”

If he weren't on the beach that exact day, at that particular time, he wouldn't be where he is today.

That little white lie was just one twist in his unlikely rise from humble beginnings.

The son of Greek immigrants, Chris Chelios was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago.

When he wasn’t playing hockey, Chris was working at his father's restaurant.

“Kids who grew up in my era knew about cartoons and sports heroes,” Chelios wrote in his autobiography, Made in America.

“I knew about restaurants.”

While it was his father’s dream for him to land a college scholarship, Chris never thought that far ahead.  He just loved being on the ice.

Money was tight, so a family friend chipped in to help send him to a Catholic school in Chicago.

He played on the JV team through his sophomore year, before one memorable day on varsity.

“​​When one of our top centers was suspended for the championship game, I was promoted… I scored both goals in a 2–1 victory. My second goal came with eight seconds to go in the game.”

Unfortunately, it was his first and last time playing varsity hockey in Illinois.

After his father lost his restaurant, the Chelios family relocated 2,000 miles west to San Diego, California.

While the move was great for the sunny weather and laid-back lifestyle, it wasn’t the best for Chris’ hockey career.

“I played midget hockey out there, but the competition wasn’t good.”

His team didn’t even have a name.  They were simply called “San Diego” and had a fast-food chain logo on their jerseys.

So Chris took it upon himself to seek out better competition.

A few days a week, him and a handful of teammates went to play for a tournament team in Los Angeles.  Still, it wasn’t what he expected.

While other players his age were traveling around with high-level programs, Chelios was playing for an L.A. team that faced the same opponent over and over again.

“We won the state championship one season because we had no other team in our category.”

Back then, Americans didn’t have much of a presence in the NHL.  The league was dominated by Canadians.

College recruiters and NHL scouts preferred crossing the northern border to find top-notch talent.  And if they did look in the States, it wouldn’t be in San Diego.

“You looked for vacation homes in San Diego,” Chris wrote. “You didn’t look for hockey players.”

Given his location and lack of competition, the chances of him playing in college were virtually nonexistent.

But for Chris, ignorance was bliss.

“None of that mattered to me at that time; I had no clue about the lack of Americans in the NHL, nor did I give any thought to my chances of being a college or professional player.”

After getting his feet back under him, his dad opened a new restaurant.

But when Chris wasn’t working, he spent his downtime a lot differently than he did back in Chicago.

“I did love playing hockey, and I was hoping to find a way to continue playing. But at that time of my life, I was spending more time on the beach than on the ice.”

The San Diego lifestyle was intoxicating.

Almost every day, Chris went surfing, cliff jumping, and racing down mountains on motorbikes.

He was a self-described “​​teenage beach bum delinquent”.

“Everything possibly I could do not to play hockey, [I did],” he said in an interview.

By his high school graduation, approximately zero college recruiters had ever heard of Chris Chelios.

Luckily for him, a local college – United States International University – had just launched their NCAA hockey program.

In the fall, Chris enrolled there with the idea to try out for the team as a walk-on.

At the time, he was a 5’10”, 155-pound center competing against players three or four years older than him.

“Canada had hundreds of junior players or former junior players who were excited about the possibility of leaving the frozen north to play [college] hockey in a city where the beach was only minutes away.”

Chris realized he wasn’t as lucky as he'd thought.

The tryouts didn’t go well, and he got cut.

“In hindsight, I probably didn’t deserve to make the team. It looked as if my hockey career was over before it truly began.”

Between classes, Chelios kept his job at the family restaurant until one night, his dad blew up on him.

“He pulled down a rack of bread on top of me. I walked out of the restaurant and vowed that I would never work for my father again. It was a vow that I kept.”

Without a job or path to continue playing hockey, Chris needed a plan.

It presented itself one day on La Jolla Shores Beach.

He bumped into Bobby Parker, another guy who tried out for the local college team. 

Parker made the squad but told Chris it was a bad fit and he was going back home.

“He had decided he wanted to return to his Canadian hometown of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, to play Tier II junior hockey. He suggested I call his coach, Larry Billows, and ask for a tryout.”

Chelios hesitated at first.

Just a year earlier, he’d tried out for two junior teams in Canada and got cut both times.

But a few days later, Chris figured he’d give it one last shot. From a payphone next to a lifeguard tower, he called the Canucks’ coach.

The conversation would change his life forever.

“What position do you play?” Billows asked.

“What positions do you need?” Chris replied.

“I need a D man,” he said.

“Good,” Chris lied, “because I play defense.”

Up to that point, Chelios had never played a single minute of defense in his life.

“I had nothing to lose.”

Billows offered him a tryout, but the opportunity almost slipped away as quickly as it came.

Chris was broke – he never got paid for working at his dad’s restaurant – and couldn’t afford the flight to Saskatchewan.

When he asked Billows to pay for his airfare, the coach refused.

“At that moment, it seemed as if my adult hockey career might be restricted to the California beer leagues.”

Luckily for him, the Canucks lost their next game.  Four days later, Billows called him back and offered to pay for his flight.

And just like that, Chelios flew north to a foreign country to compete for a position he’d never played.

Billows gave him four days to try out.  Meanwhile, the Canucks kept losing.

One day, after a defenseman made a critical blunder, Billows told Chris: “Ok, you’re in next game.”

He scored on his first shift.

That taste of success only motivated him more.  He had his foot in the door, and now it was time to bust it wide open.

Being away from home, and in a hardcore hockey environment, Chris put his full focus into becoming the best player he could be.

At his coach’s request, he also learned how to fight.

In two years in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, Chelios racked up 295 penalty minutes in 108 games.

“A chunk of those PIMs resulted from standing up for myself as an American on foreign soil,” he explained.

In the same span, Chelios put up 35 goals and 130 points.

“From the moment he stepped on the ice, it was his natural position,” said Bobby Parker, the man who helped him land the opportunity.

“I’ve never seen anybody learn something or get so good at something so fast. I mean, it was really amazing. I’d talk to him about something, and right away, he’d add that to his game. The next shift, it was there. He had the keys to the rink, so he’d be in there at 1 o’clock in the morning. When everybody else is gone home or at the bar, he’s out shooting the puck.”

While the league paid him $200 a month to cover his expenses, Chelios also got a job at a local lumber yard.  The Canucks didn’t practice until 4 pm, so he was essentially working full-time while playing hockey.

“It seemed as if I had a high-paying job,” he said. “[But] maybe that’s because Dad never gave me a paycheck when I worked for him.”

Chelios likened his experience in Saskatchewan to the movie Slap Shot because of all the fighting and the characters he played with.

He lived in the moment, not thinking much about the future or the possibilities of where he might end up.

Chris didn’t get much attention from college recruiters until his second season in Moose Jaw.

But when the calls came, they didn’t stop.

“The phone never stopped ringing at our home, and it reached a point where I was far more annoyed than flattered.”

Everything came together that year.

In the second round of the 1981 NHL Draft, Chelios was selected by the Montreal Canadiens.

Shortly after, he committed to the University of Wisconsin–Madison for two years of American college hockey.

In 1984, he played for the U.S. national team in the Sarajevo Winter Olympics.

Later that year, he made the Montreal Canadiens’ final roster and stayed in the NHL for good.

Hockey fans know what happened next.

Chris Chelios played in the NHL through his age-48 season in 2010, becoming the oldest NHL defenseman of all time.

He put together an impressive career, blazing a trail for a new generation of Americans in the league:

• 1,651 NHL regular season games

• 266 playoff games

• 3 Norris Trophies

• 3 Stanley Cups

He became a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2013 and is recognized as one of the greatest American defensemen in NHL history.

“I owe everything in my life to my family, my friends, and this great game of hockey,” he said in his induction speech.

His climb from beach bum to Hall of Famer is one of the most unlikely journeys in sports history.

“As it turned out, my game plan in hockey was the same one we had surfing 30 years in San Diego,” Chelios wrote in his book.

“I caught a big wave and rode it as hard as I could for as long as I could.”

🐶 

Today’s story was featured in my book, The Underdog Mentality: Sports Stories That Will Change How You See the Game (and Yourself).

You can pick up your copy here.

If you know someone else who might find today’s story inspiring, please share it and encourage them to subscribe:

And remember, there are 300+ underdog stories over on my website, Joker Mag. Here are two you might’ve missed:

• How Pat Spencer Went From the Greatest College Lacrosse Player af All-Time to NBA Success Story

• Riley Martin’s Road to the Big Leagues Began as a D2 Non-Prospect Already Enrolled in Pharmacy School

Thank you to everyone who reached out after the loss of our beloved mascot, Joker, last week.

I really appreciate all of your love and support 🙏 

Til next time,
Tyler

Extra Innings…

🌟 Trivia Answer: A) Trolley. Per MLB.com: “The name originated in 1896 as the Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers. Heavy construction of electric trolley tracks in front of Eastern Park caused fans to dodge the trolleys to reach the park. Those fans became known as Trolley Dodgers…”

😎 New style: Short-form video has changed the entire trajectory of Joker Mag over the past year. This week, I started testing a new video style. Let me know if you prefer this or the old “reveal” style.

☀️ There are pros and cons to getting a golden retriever. Which one would this classify as?

👀 In case you missed it: Josh Allen left high school without a single FBS offer. So he went the JUCO route, then sent 1,000 emails out to D1 coaches. What happened next changed the course of an NFL franchise.

💌 Your comments keep me going. Keep ‘em coming! Here are some recent favorites that have helped me push through:

• “You’re great at telling stories. Nice video!” – Charlie F. on YouTube

• “Thanks for all your stories. They are very inspiring. I enjoy reading them every Sunday.” – Linda W.

• "Great video. Thank you for making it!” – Shawn M. on YouTube

• “This may be your best story yet, Tyler.” – Robert A.

Good morning 🐶 

It’s with a heavy heart that I share the passing of our mascot, Joker.

Joker was the runt of the litter, and after learning he was the outcast that no one else wanted, my family knew he was meant to be ours.

Throughout the course of his long and wonderful life, he overcame two hip replacements, breathing problems, and countless other challenges. But nothing could stop him from demanding his daily butt scratches, treats, and attention.

Joker was a literal underdog in every sense of the word.

His resilience, spirit, and determination inspired not only our name, but everything we stand for here.

His legacy will live on forever as the official mascot and namesake of Joker Mag – the home of the underdog.

Thank you for everything, buddy ❤️

In today’s edition…

He left high school without a single FBS offer.

So he went the JUCO route, then sent 1,000 emails out to D1 coaches.

Only one responded.

What happened next changed the course of an NFL franchise.

Let’s dive in 👇

_{TODAY’S STORY IS POWERED BY Looptimer}

Help a student in need by donating a Looptimer

Looptimer is a visual timer that turns time into a band of light you can actually see.

As the time counts down, the light makes a lap around the face of the timer, like a progress bar. Halfway around means half your time is gone.

Simple, right?

But here’s the thing:

Looptimer has made an extraordinary impact on students with ADHD, and they’ve received amazing feedback from special education teachers too.

So they decided to make a “pay it forward” program.

Every Looptimer donation goes to a school in need.

Right now, their goal is to donate 50 Looptimers to the Columbia Montour AVTS special education department in Bloomsburg, PA.

Every purchase goes straight to the students.

I personally think we can rally together to crush this goal. If you’re able to donate, it would mean a lot!

Quick note: by supporting our sponsors, you’re helping me keep The Underdog Newsletter free for everyone. They back the stories you love + help us all discover fun, cool, or interesting things 🤝

Josh Allen’s Road To The NFL Started with 1,000 Emails & One Yes

No time to read now? Click here to save it for later 🐶

At various points in his pre-NFL football career, it seemed like Josh Allen might play a couple of years of junior college football and then return to help run his family’s 3,000-acre cotton farm in Firebaugh, California.

Clearly not a football factory, Firebaugh is a farm town in the Central Valley with a population of approximately 8,000 and one stoplight.

One of Joel and LaVonne’s four children, Josh guided the Firebaugh High Eagles but received little attention from college coaches.

Despite tearing up opposing defenses during his senior season, in which the Eagles won 10 games, the 6’3”, 180-pound quarterback with a cannon for an arm did not receive a single FBS scholarship offer. 

Zero.

They say that no matter how good you are, they will find you. However, for whatever reason, they seemed to avoid spending their time in Central Valley when they were able to capture bigger fish in the Bay Area or Los Angeles, where the lights on Friday night were much brighter.

Unlike his peers and five-star recruits who may have bounced around from high school to high school and attended various elite camps, Allen stayed in the comfort of Firebaugh.

While he lived just two and a half hours from Fresno, Allen appeared nonexistent in the eyes of NCAA coaches; even the Bulldogs' head coach Tim DeRuyter passed on him. 

“I truly felt like I was a Division I quarterback, and I’d felt that way for a long time,” Allen said. “I just wanted other people to see it.” 

Taking the route of numerous talented and overlooked players, Allen attended Reedley College, a junior college program less than an hour away from the farm.

In his freshman season with the Tigers, he became one of the top junior college prospects and the nation's fifth-ranked JUCO dual-threat quarterback, despite not starting his first four games.

Now weighing in at 6’5”, 220lbs, one would assume that FBS offers would make their way to the Reedley, California campus. But that wasn’t the case.

So Josh took matters into his own hands. Along with the Tigers’ coaching staff, he put together an email containing his season highlights and sent it to basically every FBS program in the country.

1,000 emails to head coaches, assistant coaches, positional coaches, and anyone who was connected with the team.

Needless to say, chances are that email was either deleted or sent straight to “junk”. 

Of the few schools that may have clicked “open”, Wyoming, which had just finished a tough first season under new head coach Craig Bohl, was in search of a transfer quarterback after their original recruiting target decided to attend Syracuse at the last moment.

The only FBS coach willing to make the trip to the Allen farm, Bohl told Josh’s dad, Joel, “We went all around the country, and there’s only one quarterback we want, and that’s your son.”

“He’s going to be the face of our program.”

Despite the fact that he got his shot because the Cowboys' “Plan A” decided to take his talents elsewhere, the door had been opened, even if it was just a crack.

And for Allen, a crack was all he needed to blast it wide open.

Laramie, Wyoming isn’t exactly a destination hot spot for star football players to aspire to go to school. 

Fellow Cowboy alum Tashaun Gipson once said, “From the sign that says ‘Welcome to Laramie’ to the end of the town, I could have probably rode my bike and got through the whole town in 10 minutes.”

Playing in the Mountain West Conference, the Cowboys get a fraction of the media attention that Power 5 programs do, but it was a Division 1 opportunity that Allen wasn’t going to let pass.

His sophomore season was far from what he had dreamed of. Playing just two games with one start, Allen’s season came to an end due to a broken collarbone.

The Cowboys finished their season 2-10 with Josh on the sidelines, sporting a metal plate and eight screws in his collarbone.

Given the QB1 tag at the beginning of his third college season, Allen started all 14 of the Cowboys' games, leading the team to an 8-6 record.

With an impressive stat line, he was suddenly considering declaring for the 2017 NFL Draft, where many had him slotted as a top-three pick.

After basically every NFL GM and owner packed his pro day workout – where he launched 70-yard bombs down the field – Josh talked himself out of the draft due to his respect for his coach. 

“Coach Bohl was the only guy who stuck his neck out for me,” Allen said. “He came to my family; he came to my house in the middle of nowhere. I just felt I owed him the respect to come back for one more year.”

While his final season with the Cowboys wasn’t as impressive statistically as the previous year, the team finished the regular season 8-5 and won the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (not exactly must-see TV by most Bowl standards).

Where he was once in conversations as the top overall pick, Josh saw his draft stock slide due to his numbers and questions of whether his abilities in the Mountain West Conference would translate to the NFL.

Then-Bleacher Report draft analyst Matt Miller wrote, “His subpar completion percentage (56 percent) can be attributed to poor decisions, passes thrown too hard, drops, and plain misses.”

Former NFL QB Dan Orlovsky said, “Allen often spends too much time staring down receivers, and…those bad eye habits take a lot of time and hard work to iron out at the pro level.”

The folks over at Barstool Sports even created a satirical website, DraftJoshAllen dot com, sarcastically pointing out things like:

• “Josh Allen is tall”

• “Josh Allen’s hands are big”

• “Stats are for losers”

• “Sometimes he overthrows his receivers…but that’s their fault, not his.”

As for Josh himself?  "I'm not going to bow down to anybody,” he said.

“My main goal is to win. I'm going to do everything in my power to put the team in position to win the football game. I'm going to take everything with a chip on my shoulder still and go out there and compete."

Selected 7th overall by the Buffalo Bills (who traded with Tampa Bay to move up from 12) in 2018, Allen was the third quarterback drafted behind Baker Mayfield (1st overall) and Sam Darnold (3rd).

Earning the QB1 spot to start his rookie season, Allen and the Bills were on the receiving end of a 47-3 blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The following week saw the same end result despite a closer score.

While the Bills once again struggled, ending the season with a 6-10 record, their rookie QB showed promise, both with the arm, the legs, and his willingness to run through a defender instead of around him.

Still, there were questions.

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell wrote, “As a passer…it's difficult to see any signs of improvement from Allen. His numbers are horrific…and don't bear any resemblance to the quarterback Allen was supposed to be coming out of college.”

In his second pro season, though, it didn’t take long for Josh to make his mark on the Bills, turning the team into a perennial playoff team.

For a franchise and a fanbase that had been seeking a star QB to hitch their wagon to since Jim Kelly retired in 1996, Josh Allen became the man.

Although it took some time to rebuild his mechanics, improve his decision-making, and tighten up his accuracy, he kept putting in the work that had followed him since his days on the family farm.

By 2020, he’d become one of the most dangerous and popular quarterbacks in the NFL, a legitimate MVP-caliber player who could beat you with his arm or steamroll his way through opposing defenders. 

A four-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro, Josh was rewarded for his individual efforts with the 2024 NFL MVP award, edging out Ravens QB Lamar Jackson in one of the closest votes in league history. 

“I definitely think mental toughness is way up there (when it comes to evaluating quarterbacks),” Allen said. “Going through my own trials and tribulations, I know that stuff makes you hungry. I’ve always had a chip on my shoulder, from not getting any offers out of high school to going to a junior college to get noticed. That’s a badge I wear with honor.”

Imagine if Wyoming’s first-choice quarterback didn’t decide to relocate to Syracuse.

Imagine if Craig Bohl didn’t make the drive out to a farm in the middle of small-town nowhere.

Imagine if Josh didn’t sit down and write countless emails that likely were never read.

Imagine if he didn’t have the work ethic instilled in him by his family’s farm.

That’s a lot of what-ifs for a guy who is now an NFL MVP. But that’s the part of what makes his path to football stardom so special.

It was a thousand emails, one coach willing to make the drive, and a kid from a wheat farm who wouldn’t take no for an answer.

🐶 

Today’s story was written by our friend in the north, Steve Lee.

Steve recently published his first book, Mind Games: Build the Mindset of a Basketball Champion. My copy just came in the mail this week. You can grab yours here!

If you know someone else who might find today’s story inspiring, please share it and encourage them to subscribe:

And remember, there are 300+ underdog stories over on my website, Joker Mag. Here are two you might’ve missed:

• How a 2-Hour Phone Call Led Tashaun Gipson to The Super Bowl

• The Slow Grind Pays Off: How D’Ernest Johnson Went from Key West Fisherman to NFL Veteran

Thank you to all who filled out my quick survey this past week.

To those who didn’t receive it: if you have 45 seconds to spare, I’d appreciate it if you could fill it out.

Appreciate your support 🤝 

Til next time,
Tyler

Extra Innings…

🌟 Trivia Answer: B) The Christians. Per the school’s website: “Butler Collegian editor Alex Cavins and his staff, which included cartoonist George Dickson, decided something “hot” must be conceived for the school’s weekly pep session. About that time, the mascot of a Butler fraternity—a bulldog named Shimmy (you couldn’t shake him)—wandered into the Collegian office. An idea was born.”

💛 Something personal: If you’ve ever wondered why underdog stories mean so much to me, check out this quick video.

⚾️ Penn State Brandywine (where I used to coach) is hosting a dinner on Saturday, November 7th to help raise funds to build their own “Field of Dreams” and improve the overall student-athlete experience. Phillies legend Larry Bowa will be the keynote speaker. If you’re in the area, you can buy a ticket here.

🎤 To brighten your day: watch this father-daughter duo sing a special song.

👀 In case you missed it: He was born with one leg. But he found a way to turn it into his advantage. And what he accomplished was so unexpected that Hollywood made a movie about him.

Happy Sunday 🐶 

The next time you open this newsletter, there will be NFL football on TV.

As the great Bart Scott once said…can’t wait!

In today’s edition…

He was born with one leg.

But he found a way to turn it into his advantage.

And what he accomplished was so unexpected that Hollywood made a movie about him.

Let’s dive in 👇

_{TODAY’S STORY IS POWERED BY Looptimer}

YOU can help students in need.

Today’s sponsor is near and dear to my heart.

Looptimer is a visual timer that turns time into a band of light you can actually see.

As the time counts down, the light makes one lap around the face of the timer (like a progress bar). Halfway around means half your time is gone.

Sounds simple, right?

But here’s the thing:

Looptimer has made an extraordinary impact on students with ADHD, and they’ve received amazing feedback from special education teachers too.

So they decided to make a “pay it forward” program.

Every Looptimer donation goes to a school in need.

Right now, their goal is to donate 50 Looptimers to the Columbia Montour AVTS special education department in Bloomsburg, PA.

Every purchase goes directly to the students.

If you’re able to donate, it would mean a lot. Let’s do this 🤝 

Here’s the thing: by supporting our sponsors, you’re helping me keep The Underdog Newsletter free for everyone. They back the stories you love, and I work hard to find partners you’ll be glad I introduced you to 🤝

The One-Legged Wrestler Who Showed The World That Anything is Possible

No time to read now? Click here to save it for later 🐶

It’s hard enough to manage a typical day on two legs, let alone just one.

But from birth, Anthony Robles' life was anything but typical.

On July 20th, 1988, he was born with only his left leg.

Doctors could not give a reason why he was missing his right leg entirely. No stump, no nothing. But that didn’t give Anthony or his 16-year-old mother, who was given no medical explanation for why, any reason not to keep moving forward.

In fact, it empowered them.

“God made me this way,” she always told her son.

Rather than live in despair, Anthony bought into his mother’s words. 

Although doctors fitted him with a prosthetic leg, there was nothing to attach it to, making it basically useless. By the age of three, he tossed it away and never looked back.

Uninterested in pretending to be something that he wasn’t, Robles would rather hop on one leg or use crutches to navigate around. While other kids were learning to walk and run, he had to deal with his own mobility issues.

As the oldest of five, he had little choice but to figure out how to keep up with his siblings and the neighborhood kids, with half the horsepower.

But instead of complaining about it, he just did.

Strengthening his upper body, his core, and his one leg, Anthony adapted games and found ways to work around obstacles (his mom Judy even modified a bicycle for him, using a pedal clip). He refused to sit on the sidelines watching when he was able to play.

While some stared and others teased, he turned his head the other way, deciding that they weren’t worth his time, focusing more on keeping up with those who played a positive role in his life, rather than those trying to keep him down.

Growing up in California, where he played flag football in sixth and seventh grade, Anthony and his family relocated to Mesa, Arizona, for the start of his freshman year of high school.

Inspired by his cousin, the then 90-pound Robles was introduced to the world of wrestling. Not the WWE variety, where the majority of moves are carefully choreographed, but rather Olympic style – a sport in which balance, leg power, and explosiveness are key.

By his own admission, Anthony was the worst wrestler on the freshman team.

Sporting a 5-8 record, the undersized newbie finished last in the city for his age group and weight class, one in which he was at least ten pounds lighter than most opponents.

While most kids would have quit before the season ended, Robles embraced the sport with a passion.

“I got thrown around that first time,” he said, “but I walked away with the biggest smile on my face and the biggest passion for wrestling after that. I knew I wanted to be a wrestler from here on out.”

In between his freshman and sophomore years, something clicked as Anthony transformed himself.

Spending long hours in the gym, he built an upper body that was bigger and stronger than most kids that age could imagine.

Obsessively studying different techniques, the second-year wrestler began to figure out how to use his unique center of gravity as an advantage rather than a liability.

As he had done many times before with various activities, Robles developed a style that nobody had seen before because nobody had been in his unconventional situation to invent it. 

“I never felt like I belonged. I always kind of felt like an outsider and was trying to find my purpose, to fit in some way,” Anthony said. “And with wrestling, I didn’t really need to fit in. Wrestlers, they all have their unique styles.”

After struggling in his first season, he found himself ranked sixth in the state during his second year.

The following two years, he posted a 96-0 record.

The result of his unblemished record? Back-to-back Arizona State Champion and a high school National Championship in his senior year.

Yet despite his success on the mat, most college coaches saw what he didn’t have rather than what he did have.

While he had dreams of wrestling for the Iowa Hawkeyes, only Drexel University in Philadelphia stepped up to offer a full-ride scholarship. Knowing that he was capable of competing against and beating the best wrestlers in the country, Robles sought other options.

With his dream of attending Iowa squashed, Arizona State, another top wrestling program, offered him the opportunity to try out for their team as a walk-on.

Rather than having his schooling paid for, Anthony Robles, with no guarantees, took a chance on himself when few others would.

“My mom raised me with my head in the clouds, so I believed I could do anything I set my mind to.”

Building off of his own unique style of turning his weakness into a weapon, he continued to build his upper body while using mat techniques that other wrestlers never thought of.

Wrestling in the 125-pound class (had he had both legs, he would have been in a higher weight class), he had a bigger and stronger upper body than most of his opponents.

Opposing coaches who studied his film found it difficult to develop conventional game plans due to his unique body mechanics and upper-body strength. 

After redshirting his true freshman year, Robles finished his first season narrowly missing out on becoming an All-American, posting a 25-11 record.

Over the next two seasons, he started to piece everything together, earning All-American status in his sophomore and junior years, capturing the Pac-10 title both seasons. 

Following years of struggles off and on the mat, everything came together for Robles during his final season with the Sun Devils.

Sporting an undefeated 36-0 record, he demolished all opponents during the regular season, earning All-American honors for a third straight year.

Making a beeline to the National Championships, he squared off against reigning champ Matt McDonough. Ironically, McDonough, a sophomore, suited up for Robles' dream school, Iowa. 

Facing the program that had rejected him, and with McDonough representing everything he’d been told he could never achieve, Anthony brought over 17,000 fans at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center to their feet.

Dominating the match from the start, scoring a two-point takedown within the first 44 seconds, the only blemish to this fairytale match was a stalling point penalty late in the final round.

“My coaches prepared me well,” Robles said after the victory. “We’ve been working all year and the past few years on quick draws, quick stick…I couldn’t have done it without him.”

Hollywood couldn’t have scripted a better ending to Anthony's story as he dominated the championship match, winning 7-1. From a kid who had just one scholarship offer, to coming in as a walk-on, to capping off a perfect 36-0 season with a championship.

His final collegiate stats were mind-boggling:

• 124-35 record

• Three-time All-American

• National Champion

But the numbers and the awards don’t necessarily capture everything that he accomplished, as others have had impressive careers.

What Anthony did was force an entire sport – and the sports world in general – to rethink their assumptions of what’s possible.

Since retiring from competition, Robles has worked as a motivational speaker, NCAA wrestling commentator, and high school wrestling coach. His story has been told on paper and the big screen through the 2012 book, Unstoppable: From Underdog to Undefeated: How I Became a Champion, and the award-winning film Unstoppable. 

As a young teenager, he was the worst wrestler in Mesa, Arizona. At 22, he was the best in the country – and he did it with only one leg.

His mother told him God made him that way for a reason.

After years of struggling to prove himself, on March 19th, 2011, standing on the podium with a national championship medal draped around his neck, balancing perfectly on one leg, Anthony Robles showed the world that anything is possible.

🐶 

Today’s story was written by our friend in the north, Steve Lee.

Steve actually just published his first book, Mind Games: Build the Mindset of a Basketball Champion. I just picked up my copy this week. You can grab yours here!

If you know someone else who might find today’s story inspiring, please share it and encourage them to subscribe:

And remember, there are 300+ underdog stories over on my website, Joker Mag. Here are two you might’ve missed:

• Sam Salz: Texas A&M Football Walk-On is Modern-Day "Rudy"

• How JJ Birden “Beat the Coverage” to Spend Nine Years in the NFL

Hope you’re having a great Labor Day weekend.

Thanks for reading!

Til next time,
Tyler

Extra Innings…

🌟 Trivia Answer: C) Batman. Here’s the story.

👀 In case you missed it: He was “terrible” and “couldn’t play.” After getting cut in high school and college, he bravely showed up at a pro tryout. What happened next set off a domino effect that led to a 20-year MLB career.

🎮 Jeff Passan told Matt Barnes (a known Joker Mag IG follower) that an MLB lockout is “not potential…it’s happening.” Now there’s a retro-style video game where you can play commissioner. Make the right decisions, and you just might save the 2027 season.

🗣️ Behind the scenes: I gave the raw numbers behind Joker Mag's growth. Years of SEO, a book, then short-form videos that took our Instagram from 1,463 to 19,100 followers in 30 days: Here's the full interview.

⚽️ From ESPN: Is Malawi's WAFCON run the most remarkable major tournament performance ever? Thanks to subscriber Titus L. for passing along this underdog story!

Happy Sunday 🐶 

We are officially heading into one of my favorite parts of the sports calendar.

MLB playoff races, college football kickoff, NFL kickoff, and the NHL and NBA seasons are right around the corner.

As always, I’ll be right here to bring you the best underdog stories happening each and every week.

In today’s edition…

He was “terrible” and “couldn’t play.”

After getting cut in high school and college, he bravely showed up at a pro tryout.

What happened next set off a domino effect that led to a 20-year MLB career.

Let’s dive into one of the best baseball underdog stories of all time 👇

_{TODAY’S STORY IS POWERED BY Manta Sleep}

I put my sleep experiment to the ultimate test

Last Monday night, I slept with the windows open.

Typically, I avoid excess light at all costs. Even a blinking laptop charger light used to keep me awake.

What can I say? I’m a guy who needs almost total darkness to fall asleep.

But on Monday night, I grabbed my secret weapon from the nightstand.

Within seconds, my bedroom went from scattered light to a complete blackout – literally zero difference whether my eyes were open or closed.

That’s because the Manta PRO Sleep Mask doesn’t allow a shred of light to get through.

Since I started wearing the mask 8 weeks ago, my smart ring showed…

• REM sleep: +14%

• Deep sleep: +18%

• Time to fall asleep: 9 minutes faster

I'm falling asleep quicker, waking up less often, and hitting snooze on my morning alarm a lot less.

After 8 weeks, I'm convinced it's one of the easiest sleep upgrades I've ever made.

If light is keeping you awake – or you just want a darker sleep environment – I highly recommend giving Manta Sleep a try.

Our readers get 10% off by using the discount code UNDERDOG at checkout.

Here’s the thing: by supporting our sponsors, you’re helping me keep The Underdog Newsletter free for everyone. They back the stories you love, and I work hard to find partners you’ll be glad I introduced you to 🤝

Brian Downing: The MLB All-Star Who Got Cut in High School and College

No time to read now? Click here to save it for later 🐶

“How did you ever make it? You were terrible.”

Brian Downing faced the same question whenever he ran into an old high school teammate.

From the outside looking in, the answer wasn’t clear.

How does a guy who got cut from pretty much every team he tried out for end up playing in the big leagues?

Not only play, but produce.  For two decades.

It all started on October 4th, 1959.  He called it “the day when it hit me.”

The week before his 9th birthday, a young Brian Downing went with his grandmother to see his very first pro baseball game.  Not just any game, but Game 3 of the World Series.

Seated among the 92,394 fans at the Los Angeles Coliseum, he watched as Dodgers ace Don Drysdale held the White Sox scoreless through 7 innings.  Then, in the bottom of the 7th, 37-year-old Carl Furillo came to the plate as a pinch-hitter and smacked a single that drove in the first 2 runs of the game.

The crowd went wild, and the Dodgers went on to win 3-1.

“From that day on,” Brian said, “I gave everything I had to making it.”

But the road wasn’t easy.

When he couldn’t find a local pickup game or friends to play with, he went into his backyard to hit bottle caps with a plastic bat.  It was how he spent most of his time: completely alone.

Brian described himself as painfully shy.  He never spoke in class, never went to a school function, and didn’t go on his first date until much later than most (when he was 23 years old).

He walked everywhere – to high school and, later, to junior college – because his parents refused to sign the consent form for driver’s ed classes.

“I’ve stayed hungry because of things that have happened my whole life,” he said.

“It's been like this for me since my childhood. I never had anything to give me much confidence from about 12 years old on.  I still go back to a lot of things that happened earlier to me. Being put down. Being overlooked. That's still part of it for me, and it always will be.”

Baseball became his escape.  His passion.

Yet, that passion took a while to translate to the field.

At Magnolia High School in Anaheim, he didn’t make the varsity team until his senior year, when he’d grown to about 5’8” and 160 pounds.  Even then, he barely got any playing time.

For most, that might’ve been a sign to hang ‘em up.  But not for the kid who spent almost every afternoon in the backyard, smacking bottle caps and perfecting his swing.

After graduation, he enrolled at Cypress College – a junior college just a few minutes from home.  While his intention was to walk on to their baseball team, things didn’t go as planned.

He didn’t make the final cut.  Instead, he was put on the team’s “taxi squad” as a bullpen catcher.

It was a loose title.  In reality, he sat on the bench and kept the book all season, watching as pitchers played the field over him.

He received three pinch-hit at-bats all year and recorded one hit – a single off of future major leaguer Al Hrabosky.

Still, he refused to quit.

Later that summer, Brian heard from his American Legion coach that the Chicago White Sox were hosting an “all-comers” open tryout.  It was an attempt to replenish their farm system as more young men were being shipped off to Vietnam.

Bravely, he showed up to the tryout.  Yet most of the scouts in attendance saw the same things Downing’s high school and college coaches saw.

Except for one man: Bill Lentini, a part-time scout with a reputation for uncovering “hidden gems” across Southern California.

“Brian was this scrawny guy back then,” said Roland Hemond, a White Sox executive. “I asked Bill what he saw in him, and he said, ‘This kid is so aggressive. He loves to play.’”

Sure, his physical tools were mediocre, but he could play pretty much any position.  Plus, Lentini said, he would sign for next to nothing.

”Bill Lentini might have been the only person who believed in Brian,” Hemond said. “It's like he's been on a crusade his whole career to prove Bill Lentini was right.”

Rarely does an “all-comers” tryout lead to a contract. But for Brian, it did.

He signed with the White Sox for $2,000 as an undrafted free agent in August of 1969.  Since it was so late in the season, he didn’t get a chance to suit up until the following spring.

Downing’s professional career began in Sarasota, Florida.  As a 19-year-old who’d barely faced high school varsity or college pitching, rookie ball went about as well as it could have.

The first-year pro batted .219 with just two extra-base hits.  But the White Sox brass liked his versatility, and he earned a promotion to A-ball the following season.

With more plate appearances, his hitting improved, and he carved out playing time wherever there was an open spot – catcher, third base, and all over the outfield.

In May of 1973, he got called up to the big leagues.  He made his MLB debut as a late-game defensive replacement at third base, hoping to make an impression. A few pitches later, he got his chance.

The batter lifted a high pop-up that sailed into foul territory on the third base side.  Downing sprinted after it, diving into the dugout to make the highlight-reel grab and record the out.

Unfortunately, he skidded down the dugout steps and tore up his knee in the process.

The gruesome injury forced him to miss all of June and July, and part of August.  When he returned, he hit just .178 in 34 games.

But once again, he refused to give up.

In the years that followed, the White Sox gave Downing multiple chances to lock down the starting catching job, though he never quite put it together.  In his 5 seasons on the South Side, he hit .243 with 43 doubles and 26 homers.

He’d hit a wall at 27 years old, and the White Sox lost hope.

After the ‘77 season, they shipped him off to Anaheim as a “throw-in” in a multi-player trade that sent Bobby Bonds to Chicago.

Downing later said that the move home to California saved his career.

But 1978 produced more of the same: another mediocre season with a .255 batting average, 15 doubles and 7 homers.  He also had surgery to remove bone chips from his throwing elbow.

His window of opportunity was closing, and he knew it.  Much like the days after getting cut in high school and college, the ‘78 offseason was another inflection point.  Time to put up or shut up.

“When I was in the hospital with my arm in a cast, I had nothing to do; nothing to think about,” he told The New York Times.

“I was just tired of being mediocre. I just felt there was no reason I couldn't be as good as somebody else. I have the mental qualities. It had to be a physical problem.”

Lying in that hospital bed, he crafted a two-pronged plan.

First, he decided to get bigger and stronger.

In today’s age of middle schoolers squatting 315 pounds, it seems odd to think there was a time when athletes didn’t lift weights.  But this was 1978.  Pumping Iron had just come out, and bodybuilding was still an obscure concept, especially in baseball.

So Downing decided to do what others wouldn’t.  He rented a condo in Palm Springs and spent $3,000 to $4,000 on equipment to build his own home gym.

He hit the weights three to five hours per day, five days a week, gaining 15 pounds in one offseason.  He bulked up so much that his old Angels uniform no longer fit him.

Teammates and fans started calling him "The Incredible Hulk".

Sports writer Dave Zaslawsky noted, “When the 29-year-old discusses weightlifting, he sounds like a father bragging about a young son’s first base hit in a Little League game…His massive arms and barrel chest can’t help being noticed. He is a linebacker wearing a baseball uniform.”

The second part of his plan was to change his batting stance.

This wasn’t just a small change – like lowering his hands or spreading his feet by an inch or two.  It was a complete overhaul.

Downing moved his hands closer to his head and opened up his stance, allowing him to see the ball better out of the pitcher’s hand.

His new approach sparked debate.  Baseball writers called it “crazy-looking”, “strange-looking”, and “unorthodox”.  If you’re having trouble visualizing it, you can see an exaggerated impression here.

“He looks funny,” said Angels hitting coach Deron Johnson. “He's devised his own way of hitting the ball.”

Funny-looking or not, it worked.

The newly bulked-up catcher set career highs in every offensive category, slashing .326/.418/.462 with 27 doubles and 12 home runs.  He made the All-Star team and helped the Angels win the AL West for the first time in franchise history.

“Brian made himself into the player he is,” said teammate Don Baylor. “He’s stayed around because of the extra work he put into it. Hit, hit, hit, hit.”

The following season, Downing hit another roadblock when he broke his ankle, limiting his ability to spend 9 innings calling games behind home plate.

From then on, he moved to the outfield – where he set the AL record with 244 consecutive errorless games from 1981 to ‘83 – before finishing out his career as a DH.

Who would’ve thought?  The guy who could barely hit in high school, college, and the minors – the one who signed a pro contract solely because of his defensive versatility – became a full-time designated hitter.

After committing to year-round bodybuilding, his average season reflected a completely different player: a slash line of .273/.376/.448 with 22 homers and 82 RBI.

Ultimately, Brian Downing spent 20 years in the big leagues.

He played through his age-41 season and left the Angels as the franchise’s all-time leader in almost every offensive category.  He was inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame in 2009.

You can make a compelling argument that Downing is the ultimate baseball underdog.

A quiet kid with wire-framed glasses who never let any setback throw him off course.  Who willed himself to MLB stardom.

He got cut in high school, yet still walked on to a junior college team. After not making it there, he still showed up to a professional tryout.  And even without an impressive skill set, he found a way into pro baseball.

Old teammates would ask, “How did you ever make it? You were terrible. You couldn't play.”  But that kind of criticism never stopped him.

When his first team gave up on him, he completely reinvented himself.  He battled through bad seasons, injuries, slumps, and position changes to record over 2,000 hits across two decades at the game’s highest level.

He never backed down from any challenge.  He dug in and found a way to win.

“If you put Brian Downing's heart in a lion,” Reggie Jackson once said, “the lion would be tougher for it.”

🐶 

Today’s story was written by yours truly. As always, I did my best to uncover every tiny detail from the most obscure resources available. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed putting it together!

If you know someone else who might find it inspiring, please share it and encourage them to subscribe:

And remember, there are 300+ underdog stories over on my website, Joker Mag. Here are two you might’ve missed:

• How Billy Wagner Went From D3 Walk-On to Baseball Hall of Fame

• Behind the Scenes with Veteran MLB Umpire Al Clark (Exclusive Interview)

The Joker Mag fantasy football league has officially expanded to 14 teams and has reached capacity for 2026! Thank you to all who’ve joined. Should be a fun season.

Have a fantastic week ahead and enjoy the slow transition to fall 🍂 

Til next time,
Tyler

Extra Innings…

🌟 Trivia Answer: C) Curb Your Enthusiasm. He made a life-saving catch.

📺 Throwback to when power hitters could actually hit with two strikes.

📕 “With two younger brothers who have faced similar challenges in sports, I love being able to share this book and these stories with them!” That’s what one reader said about my book, The Underdog Mentality. You should read it this week.

🍔 18 years ago, a man declared himself a “Dollar Menu Millionaire” after getting a raise at work. I still watch the video whenever I need a laugh.

👀 In case you missed it: He was only 4’8” as a high school freshman. After getting cut as a college walk-on, he became the team’s equipment manager. Here’s how he went from signing for one dollar to winning a World Series.

Happy Sunday 🐶 

Take a second to read what subscriber Ray G. sent to me:

I personally find this incredibly inspiring. As Ray wrote, “Only you determine the expiration date of your will to exercise.”

If this sparks your interest, go subscribe to Ray’s newsletter, Geezer Jock, right here.

Thank you for supporting one of our own 🤝 

In today’s edition…

He was only 4’8” as a high school freshman.

After getting cut as a college walk-on, he became the team’s equipment manager.

Here’s how he went from signing for $1 to winning a World Series.

Let’s dive in 👇

_{TODAY’S STORY IS POWERED BY The Underdog Mentality}

Here are 4 new reasons to buy my book.

1.)

2.)

3.)

4.)

The Underdog Mentality has outsold more than 90% of self-published authors.

I’m not one to “hard sell” people, but as readers have told me, this book has a chapter for almost every obstacle or challenge you’re facing in your life.

Whether you’re an athlete, a parent of an athlete, a coach, a teacher, or even just a casual sports fan, there is something in here for you.

This book is more than a collection of stories. It's a roadmap for anyone who's ever been told, "You can't."

Fun fact: If you order a physical copy, shoot me an email, and I’ll send you the digital version 100% free. That way you can start reading while you wait for the hard copy to reach your doorstep 🤝

The Real-Life Waterboy: How a College Equipment Manager Became a World Series Champion

No time to read now? Click here to save it for later 🐶

Daniel Nava’s high school coach saved the ball from his first Varsity hit.

Not as a souvenir, but because he was certain it’d be the only one he’d ever get.

At just 4’8” and 70 pounds as a high school freshman, he looked like a middle schooler who wandered onto the wrong field.

“Everybody said he was too small, too slow, wasn’t fast enough, didn’t have enough power,” his dad, Don, said.

After riding the bench as a high school junior, Nava got his first chance to start for the Varsity team as a senior.

“When I did play, I was just so small, so I didn’t do very well,” he told ESPN.

By his senior season, he’d grown to about 5’5” and was mostly a defense-first center fielder.

While he batted ninth in the order, the team often pinch-hit for him.

The highlight of that season was when he hit a ball over what he described as a "3-foot fence."

"I was really sprinting around the bases. I'd never hit a home run before. I never knew what it felt like."

He finished his senior year batting .270. Good, but not good enough to get college looks.

So after graduation, he went to Santa Clara University to major in psychology and walk on to the baseball team.

In the fall, he went to an open tryout, hoping his summer growth spurt would be enough to make an impression.

“He was about 5-foot-8 and 135 pounds," said then-head coach Mark O'Brien. "He showed up, and he could barely hit the ball out of the infield.”

After getting cut, Daniel was ready to quit for good.

"I wasn't thinking about anything in terms of a baseball career," he said.

"I thought I was done…When you get cut – and Santa Clara had a struggling program, a new coach, they were trying to turn things around – I thought, if I can't be a part of a rebuilding program, I gotta be realistic. I'm done."

But Coach O’Brien liked his attitude, so he offered him a chance to stay on as the team’s equipment manager.

Nava helped out wherever he could: fetching water, keeping the book, shagging fly balls at batting practice, and washing uniforms in the middle of the night.

"During that whole time, I'm thinking to myself, 'Why am I doing this?' We were in Hawaii one time, and I'm sitting there washing uniforms at 3 or 4 a.m. I'm like, I should be enjoying Hawaii."

One night, after a road game against Pepperdine, Nava piled the team’s dirty uniforms into a few duffel bags and took a cab to a laundromat.

But the place closed before he could finish up.  Suddenly, he was wandering the streets of Ingelwood, California, with bags full of half-dirty baseball pants.

“This cop, kind of a rent-a-cop, comes by, and he’s like, ‘Hey, what are you doing?’” he told The Providence Journal.

“I was like, ‘I just called a cab. I need a cab to take me back to the hotel.’ He was like, ‘Um, actually, I think I’m going to stay here and hang out with you.’"

"I was like, ‘What do you mean?’ He was like, ‘Well, let’s just say that this town has a lot of drive-bys…so if I’m with you, you do the math.’”

“I was like, ‘Hey, buddy! How’s it going!’, putting my arm around him – ‘You’re my best friend, man!’”

Another part of Daniel's job was filming pitchers and hitters in games.

During those late nights doing laundry, he found himself poring over the footage.

“I learned a lot about pitches and approach and what to look for and what not to look for. It sounds weird, but I did learn a lot from that.”

Little did he know that those film sessions would pay off later.

During his sophomore year at Santa Clara, the tuition was becoming too expensive to afford.  

So Nava transferred to the nearby College of San Mateo – a local community college that was much friendlier on his wallet.

One day at the gym, an old friend convinced him to try out for San Mateo’s baseball team.

By then, he’d grown to 5’10” and was starting to fill out his frame.

This time, Daniel made the final cut.  Even still, he didn’t expect to play.

But to his surprise, the coach gave him a shot.

After cracking the starting lineup, he hit .430 and .384 in two seasons, earning JUCO All-American honors and helping the team win back-to-back conference titles.

Nava still had another year of eligibility left, and that’s when his old friends at Santa Clara called.

They didn’t just offer him a spot on the team – they gave him a scholarship.

Just like that, the Broncos’ former equipment manager returned as the team’s starting left fielder.

Remembering all those late nights studying pitchers, Nava put his knowledge to work at the plate.  He led the West Coast Conference with a .395 batting average and a .494 on-base percentage.

Oh yeah, and all those times shagging pop-ups during batting practice?  They paid off, too.

He didn’t make a single error in the outfield in his senior year.

But when the MLB Draft rolled around, his phone stayed silent.

Instead, he showed up at a tryout for the Chico Outlaws of the independent Golden Baseball League.

After an underwhelming showing, they cut him.

“So I didn’t play for a whole year. I was trying to get picked up, trying anything to play somewhere. But every door got shut.”

Then, after a year away from baseball, his phone finally rang.  It was the Chico Outlaws circling back.

“They called me up and told me that one of their players wasn’t able to make it out, so if I wanted a chance to play – I wasn’t even guaranteed a shot – that I could cruise on up there and try out for the team.”

"If they would have called me an hour later, it wouldn't have happened," Nava said.

"That day, I was planning on heading to the beach with my friends and wouldn't have heard the phone. But I packed up my stuff on the spot and headed up to Chico the same day."

This time, the Outlaws kept him around.

In his first year swinging a wooden bat, he hit .371 and won MVP of the Golden League.

Baseball America ranked Nava at the very top of their 2007 indy league prospect list, which he didn’t believe at first.

“I got a call from the pitching coach at Chico…saying, ‘Hey man, did you see the article in Baseball America?’ I had no clue what he was talking about. ‘You’re the No. 1 [indy] prospect,’ he told me.”

“I thought it was a joke, so I told him to shut up and stop playing around with me. He was serious, but I really didn’t believe him for about five minutes...Finally, he said, ‘Navs, I’m not messing around with you – go to the website, call them up, do whatever you have to do, and you’ll see that I’m telling the truth.’ Finally, I saw the article, but nothing happened for a couple of weeks.”

Eventually, the article made its way to the desk of Jared Porter from the Boston Red Sox.

He later bought Nava’s rights for $1 – the lowest amount possible for an MLB team to purchase a contract.

Yes, 100 pennies is all it cost a $4.8 billion franchise to acquire him.

Of course, they did owe the Outlaws another $1,499 once Nava made it through spring training.

He dominated each level of the minor leagues from 2008 to 2010, batting a combined .331 from Single-A through Triple-A.

“I’ve always been told ‘you need to prove it at the next level.’ I think that has a lot to do with why what I’ve done has been kind of under-the-radar.”

In June of 2010, the Red Sox called him up to the big leagues.

From there, things unfolded quickly.

Rushing to see their son’s MLB debut in person, Daniel’s parents hit a snag at the airport.

After their flight was delayed, their luggage was too slow to arrive.  So instead of missing the start of the game, they ditched their bags and headed straight to Fenway Park.

They got to their seats just as their son was running out to take his position in left field.

In the second inning, Nava was gearing up for his first major league at-bat.

Before heading out to the on-deck circle, he turned to then-Red Sox manager Terry Francona.

“I wonder where my folks are sitting," he said to the manager.

"I don't care," Francona said. "Go up and get a hit.”

Nava didn’t waste another second.

With the bases loaded, he launched the very first pitch he saw into the right-field seats for a grand slam.

"As I was rounding the bases, I think that's when I kind of said, 'Oh man, I just hit a grand slam. That's probably why I was sprinting the whole time, because I was so obviously pumped for that moment and that opportunity. It's pretty ridiculous."

With that swing, Nava became just the second player to ever hit a grand slam on the first pitch of his major league career.

A few innings later, Ken Rosenthal went up to interview Daniel’s parents about their son’s historic moment.

“I got [it on tape]...you know what? I don’t know if I got it or not,” Don Nava laughed.

“My hands were up in the air, I was in tears, I was smiling…I think the camera might’ve gotten the lady’s hair in front of me more than Daniel running around the bases.”

Nava reached base safely in each of his first 13 MLB games.

But after seeing action in 60 games in 2010, Boston designated him for assignment in 2011.  After he went unclaimed, he was sent back to Triple-A Pawtucket.

In 2012, he wasn’t even invited to spring training.

Still, he kept fighting.

“I definitely thought I could perform and perform well. That’s why I kept on going. Quitting’s just not much of an option for me.”

After injuries to Jacoby Ellsbury and Carl Crawford, Boston called up Nava to fill the void.

He played 88 games, drove in 33 runs, and won the Lou Gorman Award, given to the Red Sox minor leaguer "who has demonstrated dedication and perseverance in overcoming obstacles while working his way to the Major League team."

The next season was the best of his career.

In 134 games, Nava hit .303 with 12 homers and 66 RBI, helping the Sox go from worst to first – from dead last in the AL East in 2012 to winning the World Series in 2013.

“You don’t script that stuff.  It just happens…I honestly felt honored and blessed to be a part of it.”

After another two seasons in Boston, Nava spent time with the Rays, Angels, Royals, and Phillies before calling it a career.

The kid who was never expected to get more than one Varsity hit had accumulated 452 of them in the big leagues.

“Through the whole process, I tried not to look too far down the road,” he said, “because I've always had something in front of me. I had to make a team. I had to get in the lineup…Maybe it was a good thing to keep focused on smaller goals."

In 2024, Nava was named the outfield coordinator for the Dodgers’ minor league system.

Someday, he hopes to become an MLB manager.

“The journey I’ve taken is so unique, I think I have a lot to offer…I’ll obviously never have all the answers. But I think I do have something that can help them with motivation and inspiration.”

🐶 

Today’s story was written by yours truly.

If you know someone else who might find this story inspiring, please share it and encourage them to subscribe:

And remember, there are 300+ underdog stories over on my website, Joker Mag. Here are two you might’ve missed:

• From Hitchhiking Home to Making MLB History: The Orel Hershiser Story

• The True Story Behind 'Glory Road'

It’s an exciting time, and we’re growing faster than ever – mostly thanks to you all supporting my short-form videos over on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok!

The fall is usually our biggest boom season (so many sports overlap in October), and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the rest of this year.

This newsletter will always be the place where I share transparent, behind-the-scenes tidbits on the growth of Joker Mag. And my inbox is always open for suggestions, story leads, sponsorship ideas, or anything else you’d like to share with me.

Thanks for all of your support! It means more than words can express.

Til next time,
Tyler

Extra Innings…

🌟 Trivia Answer: A) Punching an umpire. The newspaper columnist wrote that “several policemen had to drag Ruth off the field.” Then – get this – the pitcher who replaced him ended up throwing a perfect game (technically considered a no-hitter).

🏈 Joker Mag’s Underdog Showdown: Our fantasy football league is getting a lot of interest! I’m still open to expanding the number of teams, so click here to shoot me an email if you’d like to join. But hurry, we need to set a draft date soon!

🤜 Casual fans remember his fistfight on the field. The real ones remember his incredible journey to get to the league in the first place.

⚾️ Serious question: How could you not love Red Sox pitcher Payton Tolle?

👀 In case you missed it: This 8th overall pick completely skipped the minor leagues. The media thought it was a “publicity stunt” or marketing gimmick. Why? Because he was born without a right hand.

Happy Sunday 🐶 

Big news: The Joker Mag fantasy football league is returning for a 2nd season! 🎉 

Here’s the thing: I only want serious players who will actively participate all season long. That means waiver claims, trades, lineup setting, banter on the league message board, etc., through Week 17.

Last year’s members get first dibs, but I’m thinking about an expansion if there’s enough interest.

Wanna join? Click here to shoot me an email and let me know why you’re a good fit.

In today’s edition…

This 8th overall pick completely skipped the minor leagues.

The media thought it was a “publicity stunt” or marketing gimmick.

Why?

Because he was born without a right hand.

Let’s dive in 👇

_{TODAY’S STORY IS POWERED BY Manta Sleep}

A quick update on my sleep tracking experiment…

A few weeks ago, I shared how wearing the Manta PRO Sleep Mask cut my sleep latency (time to fall asleep) down from 25 minutes to 16 minutes.

Well, I’ve kept tracking the data with my smart ring, and the results got even better:

👉 Over the last two weeks, my REM sleep climbed by over 14%.

If you’re like me and wondering why REM matters, here’s the quick version: it’s the stage that supports memory, emotional regulation, and cognitive sharpness.

That’s not just science talk. I’m really feeling the improvements in my day-to-day energy levels and productivity.

Less afternoon slumps, sharper focus, and I'm not reaching for another coffee just to get through the “post-lunch dip” anymore.

Whether you’re training, working long hours, or just want to wake up feeling 100%, give it a shot.

Our readers can get 10% off by using the discount code UNDERDOG

Fun fact: by supporting our sponsors, you’re helping me keep The Underdog Newsletter free for everyone. Thanks for doing your part 🤝

Jim Abbott: The One-Handed Pitcher Who Skipped the Minor Leagues

No time to read now? Click here to save it for later 🐶

"I truly believe that difficult times and disappointments can push us to find abilities and strengths we wouldn’t know existed without the experience of struggle."

Countless young baseball players dream of making it to the big leagues. Very few of them actually do.

Those who might often travel through years in the minor leagues, hoping for a call-up. Jim Abbott never played a single inning of minor league ball. 

Not a single Double-A appearance, not even a game in Triple-A. He went straight from the Olympic mound to being part of a rotation in the big leagues.

Four years later, he served up a no-hitter at the famed Yankee Stadium. 

Talk about making dreams into reality.

And he did it all with one hand.

James Anthony Abbott was born on September 19th, 1967, without a right hand. Growing up in Flint, Michigan, Jim’s parents, Mike and Kathy, were both young, just out of high school, and tried to treat him like a normal kid, despite the obvious difference.

While they originally wanted to try and steer him towards soccer, which they thought would be easier on his body, Jim wanted to play baseball like every other kid in his neighborhood.

"Never allow the circumstances of your life to become an excuse,” Abbott said later.

“People will allow you to do it. But I believe we have a personal obligation to make the most of the abilities we have."

By allowing the ball to slip out of his glove, dropping the glove, and then throwing with his left hand, Jim and his dad figured out how he could handle a ball and glove with just one hand.

When Mike was busy, and younger brother Chad didn’t want to, and there was nobody else to play with, Jim developed his own set of drills, including one in which he stood in front of a brick wall and then fired a rubber ball at it, catching the rebound bare-handed.

Repeating the drill over and over, he learned how to field with a glove tucked under the stub of his right arm and then transfer it back to his throwing hand fast enough to make a play. As he got better, he moved closer to the wall, forcing the transfer time to happen quicker with each rep.

This drill would lay the foundation for his entire professional career.

“I benefitted from tremendous encouragement as a kid,” Jim wrote in his book, Imperfect: An Improbable Life. 

“So many people reached out to me, helped me, and believed in me when I didn't always believe in myself.”

By the time Jim reached his junior year of high school, he’d grown to stand 6’4” and weighed 175 pounds and had developed into one of the best young athletes in the state. As the quarterback for the Flint Central Indians (now Phoenix), he led his team to the state semi-finals, throwing four touchdowns in his final game.

On the mound, he was throwing in the low 90s with a nasty slider. He even found success at the plate, batting left-handed with the bat wedged between his hand and right forearm, hitting .427 and 7 home runs in his senior season. 

“In my 13 years of high school coaching, he’s the best all-around athlete in baseball I’ve ever seen,” Bob Holec, Abbott’s high school coach, admitted. “His greatest attribute is that where most people think of the disability, he makes you aware of his ability.”

In the summer of 1985, Jim had caught the eye of Toronto Blue Jays scout Don Welke.

Recommending that the team take the left-handed pitcher, the Jays selected Abbott in the 36th round of the 1985 MLB Draft. Although he was presented with a $50,000 signing bonus, he decided against moving north across the border and instead went to Ann Arbor to suit up for Michigan.

During his three seasons with the Wolverines, Abbott's story changed from being remarkable to being dominant.

Posting a 26-8 record with a 3.03 ERA, he helped Michigan to a pair of Big Ten championships. While his numbers were impressive, it is worth noting that Jim committed just three fielding errors in his 41 starts, fewer than most two-handed players account for.

As a sophomore, he captured the Golden Spikes Award as the nation’s top amateur, and a year later he added the Sullivan Award, presented to the best amateur athlete in the country in any sport.

By now it was clear that the media and fans saw him for his talent, not his limitations.  

In the summer of 1988, Abbott headlined the pitching roster for Team USA at the Seoul Summer Olympics.

Although it was still an exhibition sport at the time, one couldn’t tell by how the eight teams involved competed. Sporting a 2-1 round-robin record, Team USA advanced to the playoffs, where they convincingly defeated Puerto Rico in the semi-finals.

When it came time to name the starting pitcher for the championship game against Japan, head coach Mark Marquess slotted Abbott into the spot.

He threw a complete game and led Team USA to a 5-3 victory. 

Four months later, he was selected by the California Angels with the 8th overall pick in the 1988 MLB Draft.

Typically, most major league rookies go through a similar process of attending spring training and then finding themselves being sent to one of the team’s minor league programs to work on some of their weaknesses or wait for a roster position to open up.

Jim never had to worry about making alternate plans. 

At the start of his second season with the Angels, veteran pitcher Dan Petry found himself dealing with a rotator cuff strain. Although he attempted to pitch his way through the injury, it opened the door for the rookie to crack the team’s starting rotation. 

“The thing about Abbott that sticks in my mind is that whenever he goes out there, you think something good is going to happen,” then Angels manager Doug Rader said.

“You think you’re going to win. Not many people have that kind of presence.”

On April 8th, 1989, in front of nearly 47,000 fans at Anaheim Stadium, Abbott made his MLB debut.

It did not go the way anyone expected.

Throwing just 4 ⅔ innings, he gave up six hits and three runs in a 7-0 loss to the Seattle Mariners.

Five days later, he collected his second loss, this time to the Oakland Athletics. 

The slow and unimpressive start created plenty of talk amongst media and fans that the Angels were just in it for a “publicity stunt”.

Considering that very few teams in recent history were willing to put a rookie in a rotation spot with zero professional innings under their belt, it had to be some sort of marketing gimmick.

But Rader stood by his decision. 

After shaking off the nerves and brushing off the media circus that surrounded him, Abbott he found his comfort zone, proving that he was deserving of being in the starting five. 

By the end of his rookie season, he’d gone 12-12 with a 3.92 ERA.

After four seasons in California, Jim was traded to the New York Yankees for financial reasons.

Most of his first season in the Big Apple was average until his 27th start of the season.

After being chased off the mound in his previous start, Abbott started the second game of the Yankees’ homestand against Cleveland.

Facing names like Albert Belle, Kenny Lofton, Jim Thome, Manny Ramirez and Carlos Baerga, he threw a complete-game no-hitter in a 4-0 Yankees victory.

A no-hitter at Yankee Stadium, thrown by a pitcher with one hand, became one of the most unforgettable moments of the era in all of sports.

For a night, Abbott was the king of New York.

"All the early editions of the newspapers were out on the corners," Abbott said.

"People were buying newspapers and running across the street. Cars are honking, and traffic is stopping. I wish everybody in the world could have that feeling for one night. To walk through Manhattan and receive that type of embrace. It's sort of an amazing cherished memory."

Over the next five seasons, Jim bounced around the league, playing one more year in New York before a pair of stints with the Chicago White Sox, a return to the Angels, and eventually capping off his 10-year career in Milwaukee. 

While his 87-108 record isn’t memorable, what fans do remember about Abbott’s career are the numbers that nobody imagined were possible.

Zero minor league innings, a debut in front of a bigger crowd than opening night, and a no-no at the league’s most famous stadium. 

Throughout his career, Abbott made a point of speaking with countless children who wanted to meet him – most who were, like him, born different.

He was motivated to succeed at baseball's highest level to make those kids believe they could achieve greatness in their own lives.

"Being born this way, I knew what it was like to be different," Abbott said during his recent acceptance of the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance.

"I knew what it was like to be on the outside looking in, and I knew what it was like to want to prove yourself and be on a team. And of all of the great blessings that sports have given me, that sense of belonging is the best."

Not bad for a kid with one arm who learned how to play the game by throwing a ball against a brick wall.

🐶 

Today’s story was written by our friend in the north, Steve Lee.

If you liked this one and know someone else who might find it inspiring, please share it and encourage them to subscribe:

And remember, there are 300+ underdog stories over on my website, Joker Mag. Here are two you might’ve missed:

• 23 Inspiring Jim Abbott Quotes to Help You Overcome Adversity

• How to Become an NFL Super Agent: Behind The Scenes with Brett Tessler

Remember to email me if you’re interested in fantasy football this year!

I’m looking forward to another fun season.

Have a fantastic week! 🤝

Til next time,
Tyler

Extra Innings…

🌟 Trivia Answer: B) 12 years. Sports Illustrated produced 20 issues in its first year and lost $6 million (over $74 million in today’s dollars). It wasn’t profitable for more than a decade. For comparison, I started Joker Mag in 2017, and the business has been profitable for quite a while…though we’re not making millions (yet)!

🎵 “Can you take me higher?” This 15-year-old blind singer-songwriter’s rendition of Creed’s radio hit will give you chills.

💡 Cool idea: Long-time subscriber Josh Lewis launched Starfish Fantasy Sports, which uses league dues from members to support charities doing awesome things for those in need. Go check it out!

📕 “I actually enjoyed it even more than I thought I would. Awesome book and can’t wait for another.” That’s what one long-time Underdog Newsletter subscriber said about my book, The Underdog Mentality. You should read it this week.

👀 In case you missed it: He “couldn’t run” and he “couldn’t hit”. Meet the 62nd-round pick who forced his way into the Hall of Fame.

Happy Sunday 🐶 

I always try to be radically transparent with you guys. And I have to admit, it’s been really, really hard to crack YouTube.

My latest long-form mini-doc might be the best story yet, but it just hasn’t gotten much traction. As I’m writing this, it has a grand total of 176 views.

If you have 13 minutes to spare today or tomorrow, could you give it a watch?

I’d love to hear your honest feedback.

What would you like to see more or less of? Reply and let me know here. Or, even better, drop a comment on the YouTube video itself!

Thanks in advance for your help 🙌 

In today’s edition…

He hit .111 as a backup college first baseman.

Thanks to a favor from a friend, he was drafted in the 62nd round.

No one took him seriously…until he forced them to.

A lot of baseball fans think they know this one, but there’s actually a lot more to the story.

Let’s dive in 👇

_{TODAY’S STORY IS POWERED BY Staples}

_{The best place to save on school supplies in 2026? Staples.}

It’s the most wonderful time of the year — it’s back to school season! We all remember the nostalgia of school shopping as a kid... And today, Staples has made it even easier to get everything you need!

They’ve got easy-to-find teacher lists, 30-minute in-store pickup, plus deals like supplies as low as 25¢, up to 40% off select laptops and more. The math is mathing.

From iconic school classics to trendiest classroom picks, it’s the best place to find everything your student needs (and actually wants). Plus, Staples has one of the largest selections of licensed supplies featuring all their favorite characters like Bluey, Spider-Man, Hello Kitty and more.

Shop Staples now and get ahead of the back to school rush. Click here to see the deals.

Fun fact: by supporting our sponsors, you’re helping me keep The Underdog Newsletter free for everyone. Thanks for doing your part 🤝

How a 62nd-Round Draft Pick Forced His Way Into the Baseball Hall of Fame

No time to read now? Click here to save it for later 🐶

There's a video of 16-year-old Mike Piazza in the deepest corner of the internet. He's taking cuts in a batting cage in his backyard.

Suddenly, Ted Williams enters the frame. Yes, that Ted Williams. Teddy Ballgame – 19-time All-Star, 6-time batting champion, and first-ballot Hall of Famer.

"This kid looks good, he really looks good," Williams says in the video.

"I'm gonna tell you the truth, I don't think I hit the ball as good as he does when I was 16."

Before leaving the Piazza home, Williams signed a copy of his book – The Science of Hitting – with a note: "To Mike, follow this book. As good as you look now, I’ll be asking you for tickets."

Imagine being 16 years old, and hearing that kind of praise from one of the greatest hitters of all time. What would it do for your confidence?

"It was crazy," Piazza said later.

"The one thing I'll never forget that Ted Williams said was, 'You look great, but that's only half the battle. The rest is pitch selection, knowing your strike zone, hitting the ball where it's pitched, reacting to situations and off-speed.' And it just kind of seared in my memory."

It wasn't the youngster's first time being around an MLB player.

As a kid, he had the chance to serve as the Dodgers' bat boy when they played at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia. They even let him take a few swings on the field before the game, and he reportedly launched one into the seats.

Those experiences all came through a family connection that would become well documented in the years to come.

Mike's father, Vince, grew up with Tommy Lasorda in Norristown, PA.

Vince went on to become a successful entrepreneur, and Tommy became the manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The two remained close friends, which led to opportunities for the younger Piazza – like Ted Williams visiting his backyard batting cage.

Regardless of the baseball legend's positive feedback, the teenage Piazza still needed time to develop. And there was plenty of work to do.

He went to Phoenixville High – a school with just 200 students in his class and a home baseball field that didn't even have a fence in left field.

While he hit .442 and shattered the school's home run record as a senior – mostly through opposite field shots, where there actually was a fence – he received little attention from major college programs or MLB scouts.

According to MLB Network, only one scouting report was ever filed on him in high school. The grades ranged from "below average" to "poor" across the board.

So far, no one saw what Ted Williams did.

Mike landed at the University of Miami, where he hit just .111 as the Hurricanes' backup first baseman. Realizing he was in over his head, he transferred to Miami-Dade Community College for a better opportunity.

Both chances were sourced through Lasorda.

Still, despite hitting .364 at the JUCO level, he wasn't even a blip on a pro scout's radar.

"They said that I couldn't run or hit," Piazza told Sports Illustrated in 1993.

That's when Tommy Lasorda stepped in and tried to pull some strings.

"I asked five different friends of mine to go out and see him play, hoping they would sign him," Lasorda told MLB Network. "And all five came back and told me he can't do it."

Playing pro baseball was Mike's one and only dream, and the lack of interest started to get to him.

"That's when we started kicking the idea of possibly changing and converting to a catcher," Piazza said.

Ultimately, the Dodgers took the 19-year-old in the 62nd round (1,390th overall) of the 1988 MLB Draft as a favor to Lasorda.

"I said 'Draft this guy', and they didn't wanna draft him," the manager remembered. "I said, 'I want him drafted. I don't care where you draft him, but draft him.'"

Because it was viewed as a favor, no one in the organization took the pick seriously. In fact, the Dodgers' brass didn't consider signing him until Mike requested a formal tryout.

In front of Lasorda and the Dodgers' scouting director, Ben Wade, Piazza put on the performance of a lifetime.

"I just hammered balls into the blue seats."

But Mike was drafted as a first baseman. And the Dodgers didn't need another one. After all, that kind of size and power wasn't uncommon at the position.

So Lasorda framed it differently.

"If he was a catcher who could hit balls into the seats like that, would you sign him?" he asked.

"Yes," replied Wade.

"Then he's a catcher," Lasorda said.

Wade protested, asking to see Piazza make a few throws to assess his arm strength.

"I threw as hard as I could," Mike remembered. "I think my arm is still hurting from that day."

After the tryout, Ben Wade offered Piazza a $15,000 signing bonus.

"He could have said $15, and it wouldn't have mattered."

Thanks, in part, to his father's connection with Tommy Lasorda, Mike Piazza got his foot in the door of Major League Baseball.

But he still had to learn a new position. He still had to step in the box against some of the best pitchers in the world. And he still had to put in the work to make it happen, day after day, season after season.

Through his first two seasons at Single-A, Piazza hit just .257 and had nearly as many strikeouts (119) as he had hits (121).

At one point during the 1990 season, he was so discouraged that he stepped away from the game and went home to Pennsylvania.

"It was so bad, I said, ‘I am out of here,’ and I just walked away,” Piazza said.

He was tired of struggling – and being looked down upon by players and coaches in the organization.

"The manager would look at me and see how unpolished I was and say, ‘I don’t get it. I don’t think this kid can play.'"

That's when Dodgers minor league hitting instructor – and 7-time MLB All-Star – Reggie Smith went to visit him.

“I told him there were people fighting for him,” Smith told MLB Network.

Piazza returned to baseball and played better than ever. He quickly rose through the ranks of the minors and became the Dodgers' number one prospect.

He told himself, "I am going to go out there and play with a chip because the other way isn’t working."

Baseball fans know the rest.

Piazza's underdog mentality worked like a charm and carried him all the way through his big-league career.

1,912 MLB games and 427 home runs later, Mike Piazza is the lowest draft pick in history to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

"My father's faith in me, often greater than my own, is the single most important factor of me being inducted into this Hall of Fame," he said in his speech.

"I know he watched every game, cried when I cried, was angry when I was angry, and celebrated more than I could ever celebrate. He is a man deeply devoted to his family...We made it, Dad. The race is over. Now, it's time to smell the roses."

🐶 

Today’s story was written by yours truly.

If you know someone else who might find this story inspiring, please share it and encourage them to subscribe:

And remember, there are 300+ underdog stories over on my website, Joker Mag. Here are two you might’ve missed:

• The Real Story of Mike Flynt: The 59-Year-Old College Football Player

• 5’6” Jett Williams is the Shortest First-Round Draft Pick in MLB History

Thanks for all of your support! Joker Mag wouldn’t exist without you.

Til next time,
Tyler

Extra Innings…

🌟 Trivia Answer: C) 42 years old. After spending the majority of his professional career in the Negro Leagues, Paige finally made his MLB debut in the year 1948. In his “rookie” season, he went 6-1 with a 2.48 ERA.

🎮 I’ve heard that an MLB lockout is looming, but I didn’t understand all of the reasons why…until I played this game. It’s a retro-style simulator that drops you right into the shoes of the commissioner. Can you save baseball? Only one way to find out.

📕 “This book is exactly what every sports fan needs.” That’s a real quote from an award-winning author about my book, The Underdog Mentality. You should check it out.

⚾️ Throwback: There’s a new method of charging the mound.

🧑‍🍳 Something fun: “Today, we’re gonna make some cheese on toast! Yummy yummy yum!”

👀 In case you missed it: He flunked out of college, his girlfriend broke up with him, and he hitchhiked 500 miles home. But he never gave up. Now he holds an MLB record that (might) never be broken.

Happy Sunday 🐶 

The MLB Trade Deadline is tomorrow! If you read last week’s edition, you know how much this day means to me.

Who is your dream acquisition for your favorite team? Reply and let me know.

In today’s edition…

He flunked out of college, his girlfriend broke up with him, and he hitchhiked 500 miles home.

But he never gave up.

Now he holds an MLB record that (might) never be broken.

Let’s dive in 👇

_{TODAY’S STORY IS POWERED BY Manta Sleep}

This helps me fall asleep faster (yes, seriously)

As a sports fan (and creator), I’ve become a pretty big numbers guy.

And since last April, I’ve been tracking my sleep quality with a smart ring.

According to the data, my average “latency” – the time it takes me to fall asleep – has been about 25 minutes over the past year.

So when I first got my hands on the Manta PRO Sleep Mask, I was curious what impact it would make (if any).

Long story short, my latency has improved by about 36% when I’ve worn the mask. I’m now falling asleep faster (in ~16 minutes) and waking up less throughout the night.

We also just got a new smoke detector in our room, and it’s incredibly bright for some reason. But that’s no longer a concern. The mask blocks out all of that annoying light.

Oh yeah, and it’s breathable and comfortable for side sleepers, too.

If you’re looking for better sleep, give it a shot.

Our readers can get 10% off by using the discount code UNDERDOG

Fun fact: by supporting our sponsors, you’re helping me keep The Underdog Newsletter free for everyone. Thanks for doing your part 🤝

Orel Hershiser Went From Flunking Out of College to Making MLB History

No time to read now? Click here to save it for later 🐶

He may have stood 6’3” and weighed 190 pounds, but Orel Hershiser looked more like an insurance salesman than a guy who’d make you look silly at the plate whiffing on a sinker. 

And yet he managed to set one of baseball’s most unbreakable records with 59 consecutive scoreless innings.

Fittingly, Hershiser’s path to greatness wasn’t a typical one.

Long before he became a World Series Champion and MVP, a NL Championship Series MVP, a Cy Young winner, a Gold Glove award winner, and a three-time All-Star, the righty from Buffalo, New York, almost walked away from the game. 

Born on September 16th, 1958, Orel Leonard Hershiser IV was one of Orel and Mildred Hershiser’s four children.

After bouncing from New York to Detroit to Toronto and finally settling in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, all by the age of 12, the Hershiser children had experienced a lot of change, but were raised with a strong work ethic. 

After playing Little League in Canada, Hershiser tried out for the varsity team at Cherry Hill High School East, only to be placed on the freshman squad.

As a sophomore the following season, he found himself on JV.

It wasn’t until his junior year that Hershiser got his shot at playing on the varsity team. Taking out two years of pent-up anger and frustration, he set a Cougars record, striking out 15 batters in a single game. 

Despite his performances in his final two high school seasons, which included a spot on the All-Conference team and among the leaders in career winning percentage and strikeouts, few thought of him as a future major leaguer due to his slight frame and lack of power. 

Bowling Green State University presented Hershiser with a partial scholarship, which, while better than nothing, was certainly not what an All-Conference pitcher was hoping for. 

Yes, it was a Division I school, but the Falcons were a mid-major program, and as a freshman, Hershiser found himself on the bench more than he did on the mound.

Uninspired both on and off the field, he found himself academically ineligible, with a 1.2 GPA.

Discouraged, he left campus and hitchhiked the more than 500-mile, 8-hour ride home from Ohio to New Jersey.

“I flunked out, my girlfriend broke up with me, I ran away from home, I started hitchhiking back to Cherry Hill, New Jersey, where I went to high school,” he recounted in a graduation speech at Bowling Green.

“[I] skipped finals week, ran out of money in Pennsylvania, my parents had to Western Union me some money so I could take a bus home to Michigan where they lived. And when I got there, they were kinda mad.”

“My mom didn’t even greet me at the door. My dad said, ‘You have put your mother through a ringer.’”

Ultimately, they gave him two choices: go to work, or try to get back into school.

He took door number two, and he enrolled in summer classes at Bowling Green to improve his grades. When he wasn’t in class, Hershiser found himself working at his father’s paper company, while also hitting the weights.

Putting on some size and strength, Hershiser added up to 5 miles per hour on his fastball. Just as he found in his junior year of high school, his third year of college brought him more attention.

In what would amount to his only full season at Bowling Green, Hershiser went 6-2 with a 2.25 ERA. He made the All-Mid-American Conference All-Star Team and threw a no-hitter against Kent State, despite striking out just two batters. 

Years later, Hershiser reflected on his teenage years.

“A lot of the difficulty in being young, scrawny, not hitting my growth spurt and strength until I was 20, 21, I think it helped. It built my work ethic, it built my passion and love for the sport.”

When the 1979 MLB Draft rolled around, Hershiser answered a phone call. The voice on the other end told him that the San Diego Padres had selected him in the 2nd round.

It turned out to be a prank from his fraternity brothers.

He had to wait a while longer for the LA Dodgers to call his name, taking a chance on the Falcons’ pitcher in the 17th round, selecting him 440th overall.

If one were to read the pre-draft scouting report, they would see such notes as “poor control”, “a weak fastball”, “too skinny”, and “didn’t grip the ball properly.”

After four and a half years in the Dodgers’ minor league system, Hershiser made his debut in 1983 and became a full-time starter a season later.

It was at this point that legendary Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda gave Hershiser the nickname “Bulldog”. Originally, he didn’t care for the tag, but Lasorda believed that his young pitcher had the fierce determination to make up for what he lacked in raw physical talent.

“You’ve got good stuff. If you didn’t, I wouldn’t have brought you up,” Lasorda told his future star.

While he may not have looked intimidating on the mound, his intelligence, competitive hunger, and ability to control the ball justified Lasorda’s reasoning.

Sporting a winning record in eleven of his thirteen seasons with the Dodgers, including an impressive 19-3 record in 1985, it was the 1988 season that officially put Hershiser on the map.

Going 23-8 with a 2.26 ERA, he won the NL Cy Young Award and made his second of three straight All-Star Game appearances. But it wasn’t just the win-loss record that stood out.

Starting on August 30th, Hershiser began a streak that's stood the test of time to this day, pitching 59 consecutive scoreless innings, breaking Don Drysdale's 20-year-old record that many believed was untouchable.

Once Hershiser had tied Drysdale’s record, he asked Lasorda to take him out of the game, but was persuaded to stay in.

When Drysdale heard of the request, he said, “I would have gone out there and kicked him in the rear.”

If that wasn’t impressive enough, Hershiser found an even higher gear in the postseason.

Under the brightest of lights, the Dodgers’ right-hander dominated. Starting five of six games, Hershiser went 3-0, throwing three complete games with an ERA of 1.05. 

Outfielder Kirk Gibson had the highest of praise for his teammate, “As long as we all live, none of us will ever see any pitcher accomplish what Orel has done; he’ll go down in history.”

Two years later, Hershiser found himself on the sidelines for all but one game as the result of a torn labrum in his pitching arm. While he wasn’t as dominant on the mound, he put together a surprising season at the plate, batting .356 in 83 plate appearances and winning the 1993 Silver Slugger award.

A year later, he pitched his final season in Los Angeles. 

Signing with Cleveland as a free agent, Hershiser played a major role in helping the Indians to two World Series trips in three years, winning ALCS MVP in 1995.

After leaving Cleveland following the '97 season, Hershiser signed with the San Francisco Giants in 1998, the same team he'd battled for years while wearing Dodger blue.

In his lone season with the Giants, he went 11-10 with a 4.41 ERA, showing that while he wasn't the dominant force of his youth, he could still be effective. 

He moved to the New York Mets in '99, where he went 13-12 with a 4.58 ERA in 32 starts. By that point, Hershiser had adapted his game, adding a slider to compensate for diminishing speed and power while relying even more heavily on location and intelligence.

After the 1999 season, Hershiser returned to his home away from home, signing a one-year contract to return to the Dodgers. He started the home opener on April 14th, 2000, against the Reds, allowing just one run in six innings.

His final MLB appearance came on June 26th, 2000, against the Padres, at 41 years old – still grinding, still competing.

As to why Orel Hershiser isn’t in the Hall of Fame? It's been over 24 years since he retired, and the answer comes down to what always seems to matter most when it comes to the voting committee: numbers.

A 204-150 record, 3.48 ERA, and 56.0 WAR are solid but not spectacular when compared with the all-time greats. His peak was amazing, arguably as good as anyone's in the late 1980s, but it was brief.

The shoulder injury that cost him most of 1990 robbed him of what might have been several more elite seasons. Hall of Fame voters gave him just 11.2 percent of the vote in 2006, and he dropped off the ballot entirely after receiving only 4.4 percent in 2007.

He's appeared on the Today's Game Era Committee ballot multiple times since 2017 but has received fewer than five votes each time. 

And yet, there's something about Hershiser's story that goes beyond the stat sheet.

He holds one of baseball's most unbreakable records. He dominated on the biggest stages. Most importantly, he proved that the kid who couldn't make varsity, who hitchhiked home ready to quit, who got picked 440th in the draft, could become a legend. 

“I got cut from my high school team, I got cut from my college team,” Hershiser said.

“I made it to the big leagues. That’s my Hall of Fame right there. Everything after that was a great team accomplishment.”

🐶 

Today’s story was written by our friend in the north, Steve Lee.

If you liked this one and know someone else who might find it inspiring, please share it and encourage them to subscribe:

And remember, there are 300+ underdog stories over on my website, Joker Mag. Here are two you might’ve missed:

• Meet The Oldest MLB Rookies of All Time

• How Mike Piazza Went From 62nd Round Pick to the Baseball Hall of Fame

My next YouTube mini-doc is the longest one yet (13 minutes), and it’s coming out this week!

Subscribe to the channel here 📺

Til next time,
Tyler

Extra Innings…

🌟 Trivia Answer: D) Mike Piazza. He was drafted 1,390th overall in a round that no longer exists.

🤯 I cannot find the words to describe this video of a young bodybuilder who you need to see to believe.

📕 “This book is exactly what every sports fan needs.” That’s a real quote from an award-winning author about my book, The Underdog Mentality. You should check it out.

❤️ For the love of the game: After a decade as a volunteer, this 23-year-old Little League umpire just got the call of a lifetime.

👀 In case you missed it: How Louis Varland went from an unknown 449th overall pick to an All-Star MLB closer.

Happy Sunday 🐶 

Wow, LeBron James is a Sixer. Instant reaction? Might be time for me to watch the NBA again.

Now I just need the Phillies to make an exciting move.

The Trade Deadline always brings me back to my childhood, when my best friend Ryan and I would spend the entire day watching MLB Network together, hoping our Phils would make a splash.

Most summers, they didn’t. But, man, it was fun when they did. Cliff Lee in 2010. Hunter Pence in 2011. Corey Dickerson in 2019…wait, what?

All that to say, I hope my Phils make a significant Deadline move and give us hope in a Red October that ends better than the last few.

In today’s edition…

Eight different MLB teams turned him down.

But then he asked himself, “What if I just show up again?”

That question led to the day that changed his life (and turned him into a household name and a “lock” for the Hall of Fame).

Let’s dive in 👇

_{TODAY’S STORY IS POWERED BY Cash App}

What if saving felt as easy as your morning routine?

With Cash App, it can.

Round up your spare change from your coffee runs, save part of every paycheck with direct deposit, and make your savings work for you with up to 3.25% interest. Plus, there are no monthly or hidden fees, or minimum balances.

Save and transfer money whenever you want, and know your money is safe with 24/7 fraud monitoring and proactive security features.

Reach your goals faster with a better way to save that fits into your everyday life.

Disclaimer: Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. See Terms & Conditions.  Eligibility restrictions apply to some benefits. See Terms and Conditions for more information.

After Countless Rejections, Jose Altuve Refused to Take 'No' for an Answer

No time to read now? Click here to save it for later 🐶

“You’re not gonna believe this guy…everybody thinks he’s the bat boy, but he can hit. He can hit any pitch.” – Reid Ryan, former president of the Houston Astros

Jose Altuve is without question one of the greatest players in the history of the Houston Astros.

Yet because of the team’s sign-stealing scandal, he’s become one of the most hated players in baseball.

Boos rain down on him in every opposing ballpark.  To many fans outside of Texas, he’s a villain.

But dismissing Altuve at face value ignores the full story – because overcoming doubt and defying expectations is exactly what he’s done his entire life.

The fact that he’s a household name is an incredible accomplishment in itself.

Raised in Maracay, Venezuela, Jose grew up alongside fellow big-leaguer Salvador Perez.

“He has never let anything stop him, even when we were little kids,” Perez said.

“He just loves playing baseball, and I think that love of baseball really drives him. He always had to prove himself.”

Jose inherited that love for the game from his father, Carlos.

“Santa Claus brought him a bat, ball, and glove,” said his mother, Lastenia. “And every day he would wait religiously for his dad with his little bat and ball.”

Every day after work, Carlos would walk his son down to their local field to hit, field ground balls, and run through drills.

“Sometimes we just had one ball,” Jose said.

“And then he’d throw it to me, I’d hit it, he went back to pick the ball up, come back here, and boom.”

On some occasions, when Jose would hit a long foul ball, it’d sail over a wall and disappear.

“We’d have to go back to the house and start planning, how are we gonna get a ball?”

When that happened, they’d often show up early to a Tigres de Aragua game – a local pro team – and ask one of the players for a ball.

Other times, they’d wait in the outfield bleachers to hunt for home run balls.

They rarely stayed for the full game.  Once they got their ball, they went back to the practice field.

That was Jose Altuve’s childhood in a nutshell – putting in the time and doing everything in his power to pursue his dream.

But what he couldn’t control was his size.

When he was 16 years old, Jose went to a tryout the Houston Astros were hosting nearby.

Altuve was one of 50 or 60 players to show up for the 10 or 11 scouts in attendance.

"So I run 60 yards," he told Bleacher Report, "I catch some ground balls. I hit some balls. And they decide to let me go."

“It was tough.”

But not surprising.

In fact, this tryout was no different than any of the others.

As a teen, Jose went to camps hosted by the Angels, Cubs, Rays, Giants, Braves, A’s, and Yankees.

He was only 5’5” and 140 pounds back then, so he was used to being written off.

The only thing that changed after the Astros' tryout was that Jose asked himself, “What if?”

What if I just show up again?

What if, this time, I don’t take no for an answer?

So the next day, Jose rolled up to the field again, praying the Houston scouts either wouldn’t notice or wouldn’t care.

"They were surprised when I showed up,” he said, “but they let me go and do it again just because I did show up.”

This time, there was a new face in the crowd: Al Pedrique, a former MLB infielder who was a special assistant to the GM.

"I remember our first conversation," Pedrique said. "I asked him, 'Can you play?'”

“He looked me in the eye and said, 'I'll show you.'"

Jose ran through all the same drills as the first day.  He hustled, hit well, and ran the 60-yard dash faster than anyone else.

Beyond the measurable aspects, what Pedrique liked most were the intangibles.

“Altuve was different compared to everybody else. The way he walked on the field, handled himself, how quick his hands were.”

But when he spoke to the other scouts, Jose's height kept coming up.

"The Astros back then, they looked for big players, physically strong and tall,” Pedrique said. “Altuve definitely wasn't that guy.”

Luckily, the veteran special assistant had enough sway to sell the front office on taking a chance.

His pitch was simple: “We don’t have anything to lose.”

They offered Altuve $15,000, which they claimed was all they had left.

“It was more than I thought,” Jose said.

They assumed he’d negotiate, but Altuve couldn’t accept the offer fast enough.

"The smile on his face was like a kid with new toys at Christmas,” Pedrique said. “It was amazing."

Signing a professional contract – even for a small sum – was a major milestone.

But the reality is that MLB teams sign a significant number of international free agents each year. The 5’5” infielder was a little fish in a huge pond.

“[He] told me several times,” Pedrique said, “‘I know I’m short, I know it’s not gonna be easy, but in my heart, I know that I can make it to the United States and go from there.’”

His first chance to prove himself came a few months later in the Venezuelan Summer League.

The minors are just as political as every other level – the guys with more service time or pedigree get the first crack and a longer leash.

That put Jose at the bottom of the list.

“We called him 'enano' in Spanish – 'the midget,’” said Omar Lopez, the team’s manager that summer.

“We had a scout named Johan Maya. Every day, he said, 'Omar, you've got to put the midget [in the lineup].' I said, 'Maya, I can't do it. Not every day.' So, one day, I made a decision. I said, 'OK, he's going to play two days in a row.' And then the rest was history because Altuve took a place, got in the lineup, got in the field, and I think he played for five days in a row and got one day off a week. That's it.”

Altuve never gave Lopez a choice but to keep penciling him in, and he ended the summer with a scorching .343 batting average.

The following spring, he flew to Greeneville, Tennessee for rookie ball.

“I remember he called me his first year in the United States,” his dad said.

“He called almost crying and said, ‘I had 30 at-bats and only 2 hits.’ I said, ‘You have two options: man up and start hitting, or tell the team to buy you a flight and come home if you’re going to cry every time things go wrong.’”

“But that was the only time. He understood the message.”

Three years later, Jose Altuve was in the majors.

Within a few seasons, he was talked about as one of the best all-around hitters in baseball. The narrative around his size slowly faded away.

"He understands who he is," said Hall of Famer Craig Biggio.

"He's not Aaron Judge...He stays within his capabilities, and that's the hardest thing to do for any big leaguer – understanding what you can do and can't do."

Today, Jose Altuve is a 9-time All-Star, 3-time AL batting champion, and 2-time World Series champion.

Now 34 years old, he ranks third in career hits, runs scored, and total bases on the Astros’ all-time list.

With every new accolade, he gives thanks to the man who opened the door for him.

"When not too many people were willing to give me the opportunity, [Al Pedrique] was the one who believed in me," Jose said.

"He gave me more than a chance. He pushed for me all the way through the minor leagues. I thank him every time I talk to him.”

Altuve spent his entire life proving people wrong. But not for the reason you’d think.

Growing up, he idolized players like 5’9” Omar Vizquel and 5’8” Dustin Pedroia.  Now, he's sending the elevator back down.

The next generation of undersized kids look up to 5’6” Jose Altuve.

“I wanted to prove them wrong for the guys behind me who are short, too. Guys who are not really strong, not really tall, guys who are 14 to 16 right now who are very small and want to get an opportunity.”

"And I know maybe after that happened to me, scouts now will think twice before telling someone, ‘You're not going to make it.’ They're going to think, ‘This guy is the same size as Jose, and if Jose made it, maybe one of these guys can make it, too.’”

"If I open at least one door, two doors, three doors for guys behind me, I'm going to feel like everything that I did, it was because of this, and that will feel good."

🐶 

Today’s story was written by yours truly.

If you liked this one and know someone else who might find it inspiring, please share it and encourage them to subscribe:

And remember, there are 300+ underdog stories over on my website, Joker Mag. Here are two you might’ve missed:

• How to Become an NFL Super Agent: Behind The Scenes with Brett Tessler

• This MLB Pitcher Got Cut 3 Out of 4 Years in High School

Thanks for reading!

If you enjoyed this week’s story, shoot me a reply and let me know.

Otherwise, have a nice rest of your Sunday and a great week ahead!

As always, I appreciate your support 🤝 

Til next time,
Tyler

Extra Innings…

🌟 Trivia Answer: C) 1. The guy who did it ended up getting press credentials and reuniting with Mauer in the Twins’ clubhouse 15 years later.

👍 Something fun: My buddy Evan locked down a partnership with a fun company, and it absolutely rules.

👀 In case you missed it: He was 4’10” and 75 pounds going into high school. With no college offers, he walked on to the top D1 program in the nation. Now? He’s playing for his favorite childhood MLB team.

🫶 A comment that made my day: “I just ordered your book for my son!” – Adam Lewis on Facebook

📈 Speaking of Facebook, we just crossed 30,000 followers over there!

🥘 Totally random: I attended a backyard Hibachi dinner this week, and it was so much fun. Highly recommend this company.

Happy Sunday 🐶 

This might be the wildest story you’ve ever read.

In today’s edition…

He was 4’10” and 75 pounds going into high school.

With no college offers, he walked on to the top D1 program in the nation.

Now? He’s playing for his favorite childhood team.

Let’s dive in 👇

_{TODAY’S STORY IS POWERED BY Manta Sleep}

Get better sleep with one simple upgrade

Nearly 1 in 3 Americans get less than the recommended 7 hours of sleep each night.

One of the biggest enemies of great sleep is hiding in plain sight:

Light.

That's why so many athletes, travelers, and high-performers swear by Manta Sleep masks.

Their patented design delivers 100% blackout, helping you fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and spend more time in the deep, restorative sleep your body actually needs.

Unlike the scratchy eye masks you get on airplanes and in hotels, Manta masks are breathable, comfortable for side sleepers, and designed with zero pressure on your eyes – whether you're at home, on a flight, or in a hotel room.

Our readers get 10% off by using the discount code UNDERDOG

Fun fact: by supporting our sponsors, you’re helping me keep The Underdog Newsletter free for everyone. Thanks for doing your part 🤝

How Wade Meckler Went From 75-Pound High School Freshman to Playing for His Favorite Childhood MLB Team

No time to read now? Click here to save it for later 🐶

Wade Meckler had a pit in his stomach.  It was November 2019 when the sophomore ballplayer was summoned to the head coach’s office.

“We want to be honest here…” the coach started.

“We don’t want to waste your time anymore.”

The pit grew deeper.  This could not be happening.  Not after all the work it had taken to reach this point.

Real college baseball.  An elite Division 1 program.

His lifelong dream, slowly being pulled out of his grip with every sentence the coach spoke.

“...we just don’t see an opportunity for you to get on the field this year – or in the future.”

As an outsider looking in on that moment, few would’ve imagined that this college sophomore would ever play baseball again.

Let alone at the same school, for the same coach.

What were the odds that this same kid would end up on an MLB roster, for the very same team he grew up rooting for?

No one, even the young man himself, could’ve predicted the way things have worked out.

Wade Meckler was born in Anaheim, “probably 15, 20 minutes from Angel Stadium.” 

From the time he was 7 or 8 years old, he was a huge Angels fan.

Angel Stadium was the setting of several of his birthday parties.  His bedroom was decked out in Angels memorabilia.  And he went to 10 or 15 games a year, looking up to players like 5’8” Chone Figgins and 5’10” Erick Aybar.

He dreamed of one day wearing the same red and white uniform, playing under the lights in front of thousands of roaring fans.

But reality didn’t exactly match up.

As a kid, he was tiny.  One doctor said he had a “constitutional growth delay” – meaning he was likely to start puberty later than his peers.

In other words, he’d grow.  Eventually.

At 9 years old, while walking up to Little League baseball tryouts, he turned to the coach and said, “I hope you pick me.  This is like the biggest day of my life.”

It wasn’t something the average 9-year-old would say, especially since the coach was his own father.

“He doesn’t realize that, of course, I’m going to pick my own son,” Brian Meckler told Kerry Eggers.

“At that moment, I realized how serious he was. He tried out as hard as he could that day. He thought if he wasn’t good enough, I probably wouldn’t pick him for my team.”

By the time high school rolled around, Wade was only 4 feet 10 inches tall and weighed just 75 pounds.

“I was the smallest kid in the entire freshman class – boy or girl,” he said. “I was extremely, extremely undersized.”

It took everything in his power to make the freshman baseball team.  From there, his career followed a steady, gradual progression.

There was no rapid growth spurt.  No breakout season.  No fundamental transformation that sparked his development.

Just good, old-fashioned, relentless hard work.

“My dad always told me, ‘You’re half the size of everyone else, so you’re going to have to play twice as hard as everyone else and work twice as hard as everyone else to be just as good.’ So I did. I outworked, outplayed, and outgrinded everyone else. As cliché as the word grind is now, that’s how it was.”

As a 100-pound sophomore, he made the JV squad.

The next year, he did enough to make the varsity team.  But not as a regular.

“I was almost like a fourth outfielder type,” he told Trent Rush on the Under the Halo Podcast. “I would start a few games, then I would be on the bench a few games, and I wasn’t playing every day.”

Yet he made the most of every plate appearance, batting .301 with two doubles and 11 stolen bases.

Those numbers gave him tangible proof that he belonged.  Competing at a high level was no longer just an idea in his mind.  And that experience opened the door to a potential future in baseball.

Finding an opportunity to play in college was still an uphill battle.  Sure, he posted good numbers as a first-year varsity player.  But he was still a part-timer.  And his size was still a big question mark.

So, he decided to control what he could.

“I started looking for ways to eliminate competition,” he said. “I took it upon myself to get grades others couldn’t and wouldn’t get, because they didn’t work as hard in the classroom. I targeted the Ivy League schools really hard.”

He retook the SAT as many times as he needed to reach the lofty thresholds of the Ivies.  On the sixth or seventh try, he got there, scoring a 1470.

On top of his 4.4 GPA, the academic side was completely taken care of.  And on the field, he was getting real looks from Division 1 coaches.

But ultimately, Harvard passed.  So did Yale and Georgetown.

“I got the grades, I had the SAT score,” he said. “It just came down to, there wasn’t a spot on the baseball team for me.”

The summer before his senior year, his options were shrinking.  Despite all of his work on the field and in the classroom, Meckler had a total of zero offers from 4-year programs.

No Division 1 or Division 2 offers.  And due to NCAA rules, Division 3 teams couldn’t offer him an athletic scholarship even if they wanted to.

But later that summer, at a travel tournament in Arizona, he finally caught a break.

A man named Scottie Tenen, who helped connect high school players with college recruiters, spotted Meckler from the stands.  He recognized the scrawny redhead from his recruiting video the summer before, and he fell in love with his grit.

Tenen just so happened to be sitting next to Pat Bailey, the associate head coach of the Oregon State Beavers.

They watched as Meckler went hitless at the plate, but showed hustle and heads-up play on the base paths.

On what appeared to be a routine infield fly, he surprised everyone by tagging up from third and dashing for home.  He beat the throw by a split-second to score the run.

In that moment, Bailey turned to Tenen and said, “That kid’s a Beav. Get him to me.”

There wasn’t any kind of scholarship offer on the table, but Wade could come to Oregon State as a preferred walk-on.

In the meantime, Meckler had one more year of high school baseball left.  By that point, he’d grown to about 5’8” and 145 pounds.  He became an everyday player on the varsity team, and he hit .375.

That same spring, he watched from home as Oregon State reached the pinnacle, beating Arkansas to win the College World Series.  Six of their players were selected in that summer’s MLB Draft – three in the first round.

Walking on to a Division 1 baseball team was hard enough.  But trying to make the team that just reached the top of the college baseball world?  Extremely difficult.  Especially for a guy who barely weighed 150 pounds.

“I just felt like…kind of [the] same thing as high school, if I do all the little things as well as I can, I was gonna give myself the best shot,” he said.

“If I don’t make that team, I’m back where I started anyways. So, I ran the bases hard. I tried to show off my speed, tried to play good defense…I wasn’t striking out; I was walking.”

The coaching staff saw his potential, and he made the team as a freshman walk-on.

That season, he was used mostly as a pinch-runner and late-game defensive replacement.  A useful sub at the end of the bench.

In sporadic game action, he collected only one hit in 10 at-bats.

After the season, the Beavers hired a new head coach, Mitch Canham.  Pat Bailey, the man who recruited Wade, stayed on the staff, but moved into a supporting role.

So, going into the fall of his sophomore year, Meckler would have to start from scratch to prove he belonged.

By the end of the fall, Canham wasn’t so sure he did.

“It was a rough conversation,” Wade said of their meeting in November of 2019.

“He sits me down, and he says, ‘We want to be honest here; we don’t want to waste your time anymore. We like you and want you to have an opportunity to play somewhere, so we’re letting you know right now that you’re probably not going to make the team this year. If you want to transfer or pursue other options, there’s no hard feelings, and we’re not going to take it personally. But we just don’t see an opportunity for you to get on the field this year – or in the future.’”

At the lowest point of his playing career, he was facing a critical decision.

So he took the night to think it over.  His mind raced as different possibilities entered his mind.

“I was worried, obviously.  I had that chip on my shoulder at the time where that thought [of quitting baseball] crossed my mind.  But I was more like, ‘I’m gonna show them.’  I considered transferring…considered going to junior college.”

The next day, he requested another meeting with Canham.

“I’m not going anywhere,” Meckler told him. “You need me, and I’m going to prove it.”

In his mind, if he wasn’t good enough to play at Oregon State, he would never make it to the big leagues.

So he kept working hard throughout the winter.  And right before the season, it looked like it paid off.

A week before the first game of 2020, the Beavers cut a scholarship player and told Wade that he’d be traveling with the team for their spring trip to Arizona.

But his excitement was short-lived.  Hours before the team’s departure, the coaching staff was informed of an NCAA restriction.  Since they’d cut a scholarship player, they’d have to forfeit that roster spot.

The 35th spot – Wade’s spot on the team – no longer existed.

“So technically, I got cut twice in the same year,” he said.

Then, 14 games into the year, the pandemic wiped out the entire NCAA baseball season.  Suddenly, his teammates were in the same boat as him.

Some of his best friends on the team rented a house in town.  Wade moved into their attic.

“COVID kind of saved my career,” he said. “I was around the starters every day, picking their brains, hitting with them, working out together.”

With no games or travel to worry about, they lifted weights and hit in the cages for hours every day.

Wade used those months to rebuild his swing.  His attention to detail was, and still is, meticulous.  According to Giants Baseball Insider, “he has over 10 pages of notes on his phone about the ideal mechanics of his swing.”

It started with an observation.  The velocity in the Pac-12 was no joke, and Wade realized he was late on almost every pitch.

"I worked on starting my load super early, super slow," he said. "Where I’m building up energy early and going from there... I started thinking about loading into my back hip instead of pushing off my back foot. Allowing that tension to pull me forward."

He even started wearing glasses at the plate.  Not because he needed them, but because they gave him an edge.

“I have a bit better than 20/20 vision without the glasses,” he explained in a Reddit response, “but the glasses really just take it over the edge in terms of my ability to see sharpness/spin.”

By the time his junior year came and the COVID restrictions were lifted, he was a completely different hitter.

In the spring of 2021, he made the cut as a platoon outfielder.

Early in the season, he hurt his hamstring trying to steal a base.  Did it bother him?  Yes.  Was he going to complain about it?  Heck no.

While the injury cut into his speed, he made the most of every ounce of playing time.  He had some big moments, packed with a lot of firsts.

In a February game against Gonzaga, he entered as a pinch hitter and smacked an RBI double.  A week later, at Grand Canyon, he posted the first two-hit game of his career.

Then, on March 14th, he slugged his first career home run, a two-run shot in the fifth inning against Oregon.  It was the decisive blow in a 3-1 victory.

Across 49 games, he made 34 starts and batted .303 with 10 doubles and 4 homers.

He not only earned the respect of his teammates, but also the coach who’d cut him a year earlier.

Later on, Mark Canham called Meckler, “a guy that’s as tough as they come. A guy that’s resilient, a guy that’s a hard worker, a guy that’s a fighter to the end. Life is going to be tough. But it’s how you respond to the tough times, what you do when people tell you that you can’t, that makes you who you are.”

“20 or 30 years from now,” Canham said, “I’m still going to be telling stories about Wade Meckler and his incredible fight.”

The next season, Wade became a full-time starter and started posting video-game-like numbers.

In 66 games, he hit .347 with 23 doubles and 12 stolen bases.  He walked (53) more than he struck out (49), and was named to the All-Pac-12 First Team.

His lifelong dream became a reality when the San Francisco Giants drafted him in the 8th round later that summer.

The team’s scouting director Michael Holmes said, "We were really drawn to the competitor, the individual; he plays with a chip on the shoulder every time he takes the field."

Wade signed for a below-slot bonus that was just enough to pay off his tuition, since he never received a penny of scholarship money in college.

It was the perfect metaphor: nothing was ever handed to him.

“I always had extreme confidence that I was going to be a professional baseball player,” Meckler said. “When you’ve been through the struggle and adversity, you know you can take on any challenge.”

Pro ball is a step above college – even for top D1 players.  Usually there’s an adjustment period.  But in his first 23 games of pro baseball, Meckler’s numbers actually improved.

Across rookie ball and Low-A, he hit .367 with 11 doubles and posted a .500 on-base percentage.

In 2023, he rose from High-A to Triple-A, putting up a combined .371 batting average and .456 on-base percentage.

On August 14th, he got the call to make his MLB debut with the Giants.

But it turned out to be a “cup of coffee”.  He played in 20 games before being sent back down.

Ultimately, Wade spent the next two full seasons battling injuries that prevented him from reaching the big leagues again.  Then, right before Christmas of 2025, the Giants designated him for assignment.

He spent the holidays facing an uncertain future.

Then, a week into the new year, the Angels claimed him off waivers.

“I was excited,” Meckler said.

“Obviously, it was really cool to have an opportunity to play for your favorite team growing up – your childhood team.”

After beginning the 2026 season in Double-A, he once again made quick work of minor league pitching.

On May 22nd, he earned his first big league call-up in three years.  And on the first pitch of his first at-bat for the team he grew up rooting for, he launched a three-run home run into the right-field seats.

The stadium erupted as he rounded the bases – 32,000 Angels fans on their feet, his parents right alongside them in the chaos of the crowd.

Every kid imagines that very moment when they’re playing wiffle ball in their backyard.  Wade Meckler lived it.

But he will never let himself get too high or too low.

“The game’s fickle…you have to have self-belief that, ‘Yeah, I am here for a reason, and I am one of the best players in the world.’  But you can’t get caught up in that.  The second that you start thinking that you’re better than you are, or you’re worse than you are, the game will punish you.”

“You do have to have a little bit of respect for how difficult the game is, but also have the confidence to know that you do belong up here.”

He carried the momentum from that first swing through mid-July, when he entered the All-Star break slashing .307/.376/.417 with 8 doubles and 2 homers.

With some time off in the midst of a breakout season, it would make sense to take a step back and reflect on how far he’s come.  Or look ahead to the future.

But that’s not the mentality that got Wade Meckler here.

“Obviously, there are dreams and goals,” Wade said.  “I’d love to win a World Series, I’d love to be an All-Star, I’d love to play 10 years in the big leagues.  But those are all macro things that you take care of by taking care of the day.”

“Baseball is an accumulation of 162 games, and they’re each individual events.  So, if you take care of each game, then good things are gonna happen…I try to just think about that day and the game that I’m playing in.”

🐶 

Today’s story was written by yours truly.

If you liked this one and know someone else who might find it inspiring, please share it and encourage them to subscribe:

And remember, there are 300+ underdog stories over on my website, Joker Mag. Here are two you might’ve missed:

• How 5’5” Freddie Patek Went from the Air Force to the Major Leagues

• How Billy Wagner Went From Division 3 Walk-On to Baseball Hall of Fame

Why not tell a friend about today’s story (and encourage them to subscribe)?

Your support means more to me than words can express. Thank you for being here 🤝 

Til next time,
Tyler

Extra Innings…

🌟 Trivia Answer: D) Jordan Walker. He might’ve started slow, but he’s breaking out in his 4th MLB season. And he just made a crazy last-second comeback to win the Home Run Derby.

😮 Wow: 315 pounds. No excuses.

🍿 This new movie is an underdog story within an underdog story. Watch the trailer, and you’ll see what I mean.

👀 In case you missed it: He was a 449th overall pick from an obscure D2 school who made it to the big leagues. Then, it all fell apart. Here’s the story of his journey back to relevance (and dominance) that led to his first All-Star selection.

Happy Sunday 🐶 

I’m so excited for the MLB All-Star break, especially since it’s happening right in my neck of the woods (Philadelphia)! While I couldn’t secure tickets to the Home Run Derby, I will be rooting for a Schwarber vs. Harper final round.

As for the All-Star Game itself, there are quite a few non-Phillies I’ll be cheering for, including the guy I’m covering in this very email.

In today’s edition…

He was a 449th overall pick from an obscure D2 school who made it to the big leagues.

Then, it all fell apart.

Here’s the story of his journey back to relevance (and dominance) that led to his first All-Star selection.

Let’s dive in 👇

_{TODAY’S STORY IS POWERED BY: You} 🫵

You’re the reason this thing exists.

Over the past few years, Joker Mag has become the internet’s favorite place for underdog stories in sports. And it’s 100% free for everyone!

If our stories have ever made your day a little better, consider making a one-time contribution today.

Your support helps me publish more stories, grow this community, and inspire more people through the power of the underdog mentality.

Can’t swing it right now? No worries. Here are some free & easy ways to support:

• Forward this newsletter to a friend 📧 

• Subscribe to my YouTube channel 📺

• Share a story with someone who might like it 🗣️

• Or just reply to this email & tell me what you like most about Joker Mag 😊 

Every share, click, reply, and recommendation helps more than you know.

Thanks for being here 🤝 

How Louis Varland Went From Unknown 449th Overall Pick to All-Star MLB Closer

No time to read now? Click here to save it for later 🐶

Just a few games into his pro baseball career, Louis Varland was facing a potential career-ending injury.

As a late-round pick from a small D2 school, he understood the reality of his situation.

The clock was ticking, and he had to figure it out.

Fast.

Up until he was named to his first All-Star Game this month, very few people outside of Minnesota had ever heard of Louis Varland.

That’s because the right-hander's improbable baseball journey started and stayed in The North Star State for most of his life.

As a pitcher at North High School (North Saint Paul, MN), he struggled with command. On a good day, his velocity topped out at 85 mph.

“Me and my brother [Gus] were both late bloomers, so we didn’t get a bunch of attraction [sic] to play at the next level.”

Louis didn’t receive offers to Division I powerhouses.  In fact, he only had one offer above the Division III level, which came from Division II Concordia–St. Paul, the same school his older brother had just committed to a year earlier.

“At first, I did not want to follow my brother to Concordia,” he said in a 2021 podcast interview.  “So I emailed all the other D2 teams in the conference so I could play against my brother eventually.”

And…crickets.  Not a single coach replied.

“So then I contacted Concordia, and they welcomed me with open arms…the coaching staff, professors, teammates, strength coaches, the trainers, they were all great.”

As a private university with 5,800 students, the Concordia Golden Bears’ baseball program had not produced a single big leaguer since the 1940s.

“When I first recruited him, he was small,” said Golden Bears coach Mark "Lunch" McKenzie.

“When I saw him that summer, he had added 20, 25 pounds. I said, 'Louie, what happened?' He said, 'I was a wrestler. I stopped cutting 20 pounds to get down to 160.’”

Varland started his college career as a reliever out of the bullpen, throwing 15 1⁄3 innings as a freshman with a 3.57 ERA.

“I came in [as] a thrower, but I didn’t know how to really pitch.”

With a commitment to steady improvement, he made a major leap as a sophomore, chucking 44 1⁄3 innings to the tune of a 1.41 ERA.

And after an All-American junior season, he popped onto the radar of major league scouts.

Still, when the 2019 MLB Draft rolled around in June, he had low expectations.

“I didn’t get one call…I didn’t hear anything; there was no rumor of when and where I should go,” he said.

“So it was all pretty much a surprise and…just pure joy.”

448 players were selected before the Minnesota Twins took Varland in the 15th round – one year and one round later than his older brother, Gus, who was selected by the Oakland A’s in 2018.

In his first year of rookie ball, Louis only recorded 8 2⁄3 innings before he experienced discomfort in his right elbow and forearm. Luckily, tests showed no signs of torn ligaments.

But the Twins spotted a flaw.

“I had 'elbow climb' that took my arm above my shoulder plane,” Varland told Twins Daily, describing his then-inefficient delivery, which was causing pain and restricting his velocity.

He’d have to work on lowering his arm slot to “throw cleaner and easier, and also harder.”

While baseball is a game of adjustments, it’s much easier said than done.  Making the leap from D2 to pro ball is hard enough, but changing your entire pitching delivery? Not easy.

By the spring of 2020, with his second pro season around the corner, Varland was finally getting comfortable with his newer release point.

Then, the minor league season was canceled due to the pandemic.

As a relatively unknown, late-round draft pick with less than 9 professional innings under his belt, Varland was in a tough spot.  He wasn’t on any top prospect lists, and hundreds of minor leaguers were losing their jobs – not just for the year, but for good.

But Louis never lost hope.

“If a Varland tells you they can do something, they will do it,” said Cole Hutchens, one of the brothers' high school coaches.

“If you tell them they can't do something, they'll still find a way to do it.”

And in 2021, Louis did it.

With his refined delivery and mature approach, he went 10-4 with a stellar 2.10 ERA and 142 strikeouts across 103 innings, earning the Twins’ 2021 Minor League Pitcher of the Year honors.

He moved up to Double-A then Triple-A in 2022, posting an 8-5 record with a combined 3.06 ERA across both levels.

Then, on Labor Day of 2022, Louis was sitting in the back of the team bus, playing around on an iPad, when his coach's voice came over the loudspeaker.

"Hey, got a real quick announcement...something pretty exciting."

"Louie Varland, you're going to the f***in' big leagues."

It was the moment he spent his whole life dreaming about.

He’d make his MLB debut two days later at Yankee Stadium.

“It was a complete surprise,” Varland told KSTP Sports. “I was not expecting it at all.”

Twitter tweet

On the 13th pitch of his MLB debut, he struck out 2022 American League MVP Aaron Judge on a changeup at the bottom of the zone. Quite a way to ease the nerves.

All in all, the righty fired 5 1⁄3 innings and struck out 7 Yankee hitters, allowing just 2 earned runs in his first big league start.

For a time, he looked to be a part of the Twins' future plans. A promising young arm with major potential.

Up to that point, his journey hadn't taken him very far from home. It's only a 17-mile trek from North High School's varsity baseball field to the Twins' Target Field.

In three and a half years, he went from Division II through the ranks of the minor leagues, all the way to an MLB mound.

But then, things went south. Quickly.

He started the 2023 season back at the Triple-A level. Then, in limited MLB action, he was considerably less effective than his rookie campaign. His ERA ballooned from 3.81 to 4.63. He gave up 16 home runs in 17 games.

2024 was even worse. In a disastrous 7 starts, he posted a 0–6 record alongside a 7.61 ERA. He was 26, a few years older than the rising prospects looming in the minors, threatening to replace him.

And replace him, they did. Major League Baseball is a business, after all.

The Twins sent Louis down to the minors several times throughout the year, trying to iron things out, before officially moving him to the bullpen with a few weeks left in the season.

Across the 2023 and '24 seasons, Varland gave up 77 earned runs, including 28 homers, in 33 games. The average baseball fan probably would have written him off, assuming he'd become a "Quad-A" player and spend years shuffling through different organizations before fizzling out.

After all, baseball history is littered with former top prospects who just never lived up to the hype.

Who would've guessed that just two years later, he'd be named to his first All-Star Game?

An athletic career, like life itself, is rarely linear. There are plenty of ups and downs. Good times and bad.

It's all about staying the course, putting in the work, and trusting that someday it will pay off.

2025 was Louis' first full season as a reliever, and it was just what he needed.

No longer did he have to pace himself and think about "leaving something in the tank" to cover 6 or 7 innings as a starter. By removing that element from his game and getting into the mindset of a relief pitcher, his fastball velocity climbed from 96 to 98 miles per hour.

In his first 51 games, he struck out 47 batters and allowed just 11 runs. He was a completely different pitcher.

“I’ve found some success, some failures," he said then. "But it’s been fun. It’s fun coming out of the pen.”

Then, at the trade deadline in July, the Minnesota Twins shipped off an unprecedented 11 major league players in 96 hours.

Louis was one of them.

A mere footnote amid the headline-grabbing moves, he was dealt to Toronto alongside teammate Ty France for two prospects. Moving up to Canada was a big shakeup for a guy who spent his entire baseball life – from tee ball to MLB – in one state.

The trade didn't generate a ton of excitement at first, but Blue Jays fans saw his potential when October rolled around.

Varland appeared in 15 playoff games for the Jays, setting an MLB record for appearances by a pitcher in a single postseason.

There were some good outings, and a few blow-ups. Entering in high-leverage spots, he struck out some big hitters, but also allowed a few game-altering homers.

While Louis was lights out in Games 6 and 7, Toronto fell short to the Dodgers in the World Series. Every pitch was a learning experience.

“You can't let what you did in the past affect anything that happens in the present or the future," he told MLB.com's Michael Clair.

"[I know I’m] going to be pitching again, so I might as well have a good attitude towards it, rather than moping around from the previous outing.”

That newfound mindset laid the foundation for a historic 2026.

Through his first 48 innings of the year, Varland has struck out 66 batters and surrendered just 5 earned runs. His ridiculous 0.94 ERA places him among the upper echelon of pitchers in the majors, and earned him the first All-Star nod of his career.

Per Keegan Matheson, he's on a historic path, "one of the best we’ve ever seen from a reliever in Toronto."

"If Varland keeps this up, you’ll only need one hand to count those who have done it better in this city."

The Jays' closer hasn't let the success go to his head. In his heart, he’ll always be the same humble kid from North Saint Paul.

Every offseason, Louis returns home to help his dad with their family business: Varland Drywall.  He’s been doing it since middle school.

“Nothing’s changed,” said his dad, Wade Varland.

“He’s not really big league around here...he’s still Louie around here.”

The first-time MLB All-Star doesn’t take it for granted, either.

“Having your dad as the boss is the best thing ever…I’m blessed to see my dad every day.”

🐶 

Today’s story was written by yours truly.

If you liked this one and know someone else who might find it inspiring, please share it and encourage them to subscribe:

And remember, there are 300+ underdog stories over on my website, Joker Mag. Here are two you might’ve missed:

• Riley Martin’s Road to the Big Leagues Began as a D2 Non-Prospect Already Enrolled in Pharmacy School

• The Untold Story of Bryce Harper & The Most Stressful Year of His Life

Speaking of All-Stars, who is one player you feel deserves to be there but got snubbed?

Reply and let me know. Maybe I’ll cover them in a future edition.

Til next time,
Tyler

Extra Innings…

🌟 Trivia Answer: B) Babe Ruth. The All-Star Game wasn’t introduced until 1933, which was The Babe’s age-38 season. He was an All-Star that year and again in 1934 before hanging up the cleats in 1935.

🪂 “You only live once.” Bob – who has been living with Parkinson’s for 10 years – decided to go BASE jumping, and the video gave me chills.

👀 In case you missed it: As a kid, he broke his right arm twice. But instead of sitting around, he taught himself how to throw left-handed. Here’s how he went from undersized D3 walk-on to baseball immortality.

👂 Got a suggestion for a future underdog story or trivia question? Reply to this email or DM me on social with your idea! I’m open to all ideas – consider me Captain All Ears (shoutout Nathan Fielder).

🫶 A comment that made my day: “These videos are so underrated, keep em up.” – Mark on TikTok

Happy Sunday 🐶 

Big thanks to Manta Sleep for sponsoring today’s story! They’re giving our readers a generous deal, and I’m pumped to share more with you below.

In today’s edition…

As a kid, he broke his right arm twice.

But instead of sitting around, he taught himself how to throw left-handed.

Here’s how he went from undersized D3 walk-on to baseball immortality.

Let’s dive in 👇

_{TODAY’S STORY IS POWERED BY Manta Sleep}

The secret to deeper sleep is simpler than you think

The moment you start taking sleep seriously…everything changes 😴

Whether you want premium blackout, silk soft comfort, or built-in audio for drifting off, there's a Manta for that.

Every mask is contoured to keep pressure off your eyes, adjustable to fit any head, and built to last hundreds of nights of real sleep.

Find the one that fits how you actually sleep.

Our readers get 10% off by using the discount code UNDERDOG

Fun fact: by supporting our sponsors, you’re helping me keep The Underdog Newsletter free for everyone. Thanks for doing your part 🤝

How an Undersized D3 Pitcher Broke Every Rule on His Way to the Hall of Fame

No time to read now? Click here to save it for later 🐶

He was only 5'5" as a high school senior. He weighed 135 pounds soaking wet.

After he broke his arm twice, he taught himself how to throw left-handed.

Oh yeah, and he walked on at a small Division III school.

No one in their right mind would’ve bet on this guy to do what he did.  And that’s not even mentioning what he went through at home.

Here’s how he defied impossible odds to become one of the most feared closers in MLB history.

Billy Wagner was only 5 years old when his parents split up. And he was on the move ever since.

Sometimes he’d live with his dad, sometimes with his mom, and other times with his grandparents.

Money was tight. The family relied on food stamps to keep everyone fed.

A standard meal was only “[a] few crackers with peanut butter and a glass of water.”

When he was 7 years old, he invited some neighborhood boys over to play football in his grandmother’s yard. In the middle of a play, one of the kids fell on Billy’s right arm and broke it.

He was a natural-born righty, and now his throwing arm was in a cast.

But when you’re 8 years old, you wanna play.  Not sit at home.

So instead of waiting around for his arm to heal up, he taught himself how to throw left-handed.

If you’ve ever tried to throw a baseball with your non-dominant arm, you know how hard it is. Which makes his whole story that much more impressive.

"Yeah, I mean, I'm still pretty much right-handed," Wagner said in 2025. "I'm right-footed, as a kicker I punt right. I cut my food with my right hand. I'd probably poke my eye out with my left hand with a fork."

Looking at world-class athletes, you can imagine what most were like at the youth level. Bigger, stronger, and significantly better than the other kids.

Billy Wagner was the opposite.

“I was the guy...grabbing flowers, whatever,” he laughed. “I was that kid. I wasn’t interested.”

Things changed when his father and grandfather started coaching his teams.

Suddenly, there was pressure to live up to the family name – four generations of ballplayers on his dad’s side. He said if he didn’t have them to set the bar, he never would’ve learned how to push and fight for what he wanted.

See, Billy was an angry kid. He wanted what every kid wants: a safe home, a happy family, and a stable life.

With all the moving around, he found his escape outdoors, usually with a baseball in his hand. He’d throw it against the side of the house over and over again.

He threw so hard that it scared his mother and ripped off pieces of siding from the house.

“I was always the littlest on every team,” he said.

“I was able to use that as a motivation rather than sympathy. I was going to play harder and work harder.”

At 14 years old, Billy finally found the stability he was searching for. His cousin, Jeff Lamie, convinced his parents to let Billy move in with them.

"Billy's miserable," he told them.

Jeff’s family lived in Tannersville, Virginia – a farming town with two churches and one store. It sits 200 miles from the closest international airport.

With all the moving, Billy had fallen a year behind in school.

The summer he moved in with his aunt and uncle, he was supposed to be going into eighth grade. But when the coaches saw him play summer ball, they changed their tune.

He was throwing so hard that they worried he’d hurt his fellow middle schoolers.

So the principal at Tazewell High called the house and said Billy would be "socially promoted" into his freshman year of high school.

While they were thrilled to see their nephew so happy, Billy’s aunt and uncle set some ground rules:

If you get any D’s on your report card, we’ll pull you off the team.

That was all the motivation he needed.

Billy got mostly B’s and C’s while dominating high school hitters. In one game, he struck out 19 of the 21 batters he faced.

By his senior year, he was only 5’5” and 135 pounds, but his fastball was topping out at 82 miles per hour.

He notched 116 strikeouts in 46 innings that year. It should’ve been enough to get someone’s attention.

His coach wrote letters to Division 1 programs and pro scouts. But not a single person responded.

So Billy followed his cousin Jeff and walked on at Division 3 Ferrum College, only a two and a half hour ride from their high school.

The financial aid didn’t cover everything, but fortunately, his aunt and uncle loaned him the difference.

"That first year, I gained 40 pounds, I grew 2 or 3 inches," he said. "A substantial growth spurt for me. I went from 78-82 mph to 92-95 mph my freshman year."

Through 51 innings as a college sophomore, he only allowed 9 hits.

He still holds single-season records for strikeouts per nine (19.1) and the fewest hits allowed per game (1.58).

In addition to being a first-team Division III All-American at Ferrum, he played his summer ball in the legendary Cape Cod League. One summer in the league’s All-Star game, he didn’t allow so much as a foul tip while striking out the side.

Not bad for an undersized D3 pitcher facing the top college hitters in the nation.

By his junior year at Ferrum, every scout knew his name. They descended on the rural college in droves, offering to take the young lefty out to dinner to discuss his future.

Then in 1993, the Houston Astros took him with the 12th overall pick in the first round of the MLB Draft.

He used a portion of his $550,000 signing bonus to pay back his aunt and uncle’s college loan, and then bought his grandparents a gas heater for their house.

But even as a first-round pick, Billy still had a lot to prove.

"When I got drafted out of college by the Astros, I went to Houston and met [owner] Drayton McLane," he told Sports Illustrated. "He looks at me and says, 'I thought you'd be bigger.'"

Coming out of college, he was about 5'9" and 170 pounds at the most.

"I'm like, ‘Really? You just spent half a million dollars to sign me in the first round. Nobody told you about my size?’"

Billy carried that chip on his shoulder as he climbed the rungs of the minor league ladder. In September of 1995, the Astros called him up for his first taste of big league action.

"I didn't know what I was doing," he said. "I wasn't a very good pitcher. Didn't know the difference between a two-seam fastball and a four-seamer.”

But by the next season, Billy was forced to figure it out. Houston lost two of their top pitchers, and tapped Wagner to fill in as their closer.

Any pitcher will tell you that those last three outs are the hardest to get. Few are cut out for the role.

But Billy quickly realized he was.

“It’s tough to blow three games in a row and have the courage to go back out there,” he said then.

“But if you go through what I went through as a kid, not knowing if I was going to eat or who I was going to live with, this is nothing.”

That mentality carried Billy Wagner through a stellar 16-year MLB career: 1,196 strikeouts, 422 saves, and a minuscule 2.31 ERA.

His Houston teammate, Randy Johnson, once said, "He's a foot shorter than me, and throws harder than I do."

A 7-time All-Star, Wagner will go down as one of the best closers in baseball history. And in his final year on the ballot, he was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Per SABR, “He rose from 10.5% [of votes] in his first year in 2016 to receive 82.5% and surpass the threshold for induction in 2025.”

A poetic end to an unlikely climb.

“The game has given me so much,” he told MLB Network through teary eyes.

“It’s given me everything that I could possibly have. So, I mean, I’m very grateful.”

🐶 

Today’s story was written by yours truly. And it was adapted from a chapter in my book, The Underdog Mentality: Sports Stories That Will Change How You See the Game (and Yourself).

If you liked this one and know someone else who might find it inspiring, please share it and encourage them to subscribe:

And remember, there are 300+ underdog stories over on my website, Joker Mag. Here are two you might’ve missed:

• Mason Miller’s Path From D3 to MLB: How a Near-Death Experience Shaped His Career

• How a 5’8″ Assembly Line Worker Became a 10-Time MLB All-Star

Some news: today is my birthday! 🎂 

If you’ve enjoyed my work, the best gift you could give me is your support.

That could mean buying a copy of my book, forwarding this newsletter to a friend, subscribing to my YouTube channel, or just sharing one of my articles or videos or with someone who might like it.

Every share, click, and recommendation helps more than you know.

Thank you for being here 🤝 

Til next time,
Tyler

Extra Innings…

🌟 Trivia Answer: A) Jim Morris, aka “The Rookie”. Jim was kind enough to come on my old podcast back in 2019. I couldn’t believe he said yes. You can listen to that one here. We did a follow-up interview about a year later. He’s got a heck of a story, and the 2002 Dennis Quaid movie was just the tip of the iceberg.

🌭 “Don’t just trust me on the data, ingest the data.” This new Sheetz commercial was pretty funny. But I think Paul Skenes might need to work on his delivery (off the mound).

👂 Got a suggestion for a future underdog story or trivia question? I’m all ears. Just hit reply and let me know.

🫶 A comment that made my day: “With your permission, I would love to add this to my motivational Monday lessons. I teach 7th grade and every Monday we start class with a motivational story/video. It’s truly my favorite thing I do in my classroom. Thank you for sharing these stories.” – Shawn on Facebook

👀 In case you missed it: His family lived in a clapboard hut "not much larger than a minivan” during a brutal civil war. At times, they had to climb over corpses to find food. Here’s how he ended up in the 2026 World Cup.

Happy Sunday 🐶 

In today’s edition…

His family lived in a clapboard hut "not much larger than a minivan” during a brutal civil war.

At times, they had to climb over corpses to find food.

Here’s how his parents’ courage helped him become one of his country’s star players in the 2026 World Cup.

Let’s dive in 👇

_{TODAY’S STORY IS POWERED BY Sports Illustrated}

You Could Be Featured in Sports Illustrated!

Hope you're loving the World Cup and celebrating in style.

Sports Illustrated would love to see your photos from wherever you are, so please head on over to the SI Fan Gallery and share them!

By posting, you might also be featured in a future edition of the iconic Sports Illustrated Magazine.

Fun fact: by supporting our sponsors, you’re helping me keep The Underdog Newsletter free for everyone. Thanks for doing your part 🤝

How Alphonso Davies Went From Refugee Camp To the 2026 World Cup

No time to read now? Click here to save it for later 🐶

At the age of five, he arrived in Canada with basically nothing but the clothes on his back and whatever his parents could carry out of a war-torn Buduburam, Ghana. 

Now just 25 years old, that same tiny, wide-eyed boy has become the face of Canadian soccer, helping to bring the 2026 World Cup to North American soil.

Alphonso Davies was born on November 2nd, 2000, in the Buduburam refugee camp in Ghana. 

The fourth-youngest of Debeah and Victoria’s six children, Alphonso spent his first five years living amid the Second Liberian Civil War, a conflict that claimed over 250,000 casualties.

His family lived in a clapboard hut "not much larger than a minivan."

They struggled for clean water, food, and basic safety, grinding through camp life with little guarantee of what would come the next day.

At times, they had to climb over corpses to find food.

Per UNHCR, less than 1% of the world’s refugees are resettled every year.

"The rest either have to remain in the country of asylum, which isn’t always an ideal long-term solution," said author Farhan Devji.

"Or they have to return home, where they may still be at risk from the reasons that forced them to flee in the first place. So, when you think about it, Alphonso and his family were among the lucky ones."

When Davies was five, his family was finally granted refugee status and relocated to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Not only was this a geographical change, but a cultural one as well.

Of all the places in the world, Edmonton doesn’t exactly scream soccer as much as it does hockey or even Canadian football. Yet it was at St. Nicholas Catholic Elementary that Davies began to fall in love with the game, kicking the ball around with his friends.

"I didn't have boots, no real jersey, but I was so happy," Alphonso said.

It was clear from the start that there was something special about him compared to his peers. He was faster, he had more natural talent, and he showed more joy each time he took the field. 

It wouldn’t be long until Davies found himself joining Free Footie, a local youth soccer program for underprivileged kids.

His skillset immediately captured the attention of program founder Tim Adams, who reached out to Marco Bossio, the head of The St. Nicholas Soccer Academy. 

“There was something special about this boy,” Bossio said.

“He had lightning-quick feet and speed with the ball. I knew that was something special at that age. I asked him what his plans were, and he told me he would be playing with us next season. We were delighted.” 

But Davies himself saw things differently.

“To be honest, I was just trying to play for fun, to keep myself active, and keep myself out of trouble,” he admitted.

“I didn’t think I was really good; I was just playing the game because I enjoyed playing it with my friends. Then once I started playing organized soccer, parents, coaches, and other teammates were telling me to keep going, and that I could become something, so I started believing it.”

Playing with the Edmonton Strikers Soccer Club, Davies' natural abilities and skills made him a standout at every age group, and by the time he turned 14, he had captured the attention of the Vancouver Whitecaps FC of the MLS, which presented him with the opportunity to take part in their residency program.

This meant that Davies had to leave his family, friends, and everything familiar and safe in Edmonton to start fresh 700 miles away in Vancouver.

Moving to the West Coast, Davies lived with a host family, attending high school in the morning, with soccer becoming a full-time part of his afternoon and evening schedule.

One year after arriving in Vancouver, Davies, at the age of 15 years, 8 months, and 15 days, became the youngest player in Whitecaps team history to play with the first team. At the time, he was the second youngest player in league history to make his debut.

“For me, he’s a little bit of an anomaly. When he came in, he was part of the U16 team, and within months, he went from U16 to U18, WFC2 to the senior team. That’s very rare that happens, and it’s very rare that it will happen that much in the future,” said then-Whitecaps president Bob Lenarduzzi.

Davies was far more than an anomaly; he quickly became a star.

With a combination of speed, skill, passion, and work ethic that was far more mature than his age, he dominated the wing position, earning an MLS All-Star, the Vancouver Whitecaps Player of the Year, and the Canadian Men’s Player of the Year all by the age of 17.

Within a span of two and a half seasons, Davies appeared in 65 MLS games, recording 8 goals and 12 assists, playing his way out of the MLS and on to bigger and better things.

After drawing interest from multiple European clubs during his time in Vancouver, in June 2018, Davies was transferred to FC Bayern Munich for what at the time was a record-breaking deal worth up to $22 million USD, the most ever paid for an outgoing MLS player.

Instantly, he went from a promising North American teenage soccer player to one of the most expensive young players in European football.

The move represented both an incredible opportunity and an enormous challenge. Bayern Munich is not simply another European club; it is one of the most successful soccer clubs in the world.

For a teenager who had arrived in Canada as a refugee little more than a decade earlier, the transition was obviously intimidating.

But, just as he had done many times before, Davies embraced the opportunity with the same confidence and relentless work ethic that he had become known for.

Bayern’s coaches quickly recognized that his athletic gifts were unlike anything they had seen before. While he arrived in Munich as an attacking winger, Bayern's coaching staff soon discovered that his pace, recovery speed, and attacking instincts could make him equally dangerous in a defensive role.

Many elite athletes would have challenged their coach and voiced their opinion on having to change positions, but the switch to left back transformed Davies from an exciting prospect into one of the most electrifying players in the game.

During the 2019-20 season, he became a key piece of a Bayern team that captured the Bundesliga title, the DFB-Pokal, and the UEFA Champions League, completing a historic continental treble.

His rise at Bayern was remarkable not only because of his talent, but because of how quickly he earned the respect of some of the biggest stars in the sport. Surrounded by veterans who had won World Cups and Champions League titles, the Canadian teenager never looked out of place.

His performances during Bayern's 2020 Champions League run elevated him to global stardom.

Fans around the world marveled at his ability to erase opposing attacks with breathtaking recovery runs and then immediately launch dangerous counterattacks of his own. Suddenly, the kid from Edmonton had become one of the most recognizable players in international soccer.

Despite the fame and success, Davies never forgot where his story began, frequently speaking about the opportunities Canada provided his family after they fled Liberia's civil war and spent years in a refugee camp in Ghana.

"Canada has done a lot for my family and me. Coming from a refugee camp to where I am now, it's unbelievable."

But those weren’t just words for the cameras and the mics.

In November 2022, before Canada took to the pitch for their first World Cup match in 36 years, Davies posted a raw, authentic message that captured the hearts of even the most casual fan:

“A kid born in a refugee camp wasn’t supposed to make it. But here we are GOING TO THE WORLD CUP. Don’t let no one tell you that your dreams are unrealistic. KEEP DREAMING. KEEP ACHIEVING.”

Just 67 seconds into Canada's second group stage match against Croatia, Davies directed a Tajon Buchanan cross with a leaping header and put it in the net, scoring Canada's first-ever goal at a men's World Cup.

The country lost that match 4-1 and exited the group stage without a win, but something had changed. Davies had written himself into Canadian sports history, and the goal gave an entire generation of young Canadian kids something to look forward to.

Coach John Herdman said it best following the tournament, “They’ve seen Davies score against Croatia, and they know we are, I nearly said it, yeah, we’re a football country. We’re there. And you can’t deny that. No one can.”

Four years later, Davies has found himself as the unofficial host of the Canadian component of the 2026 World Cup.

Just eight years ago, a 17-year-old Davies, complete with braces on his teeth, found himself standing in front of over 200 FIFA officials and a worldwide audience delivering a speech for North America to host the tournament. 

"My name is Alphonso Davies," he told the delegates, his teenage voice cracking with nerves and confidence at the same time.

"My parents are from Liberia and fled the civil war. It was a hard life, but when I was five years old, a country called Canada welcomed us in, and the boys on the football team made me feel at home. My dream is to someday compete in the World Cup. The people of North America have always welcomed me, and if given the opportunity, I know they'll welcome you.”

A journey that started in a refugee camp in Ghana, passed through Edmonton and Vancouver, travelled back overseas to Munich, and has made its way back to Canadian soil.

A home World Cup. A Canadian crowd. And the face of the whole thing is a 25-year-old man who stood in front of the world at 17, braces on his teeth, and told them his dream was to someday compete in the World Cup. 

That dream is here. And so is he.

"I'm so grateful to my parents. Life wasn't easy back then, but my parents brought our family to a safe country. If they had not had the courage to leave Africa, I would never have been a pro footballer."

🐶 

Today’s story was written by our friend in the north, Steve Lee 🇨🇦 

If you liked this one and know someone else who might find it inspiring, please share it and encourage them to subscribe:

And remember, there are 300+ underdog stories over on my website, Joker Mag. Here are two you might’ve missed:

• Riley Martin’s Road to the Big Leagues Began as a D2 Non-Prospect Already Enrolled in Pharmacy School

• Anthony Robles: The One-Legged Wrestler Who Showed The World That Anything is Possible

Thanks for reading!

Is there a specific underdog story you want us to cover in a future newsletter, YouTube video, or Instagram Reel?

Reply and let me know.

See ya next Sunday 🤝 

Til next time,
Tyler

Extra Innings…

🌟 Trivia Answer: A) Domingo Germán. Only 12,479 fans were in attendance at the Oakland Coliseum to witness it.

⚽️ “It was like 800 quid!” Listen to this 6-year-old Scottish fan describe the high ticket prices for Boston Fan Fest (at least he got his Doritos)

🏃‍♂️ Elijah Gentry recapped his insane underdog story in this inspiring Instagram video – thanks for sharing this with me, Catilin!

👀 In case you missed it: Why a stud college athlete passed up the #1 overall pick to turn pro in a different sport.

🫶 A comment that made my day: “I subscribe to your channel due to a video of high intellect and knowledge” – @yssMLB on YouTube

Happy Sunday 🐶 

We’re nearing the halfway point of 2026 (aka halftime).

Which means it’s basically the two-minute warning. A time to pause, reflect, and think about how we can maximize the rest of the time on the clock.

So instead of the usual featured story, let’s run through a quick two-minute drill recapping our top underdog stories of the year.

• Top 2 stories

• Top 2 mini-docs

• Top 2 shorts

Let’s dive in 👇

🗞️ 2 Stories You Loved the Most

The best (written) stories you all have enjoyed the most so far this year…

🏈 Mike Macdonald never played college football, had zero legacy connections, and climbed the ladder the hard way – from volunteer grad assistant, to intern, to one of the NFL’s youngest head coaches (and now, a Super Bowl champion).

💪 He was only a 5'4", 119-pound high school freshman – and that's only because he was wearing ankle weights. By the end of his final high school game, he had zero college offers. Here's how he became an NFL star and Super Bowl MVP.

🍿 2 Mini-Docs You Ate Up

Settle in on a comfy couch and get your popcorn ready…

⚾️ The $4,000 prospect who shocked MLB scouts (9:58)

👁️ He took a fastball to the face…then did the impossible (7:24)

🍿 2 Shorts That Hooked Your Attention

Two quick hits under two minutes each…

🍔 This guy went from working at Burger King to playing in the NFL (1:53)

🏀 The forgotten 13-year-old who changed the game of basketball forever (1:27)

Whether this is your first or 101st Underdog Newsletter, thank you for being here.

Your kind words and support are what keep me going!

Talk soon 🤝 

Til next time,
Tyler

Extra Innings…

🌟 Trivia Answer: A) Golf. “Hawk” left MLB mid-season to pursue a career in pro golf and ended up on the PGA Tour. He later became the famed White Sox announcer we all know and love. “You can put it on the board…YES!”

🔥 Speaking of halftime, I was interviewed on my friend Ryan’s podcast, Halftime Heroes, a year ago. Crazy to listen back and see how much Joker Mag has grown since then.

👀 Fun fact: More than 18,000,000 people have read or watched our underdog stories across all social channels so far this year. That’s a pretty big number! Here’s to many, many more 🥂 

🐶 Why “Joker Mag”? Here’s the real story behind our mascot.

Happy Sunday 🐶 

In today’s edition…

He experienced unimaginable tragedy while going to school 1,100 miles from home.

After graduation, pro teams wanted nothing to do with him.

He spent 3 years out of football.

Now he’s writing one of the best underdog stories in the NFL.

Let’s dive in 👇

_{TODAY’S STORY IS POWERED BY: The Underdog Mentality}

They’re calling it “the perfect summer read.”

Picture this: You’re lounging by the pool with a cold beverage.

You reach into your bag and pull out a book that you simply cannot put down.

It’s called The Underdog Mentality: Sports Stories That Will Change How You See the Game (and Yourself).

And by the time you finish it, you’re more than entertained. You’re thinking differently.

One reader calls it “One of the coolest sports books I’ve read. Really helped me reshape how I approach situations in my life.”

Another says it’s a “fantastic book full of well-written, inspiring sports stories.”

Grab your copy below and enjoy the best read of your summer!

Thank you for supporting my work. None of this is possible without you 🤝

After 3 Years Out of Football, Josh Butler Authored One of the Best Comeback Stories in the NFL

No time to read now? Click here to save it for later 🐶

“Never let the past hold you back.”

Born in Dallas, Texas, Josh Butler played football at West Mesquite High School.

He became a starter as a junior and evolved into one of the nation’s top cornerback prospects.

Ranked 25th by Rivals and 28th by ESPN, there was no shortage of interest from college scouts.

But issues at home narrowed his choices.

Butler’s parents split up.  Things got so bad that he jumped between living with friends and relatives.

His paternal grandmother had died and his dad was spiraling.

As his senior year approached, Josh decided to attend college far away from home.

Not only to escape the issues but to reach his full potential.

He saw too many friends stick around their hometown and, in his view, keep their vision small.

"I didn't want people to say, 'Dang, he could have been somebody,'" Josh told ESPN.

His offers included Clemson, Texas A&M, and Washington.  But Michigan State captured his attention the most.

During that time, the Spartans program had churned out NFL corners like Darqueze Dennard and Trae Waynes.  Josh wanted to be next.

It was also the right distance from home.

For his unofficial visit, Josh took a 49-hour bus trip to East Lansing.

After 1,100 miles alone on a Greyhound bus, he knew Michigan State was the place for him.

"When all the coaches are together, it's something you just feel,” he said at the time.

“It's not something you can really explain, but you feel it.”

After taking a redshirt year to beef up, Josh played in every game – mostly on special teams – in 2016.

2017 was going to be his year.  He'd worked his way up the depth chart and had a real chance to become a starting corner.

But after starting the first three games of the 2017 season, Josh got banged up.

When he was healthy enough to come back, he got great news: coaches wanted him to start a critical road game at Penn State.

On the morning of the game, though, they received a terrible phone call.

Josh’s dad died of a heart attack at 51 years old.

His old high school coach called the Michigan State staff and told them the best thing would be to wait until after the game to tell Josh.

After a long debate, the MSU coaches agreed it’s what his dad would’ve wanted.

So defensive backs coach Harlon Barnett ran down to the team’s meeting room to try to grab Josh’s phone before anyone could tell him what happened.

When he got there, it was too late.

Josh was in the corner, sobbing, surrounded by his teammates.

Barnett pulled him in for a hug.

"It felt like we hugged for a half hour," the coach said.

"We just cried. I tried to comfort him. That was one of the toughest days of my coaching career."

MSU coaches left it up to Josh – he could play that night or sit out.

Josh decided his dad would have wanted him to start the Penn State game.

So he suited up and played most of the first quarter before a lightning storm forced a weather delay.

During the hours of downtime, Josh found himself checking his phone, responding to condolences, and reflecting on life without his father.

The coaches eventually decided to pull him from the game and let him go home.

“I played in his honor that day, then left school to make his funeral arrangements,” Josh wrote.

In the spring of 2019, Josh got word that his mom’s breast cancer had returned.

“She was on hospice and everything. I drove down and spent the rest of my time that I had with her.”

He got home to Dallas in time to see her before she passed away.

It felt beyond cruel.

In 17 months, Josh lost both of his parents.

“I most definitely was a boy before. But now, I feel like I’m a grown man,” he said before his senior season.

“I’m just more focused than ever…I just feel like I’ve got a lot more passion, a lot more fight…Everything I want to do, I’ll just put my mind to it and make it happen.”

Every game, Josh wore his dad’s crematory tag on a chain around his neck, not far from a tattoo of a pink ribbon to remember his mother.

His senior season was the best of his college career.

In 13 games, Josh totaled a career-high 25 tackles and tied for second on the team with 5 pass breakups.

On his Senior Day at Michigan State – a day for senior players and their family members to share a moment – Josh made national news.

With both his parents beside him in spirit, Josh was escorted onto the field by his two dogs – Roxy and Remi.

“I just walked with them because I feel like they were with me through all the hard times, all the trauma, and just being there as my support animals…just being there for me throughout my whole college career.”

The moment captured the hearts of all 51,366 fans in attendance and millions more who saw the viral clip online.

"It just feels great to know that someone out there, even though I don't really know them, really genuinely cares about me and will check up on me.”

One of those people was Eadie Harley, an Underdog Newsletter subscriber.

“Josh was such a nice young man,” she told me.

“My son, granddaughter and I attended the December 2019 Football Bash…[As] we were leaving, I saw Josh walking toward us. I said ‘Hi Josh’ and he threw his arms open and gave me a big hug! He didn't know me but greeted me like I was family!”

Butler overcame more adversity than almost anyone off the field. Yet he still managed to become a productive college player along the way.

“A lot of times, I wanted to give up,” he wrote. “I battled with depression and started to struggle in football.”

“However, I kept my faith in God and continued to tell myself that I would make my parents proud.”

While he was a valuable college player, the NFL requires another level of production.

When the draft rolled around in the spring of 2020, Josh Butler never heard his name.  Even as an undrafted free agent, his phone never rang.

Instead of sitting around and feeling bad for himself, he picked up and moved to Los Angeles.

COVID ruled out most opportunities to keep playing football.

So he started posting on social media, often as a supporting cast member to his now-famous canines, Roxy and Remi.

His following grew – 3.3 million on TikTok and 370K on Instagram – and led to opportunities off the field, like acting and music.

In 2021, he made an appearance on the Netflix show All American.  A year later, he released his debut R&B album, The Motive.

“You don’t have to be limited to one thing,” he told CBS Texas.  “You have one life, so you might as well enjoy it.”

All the while, he kept putting feelers out to various football leagues.

“I was trying to go to camps,” he said in an interview.

“I tried to do the Fan Controlled league, I tried to go overseas to Germany, I tried to do Mexico, and those opportunities didn’t work out.”

Finally, in early 2023, his phone rang.

“I don’t know why I was up.  I was tired, but I was up.”

It was 3 AM in California, but he answered the call from a number he didn’t recognize.

“Josh, this is Steve Kazor from the Michigan Panthers in the USFL. Are you still interested in playing football?"

What were the chances?

Josh didn’t even have an agent at the time.  One of the team’s scouts found his highlight tape on Facebook.

"You never know who's watching," Josh said later.

He’d waited nearly three years for that call.  So he packed his bags, loaded his dogs into his truck, and drove to Detroit.

Josh became an immediate starter and was a key defensive player on a Panthers team that finished second in its division.

The Dallas Cowboys sent a scout to one of their games, and they called Josh after the season.

After his tryout went well, Dallas offered him a practice squad contract.

A few years earlier, he thought his playing days were over.  Now he was joining an NFL team.

“Dallas has a lot of tough memories for me," he said.

"But it also is home. And now I have a chance to make some new, good memories here with the Cowboys."

He showed out in the 2023 preseason with nine tackles and two pass breakups.

While it wasn’t good enough to make the 53-man roster, he signed a reserve/future contract before being waived in August.

A day later, he returned to their practice squad.

Josh spent a year and a half as a practice squad player before finally getting the call to the active roster in November 2024.

He made his NFL debut on special teams in Week 9 – four and a half years after going undrafted out of college.

After injuries in the Cowboys' secondary, he made his first start against the Eagles.

Two weeks later, Josh had the game of his life.

He put up 12 total tackles, 3 pass breakups, and a sack against Washington.

“I can't say enough about Josh Butler,” then-head coach Mike McCarthy said after the game.

“He’s earned it.  He’s had to wait a long time…I’m just happy for him.”

It was exactly what Josh had planned for.

"I had a vision board of everything that I wanted to do," he said.

"I had a bunch of different sticky notes. Every single day I'd wake up in the morning and I'd look at that, and one of them was sign an NFL contract… just seeing that every day, having that motivation."

The following week, Dallas faced off against the Giants on Thanksgiving Day.

Josh recorded three tackles and one pass breakup before going down with a non-contact injury.

Doctors confirmed he tore his ACL, ending his season just as it was getting started.

It was devastating.

But there was zero doubt in Josh’s mind that he’d come back stronger than ever.

He always does.

“It's a lot of ups and a lot of downs, but it's always how you look at it. It's always a perspective," Josh said.

"There's a negative side and a positive side. You can definitely go down that negative road and you let it finish you off, or you can always think on that positive side.”

You can follow Josh’s road to recovery on his YouTube channel, JoshButlerTV.

🐶 

Today’s story was written by yours truly.

If you liked this one and know someone else who might find it inspiring, please share it and encourage them to subscribe:

And remember, there are 300+ underdog stories over on my website, Joker Mag. Here are two you might’ve missed:

• How Efe Obada Survived Childhood Abandonment & Homelessness on His Journey to the NFL

• On His Way to the Super Bowl, Mike Macdonald Almost Walked Away from Coaching

Thanks for reading!

Is there an underdog story you want me to cover in a future newsletter, YouTube video, or Instagram Reel? Reply and let me know.

See you next Sunday 🤝 

Til next time,
Tyler

Extra Innings…

🌟 Trivia Answer: D) 81 games! The Cincinnati Red Stockings were baseball’s first all-professional team, and they technically won straight 130 games. But only 81 were official contests, with the other 49 being exhibition games. The Brooklyn Atlantics broke the streak with an 8-7 extra innings win. You can check out the Red Stockings’ full timeline here.

👀 In case you missed it: Doctors said he’d never read, write, or speak. Here’s how he became a world champion no one saw coming.

🏈 True story: “I got cut 4 hours before my first NFL game…”

☕️ Need a new coffee mug? Why not grab one that represents the underdog mentality?!

🫶 A comment that made my day: “Wow!! Stories like this… We need more of this!” – B. Hilda on Instagram

Happy Sunday, and welcome back 🐶 

In today’s edition…

Doctors said he’d never read, write, or speak.

Some even wanted to send him to foster care.

But that all changed when he stumbled upon an unexpected talent and became a world champion no one saw coming.

Let’s dive in 👇

_{TODAY’S STORY IS POWERED BY Metro by T-Mobile}

Free Samsung Galaxy A17 5G

You can currently get the new Samsung Galaxy A17 5G for FREE at Metro by T-Mobile when you bring your number and sign up for a qualifying unlimited plan. This deal includes no activation fees, AND a 5-year price guarantee on your service. Taxes and Fees are included.

The Galaxy A17 5G is built for longevity and smart performance. It is the first in its class to offer six years of guaranteed OS and security updates. Helpful AI tools like Circle to Search and Gemini, bring flagship level-convenience to an accessible price point.

Switching to Metro has never been easier, just bring your number and get the Latest Samsung Galaxy A17 5G for FREE.

Terms & Conditions apply. Not available if with Metro in the last 180 days. If using >35GB/mo. May notice reduced speeds.

Fun fact: by supporting our sponsors, you’re helping me keep The Underdog Newsletter free for everyone. Thanks for doing your part 🤝

How Robert Gagno Defied Doctors to Become a World Champion No One Saw Coming

No time to read now? Click here to save it for later 🐶

“I feel I was born into this world to be a natural at proving people wrong.”

His life changed forever at a burger joint.

While grabbing food with his father, 5-year-old Robert Gagno spotted something he’d never seen before.

A funny-looking box with flashing lights, vibrant sounds, and a shiny silver ball.

In that moment, the earth stopped spinning.  He was mesmerized.

“He saw the pinball machine over in the corner, and he forgot about the fries and the burger,” his dad, Maurizio, remembered.

“After that, he was hooked.”

It was a significant discovery because until then, Robert’s life was much different from his peers.

“He just didn’t feel right, it’s hard to explain,” said his mother, Kathy.

For Robert, just making it through the day was a task on its own.

He couldn’t communicate in words.  Hugs, kisses, and simple signs of affection freaked him out.  And if he was ever left alone, he’d run away.

“I really felt like I had no freedom,” Robert said in a documentary.

“I felt like I was trapped all the time…I didn’t seem to fit in with regular kids.  I seemed to be alone a lot during recess or lunch hour.”

People, including his parents, struggled to understand him, just as he struggled to understand them.

“He’d start screaming and say, ‘You don’t understand me,’ and what he thought was coming out as speech was all jumbled up.”

Eventually, doctors gave the Gagno family a name for Robert’s demeanor: autism.

"It wasn't well known back then,” Kathy said.

"He was a sweet and funny kid, but he needed a lot of supervision. We were always open about his struggles to other kids, saying things like, 'Sometimes it may not seem like it, but he is really happy to play near you.'"

Medical experts said he’d never read, write, or speak.  Some even suggested sending him to foster care.

“No way,” Maurizio and Kathy replied. “It’s not gonna happen.”

With time, his parents found things that calmed their son down.

Bright “EXIT” signs, light switches, and anything that spins – like a ceiling fan – would bring him joy.

And that’s what led to his discovery on that special day at Wally's Burgers in East Vancouver, BC.

The pinball machine was a perfect storm of electric lights, spinning wheels, and contrasting colors.

“It was something I’m into finally,” Robert said, “and I never get sad over.”

It became his way of connecting with the world around him.

What looked like a chaotic mess of pulsing light to everyone else became a puzzle Robert could solve – an environment he could control.

His sanctuary.

"It’s an activity where it's OK to turn your back on someone and play on your own, at least for a little while," Kathy said.

By age 9, other kids would surround him at the local ice skating rink while he played the Space Jam game.

Watching him arched over the machine, headphones on, hammering the flippers, they joked that Robert might be banned from the rink.

He’d play all afternoon on a single coin.

A year later, Maurizio bought his son his very own pinball machine to play at home.

The more he played, the more obsessed Robert became.

Before long, the child who doctors said would never speak was opening up like never before.

His parents nudged him along, working on the sounds and words he made while racking up new high scores.

At age 13, he learned to write his initials.  It became his calling card.

On every machine in town, the high score was usually owned by REG.

In time, his letters became words, and words became sentences.  Soon, he was able to answer questions and hold a basic conversation.

“Pinball helps with my autism because my social skills get good practice,” Robert said.

“I have to practice talking to people and knowing when the right time is to talk and to figure out when not to talk.”

It helped him develop confidence and form friendships, too.

“To me, [autism] should be no big deal,” he said. “I want to be treated just as a typical individual who doesn’t have autism.”

But during all those years grinding at local arcades, Robert had no idea how good he really was.  Or that the world of competitive pinball even existed.

That all changed in 2008, when Maurizio took Robert along with him on a business trip to Toronto, with an ulterior motive.

He’d heard about the Canadian Pinball Championships and registered his son on a whim.

“There were over 100 competitors there,” Maurizio said, “And I saw Robert beat player after player…and these are pros!”

Robert Gagno came out of nowhere.

“They never heard of me, and it was like they got hit, like something just hit them in the head or something,” Robert said.

“Like, ‘What name am I seeing here?’”

He finished 12th in all of Canada.

When they got home, Robert and his dad scoured Craigslist for more games and spare parts.

Pretty soon, their entire garage was packed with pinball machines – Dirty Harry, Grand Lizard, World Cup Soccer, and more.

When he wasn’t practicing, Robert spent hours sifting through online manuals, watching YouTube tutorials, and learning about new strategies on pinball forums.

In 2011, Maurizio took Robert to Pittsburgh for one of the biggest tournaments in pinball, aptly named Pinburgh.

It’s a match-play tournament, meaning unranked players compete against the best in the world.

"The first time I saw him play, I was like, 'Holy crap,'" pro player Penni Epstein told ESPN.

"You felt your heart warm when he did something great. You live and die on every ball like nobody else."

Robert finished that tournament as one of four finalists.

“One thing I would tell anybody if they try new things is go for it,” Robert said, “because you never know what opportunities may present [themselves].  And heck, if you’re lucky, you may actually get addicted to this.”

Robert’s countless hours of practice paid off in 2016, when he beat out the best 500 players on the planet to win the World Pinball Championship.

“It’s just one of the most amazing feelings,” Robert said, “cause I just felt like I’ve hoisted the Stanley Cup.”

For pinball, it is their Stanley Cup.

“The moment he won,” Maurizio said, “it was very emotional for me.  He achieved his goal of being the World Pinball Champion, and now he has his name in the rafters of this 30,000 square-foot building.”

“Best in the world.”

After his major victory, Robert was ranked #1 in the world by the IFPA – the International Flipper Pinball Association.

And he stayed there for over a decade.

"Robert literally experiences the visual world differently than you and I," said Dr. Andrew Reeves, a neurologist at the Mayo Clinic.

"He doesn't see the world like you and I see the world.  He just can't. I can't see where the ball's going to be like two bounces down the road. I don't know about you, but I don't do that. But he does that.”

Dr. Reeves concluded that where most people see a scrambled storm of moving parts, Robert sees one complete picture.

Fellow Pinball World Champion Bowen Kerins agreed: “He doesn’t move his head around to follow a pinball because he doesn’t have to…I watch Robert play, and I’m amazed…I just can’t do the things that he does.”

As his game improved, so did his showmanship.

“Sometimes if things go really good, I like announcing it with a ‘half jacket,’” Robert said.

That’s when he rolls his jacket halfway down his back in the middle of a game.  When he does that, you know he’s locked in.

“It’s just a way of me communicating without talking.”

While his behavior might be viewed as quirky in other sports, it fits right in with the pinball community.

As ESPN’s Chris Koentges pointed out, “Few subcultures in America are instinctively wired like the culture of pinball to see autism as a gift rather than a disability.”

Now in his mid-30s, Robert Gagno is still active in competitive pinball.

He’s finished in the top 50 of every tournament listed on his IFPA profile since July 2023, and has taken 1st place in 143 tournaments so far in his career.

“Whatever you have a passion for in life, you have the right to shoot for it even if people don’t believe in you.”

“The thing I’ve learned is life always gives you challenges, and it’s up to you to fulfill every challenge life gives you…it’s not up to anyone else but you.”

🐶 

Today’s story was written by yours truly.

If you liked this one and know someone else who might find it inspiring, please share it and encourage them to subscribe:

And remember, there are 300+ underdog stories over on my website, Joker Mag. Here are two you might’ve missed:

• How a Small-Time Shark Became a Pro Pool Legend

• How a Blind Baseball League Helped an NYC Man Find Meaning

Thanks for reading!

If you enjoy stories like this, you’ll love my book – The Underdog Mentality: Sports Stories That Will Change How You See the Game (and Yourself).

Don’t just take it from me. Here’s what one reader had to say:

“This book is exactly what every sports fan needs…If you want something to keep on your coffee table for a quick pick-me-up, or to put a hop in your reading step, grab this book!”

Have a wonderful week 🤝 

Til next time,
Tyler

Extra Innings…

🌟 Trivia Answer: C) Reggie Jackson. They took catcher Steve Chilcott instead. Sorry, Mets fans…

👀 In case you missed it: He wasn’t the fastest, strongest, or flashiest player on the court. But his confidence bordered on legendary. Here’s how he became a 3-time NBA champion.

🍔 Happy Meal: Watch this 3-year-old place an order at the drive-thru all by himself.

📺 Can you believe it’s been over a year since I published my first YouTube mini-doc? I’d like to think my video content has come a long way since then.

🫶 A comment that made my day: “Well done. Where do you find these gems?” – Thomas R. on Instagram

Happy Sunday & welcome back to the newsletter that celebrates the power of self-belief 🐶 

In today’s edition…

He wasn’t the fastest, strongest, or flashiest player on the court.

But his confidence bordered on legendary.

Meet the 3-time NBA champion who was never afraid to be the goat.

Let’s dive in 👇

_{TODAY’S STORY IS POWERED BY RefillGenie}

Your prescription refill could be ready in 2 hours.

When you need a prescription refill, you need it now, not in three days.

RefillGenie, rated 4.8 stars with over 200+ reviews on Google, gets your prescription ready the same day you request it. Most refills are done in just a few hours, so you can stop planning your life around your doctor’s timeline.

Fast, reliable, no waiting around.

Your health shouldn’t wait,  and with RefillGenie, it doesn’t have to.

Fun fact: by supporting our sponsors, you’re helping me keep The Underdog Newsletter free for everyone. Thanks for doing your part 🤝

The Unlikely Road That Led Sam Cassell From Junior College to Winning 3 NBA Championships

No time to read now? Click here to save it for later 🐶

Like many of the athletes featured on Joker Mag, Sam Cassell’s story isn’t about being the most talented or having an easy path to success.

It’s about his resilience, about a kid coming back to prove doubters wrong.

It’s about a young man who didn’t take a direct route through college. A player who bookended his solid, but unspectacular career with NBA titles (with a third one thrown in during his second year).

It’s about the “big balls dance.”

Born in November 1969, Samuel James Cassell grew up in the rough East Baltimore neighborhood.

With poverty, high crime rates, and drugs all just steps away, he turned to basketball as a way to stay out of trouble.

Playing at the famed Dunbar High School – the same school that produced Muggsy Bogues, Reggie Lewis, Reggie Williams, and Terry Rozier – Cassell was named Baltimore’s Player of the Year during his senior season, leading the Poets with an average of 22 points and 9 assists per game.

While the stats were impressive, his grades weren’t.

In an effort to boost his grades, he enrolled at Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield, Maine, a far cry from the tough streets of Baltimore. It was a major culture shock. From the busy streets of Baltimore to the small town of Pittsfield, it only took a month for Cassell to return to his roots, driven by homesickness.

After second-guessing his decision to leave, he returned to MCI, where he was eventually recruited by DePaul University, but was academically ineligible.

Rather than playing for the prestigious Big East program, he went to Pasadena, Texas, to play junior college ball with the San Jacinto Ravens.

Earning Junior College All-American status while with the Ravens, Cassell also earned praise from Dick Vitale’s Basketball Magazine as the best JUCO player in the nation.

His play with the Ravens grabbed the attention of Florida State Seminoles head coach Pat Kennedy, joining the team for his junior year.

Teaming with future NBA guards Bob Sura and Charlie Ward, as well as forward Doug Edwards, the Seminoles advanced to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament.

A year later, Cassell finished his collegiate career averaging 18.3 points, 4.9 assists, and 4.3 rebounds while leading the ACC in steals. Teaming with Sura to form the highest scoring and rebounding backcourt in the nation, the dynamic duo led the team to a 25-10 record and a spot in the Elite Eight. 

Even in college, his confidence bordered on legendary.

After a game at North Carolina, he famously took shots at the Tar Heel faithful, suggesting their crowd was more of a relaxed, wine-and-cheese atmosphere than the intense, Duke-style environment.

The comment has lived on ever since, used by UNC supporters to fire up their fans. It was typical Cassell behavior, never afraid to speak his mind or stir the pot.

While he wasn’t the fastest or strongest, his confidence and clutch play made him a first-round draft pick by the Houston Rockets in 1993.

Selected 24th overall, Cassell was the fourth point guard taken in the draft behind Penny Hardaway, Bobby Hurley, and Lindsay Hunter. Playing on a veteran-filled Rockets team featuring Hakeem Olajuwon, Otis Thorpe, and Kenny Smith, Cassell averaged 17 minutes off the bench during the regular season of his rookie year. 

His personality was impossible to ignore.

Teammates recalled how Cassell would burst into Houston's early-morning practices, yelling at Hakeem and Smith, his voice echoing through the gym. He had a habit of comically exaggerating everything, a trait that went back to childhood.

His mother remembered that when he got excited as a kid, he'd talk so fast that he'd drool, earning him the nickname "Guppy."

That same energy and enthusiasm translated to the court, where his steady hand and clutch play earned him additional minutes during the Rockets' playoff run, helping Houston win its first NBA championship.

“I remember after the game, Vernon (Maxwell) and Kenny (Smith) were crying,” Cassell said. “I was looking at them and thinking, ‘What’s wrong with you boys?’ I didn’t respect the journey because I had won a championship my first season.”

Although his minutes increased in his second season, Cassell still came off the bench behind Smith. But what mattered most was that he was on the floor.

The Rockets, after outlasting the Utah Jazz, Phoenix Suns, and San Antonio Spurs, found themselves playing for their second straight NBA title, this time against the young and talented Orlando Magic. In a series that saw Olajuwon put Shaquille O’Neal through a master class for big men, Cassell found himself outplaying Smith, which included a 31-point effort in Game 2.

Two rings in two years for a player who spent two seasons in junior college and then was a late first-round draft pick. Not a bad way to start an NBA career.

Although a three-peat was not in the cards, Cassell had proved his worth to the Rockets as a steady sixth-man option who could not only facilitate the offense but also get buckets.

Then came the roller coaster 1996-97 season.

Traded to the Suns in August, Cassell once again found himself moving back to Texas on Boxing Day, this time to play for the Dallas Mavericks. His stay in the Big D lasted just 16 games, as by March, he was on the move to New Jersey.

Three teams in one season.

Whether you see that as one team not wanting you or as a team that does, the instability can easily shatter one's confidence, especially a 27-year-old in just his fourth season. 

The silver lining in being traded to the Mavericks and Nets was that Cassell found himself as a starter for both teams. Improving both his scoring and assist numbers, he became a leader in New Jersey.

Unfortunately, just as soon as he settled himself, he was on the move again, this time in a multi-player three-team deal between the Nets, Minnesota Timberwolves, and his new home with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Teaming with Glenn Robinson and Ray Allen, Cassell evolved into more than just a role player.

In five seasons with the Bucks (the longest stay of his career), he helped the team to four playoff appearances, including a memorable seven-game Eastern Conference Finals series against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Possessing a game that was built on a methodical pace rather than speed, a mid-range game rather than long distance shooting, and a crafty finish at the hoop rather than athleticism and power, Cassell had an old man’s game in a young man’s body. 

The summer of 2003 found Cassell packing his bags once again, this time to join Kevin Garnett and Latrell Sprewell in Minnesota. Eleven years after starting his NBA journey, Cassell posted his career best stat line, averaging 19.8 points, 7.3 assists, 3.3 rebounds, with shooting percentage splits of 48/39/87.

Not only would Cassell earn his first trip to the All-Star Game, but he was named to the All-NBA Second Team and ranked in the top ten for MVP voting. Two more firsts came in the 2003-04 season, as he helped the Timberwolves to their first trip to the Western Conference Finals, and he introduced the world to one of the league’s more memorable big shot celebrations. 

Playing alongside Garnett, whose energy had legendary infectiousness, created a new level of intensity and competitive fire within Cassell. 

“He’s the best teammate I’ve had in that aspect; I never seen a guy get goosebumps. He was just shaking. He was just so intense,” Cassell said of his teammate.

After hitting crucial shots, he performed what became known as the "big balls dance", a gesture he admitted he borrowed from the movie Major League II.

Love it or hate it, you couldn't ignore it. And you couldn't ignore what it represented: supreme confidence in the biggest moments. The NBA certainly didn't ignore it, fining players anywhere from $15,000 to $25,000 for performing the celebration.

Unfortunately, that dance may have cost the Timberwolves a championship.

Years later, coach Flip Saunders revealed that Cassell actually injured his hip doing the dance after hitting a shot in Game 7 against Sacramento in the 2004 playoffs. The celebration created an avulsion fracture that significantly hampered him in the Western Conference Finals against the Lakers.

Minnesota lost that series, and one has to wonder what might have been if Cassell had stayed healthy.

After just two seasons with the Wolves, a new uniform awaited Cassell, the red, white, and blue of the LA Clippers. Midway through his third season in LA at the age of 38, the Clippers waived Cassell, allowing the point guard his first opportunity to actually have some say in which team he wanted to join.

Signing as a free agent with the Celtics late in the 2007-08 season, he rejoined Garnett and Allen, along with Paul Pierce, to help bring an 18th championship banner to Boston and a third ring for Cassell, bookending his career with titles.

While his averages of 15.7 points, 6 assists, and 3.2 rebounds per game over 15 NBA seasons are solid, they don’t scream Hall-of-Fame, even with three NBA rings.

However, Cassell’s story is more about a player who wasn’t afraid of the big moments, one who wasn’t afraid to swallow his pride and take a longer route or a back seat, one who proved people wrong and succeeded when others counted him out and bet against him.

"I make big shots everywhere. I get accustomed to it. I'm not afraid to be the goat. I don't worry about what you (reporters) say about me in the papers. In fact, I like it. It tickles me."

🐶 

Today’s story was written by our friend in the north, Steve Lee.

If you liked this one and know someone else who might find it inspiring, please share it and encourage them to subscribe:

And remember, there are 300+ underdog stories over on my website, Joker Mag. Here are two you might’ve missed:

• Cooper Kupp: From 5'4" High School Freshman to Super Bowl MVP

• How a 5'10" Division III Hooper Won the NCAA Slam Dunk Contest

What sport would you like to see us cover more often?

Reply and let me know 🤝 

Til next time,
Tyler

Extra Innings…

🌟 Trivia Answer: D) Snailey Oop. Though I wish it were. Here’s the full list of current and former NBA mascots.

👀 In case you missed it: The real truth about Pat Tillman’s NFL career.

⚾️ I enjoyed Foolish Bailey’s breakdown of the Athletics’ (switch-throwing?) slugger Carlos Cortes.

⭐️ Quick ask: It’s free and takes under 60 seconds. Could you leave a quick review of my book on Amazon? It goes a long way in helping it reach the right people.

📚 Slightly related to the above: I’m really enjoying the Dave Robicheaux series. If you’re into mystery fiction, I highly recommend it.

🥹 A comment that made my day: “Your shorts are the best on social media! Keep going!!” – Tim on YouTube

Welcome back to the newsletter that will never stop (even for a vacation!) 🐶 

In today’s edition…

The origin story of a man whose name comes up a lot every Memorial Day.

Turns out, there’s a lot more to his journey than most fans realize.

As one reader said, “his attitude towards facing life's challenges stands out as the thing that should be emphasized, even more than his tragic death.”

Let’s dive in 👇

_{TODAY’S STORY IS POWERED BY The Outgoing Co.}

Why More People Are Skipping Alcohol for Drinks Like This

You’ve probably seen the headlines: fewer Americans are drinking alcohol.

But they haven’t stopped socializing.

They’re just swapping out beer for something else.

More people are choosing alcohol-free alternatives like Yapper before their dinner parties, golf outings, and work events.

Why? Because it keeps you sharp, present, and fully engaged (without the hangover the next morning).

If you’re curious, here’s how it works 👇

Fun fact: by supporting our sponsors, you’re helping me keep The Underdog Newsletter free for everyone. Thanks for doing your part 🤝

The Unfiltered Truth About Pat Tillman’s NFL Career

No time to read now? Click here to save it for later 🐶

“Somewhere inside, we hear a voice.”

“It leads us in the direction of the person we wish to become. But it is up to us whether or not to follow.”

Memorial Day is dedicated to honoring those who lost their lives while defending our nation.

In NFL circles, Pat Tillman’s name pops up every year in late May.

Eight months after the September 11th terrorist attacks, Tillman turned down a $3.6 million contract offer from the Cardinals to enlist in the U.S. Army and fight for our country.

Less than two years later, he was killed in combat at 27 years old.

Posthumously, Pat was awarded the Silver Star “for gallantry in action while serving with the 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, during action in Afghanistan.”

“He is a hero,” said Michael Bidwill, then-VP of the Arizona Cardinals.

“He was a brave man. There are very few people who have the courage to do what he did, the courage to walk away from a professional sports career and make the ultimate sacrifice.”

And while he’ll always be remembered for the sacrifice he made for our country, Tillman’s life – both on and off the field – showed us the power of indomitable will.

Often lost in the story is Pat’s unlikely rise to the NFL.

Born in the Bay Area city of Fremont, California, Pat Tillman was the oldest of three sons.

After he didn’t make the varsity baseball team as a high school freshman, he decided to concentrate on football as a sophomore.

Despite being undersized for the linebacker position, Pat earned a starting spot.

And after being told he was “too small to ever play football”, he helped lead Leland High School to the Central Coast Division I Football Championship.

“Passion is kind of an important word for me,” he said in a 2002 interview.

"Whether it’s playing sports or whether it’s just living. Whatever you’re gonna do, in my opinion, you should be passionate about it, or else why do it?”

Despite earning first-team all-sectional honors on defense, Pat was considered undersized for top-tier college football programs.

Only three Division 1-A colleges reached out to the 5’11” 195-pound linebacker.

But when it came to his dream school – nearby Stanford University – it was radio silence.

So in August of 1994, he enrolled at Arizona State University, where he was offered the last available football scholarship.

When asked about the recruiting process, Pat was honest:

“It stinks. Nobody tells the truth.”

ASU coach Bruce Snyder asked him if he’d be open to redshirting his freshman year.

“I’ve got things to do with my life,” Pat replied. “You can do whatever you want with me, but in four years I’m gone.”

Tillman made the most of those four years, thriving in the classroom and on the field.

After his freshman season, he went under the knife for shoulder surgery.

Despite the doctor’s orders to wear a sling for 6 weeks, Tillman refused.

Instead, he made tackles with one shoulder during spring practices.

He was a top reserve who earned more playing time as a sophomore but dialed it in as a junior.

That summer, Pat shaved his head, ramped up his training, and became a bona fide team leader.

In 1996, he started every game and led ASU to an undefeated season, a Pac-10 championship, and a Rose Bowl appearance.

“He was the most ferocious hitter I’ve seen,” said former coach Robin Pflugrad.

“He would bring his entire body on each and every play.”

As a senior, he ​​earned Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year honors and helped lead his squad to a Sun Bowl victory over Iowa.

All this while maintaining a 3.84 GPA in the classroom and graduating Summa Cum Laude from ASU’s W.P. Carey School of Business in just three and a half years.

But despite being everything a student-athlete should be, the NFL had its doubts.

Pat wasn’t invited to the NFL Combine and barely made it onto any teams’ draft boards.

“He was the classic tweener,” then-Cardinals defensive coordinator Dave McGinnis told The Athletic.

Too small to play linebacker, not fast enough to play corner, and not experienced enough to play safety.

“Look,” Pat's agent Frank Bauer said, “you probably won’t get drafted, but you’ll get signed as a free agent.”

By the time the 1998 NFL Draft came, Tillman had done everything he could to win teams over.

Even after a grueling private workout with Arizona, not everyone in the Cardinals’ brain trust was convinced.

Late in the 7th and final round of the draft, one scout asked, “Why don’t we pass on him and sign him as a free agent?”

That’s when head coach Vince Tobin stepped in.

“If we don’t draft him,” Tobin said, “there’s no chance we’re going to get him. Someone is going to come in and offer him more money.”

So with pick #226, the Cardinals selected Pat Tillman – the undersized, hard-nosed kid without a defined position.

Some execs weren’t sure he’d make the final roster. The only guarantee was his $21,000 signing bonus.

Bauer called Pat to deliver the news:

“I told him, ‘You’ll make it in the league because of special teams.’"

"He said, ‘Frank, f*ck that. I’ll be starting.’”

Two days later, Tillman rode his bike to the Cardinals' facility to meet with defensive coordinator Dave McGinnis.

“Hey, Coach, I know why you guys drafted me,” Pat said.

“You think I’ll come in here as the local kid, sell some tickets, and play special teams for you. Let me just tell you this. If you’ll spend some damn time with me, I’ll be your starting safety.”

And that’s exactly what happened.

After learning his new position and memorizing the playbook front-to-back, he adjusted to the NFL with the grit and tenacity he became known for.

Tillman started ten games at safety as a rookie.

He helped lead the Cardinals to one of their best seasons in franchise history, where they won their first playoff game in over 50 years.

“We were still having trouble filling the stadium [at the time],” said McGinnis, “but I promise you, when Pat Tillman made a play, you would’ve thought there were a hundred thousand people in the stands.”

Two years later, Pat broke the Cardinals franchise record for total tackles (224) and was named to Sports Illustrated’s All-Pro team.

But the success never went to his head.

Per The Pat Tillman Foundation: “He still drove to games in the same beat-up truck he had in college. He had no cell phone. He chose to read voraciously and develop, debate, and discuss his ideas with eager listeners, family, and friends.”

When he got bored with Arizona’s offseason workouts, he challenged himself by running marathons and triathlons.

During the same offseason that he finished a 70.2-mile triathlon, Pat turned down a $9 million offer from the Rams to stay loyal to the team that drafted him.

After the attacks on September 11th, he told a reporter:

“At times like this, you stop and think about just how good we have it, what kind of system we live in, and the freedoms we are allowed. A lot of my family has gone and fought in wars, and I really haven’t done a damn thing as far as laying myself on the line like that.”

Eight months later, he turned in his cleats for a pair of combat boots.

After committing to the Army for a 3-year term, Pat immediately stopped talking to the press.

He never wanted it to be about him.

He was just doing what he thought was right.

Today, The Pat Tillman Foundation has invested over $34 million in scholarships and leadership programs for active-duty service members, veterans, and military spouses.

“While the story of Pat’s death may have been the most publicized in the War on Terror, it is Pat’s life, principles, and service that are his true legacy.”

🐶 

Today’s story was written by yours truly.

If you liked this one and know someone else who might find it inspiring, please share it and encourage them to subscribe:

And remember, there are 300+ underdog stories over on my website, Joker Mag. Here are two you might’ve missed:

• He Never Played a Down of Football. Now He's The NFL's Most Powerful GM.

• The True Story Behind the Real Coach Carter

Hope you liked today’s piece. To me, it’s an important reminder of what Memorial Day is all about.

If you have a suggestion for an underdog story I should research further, just hit reply and let me know.

Have a great rest of your weekend!

Til next time,
Tyler

Extra Innings…

🌟 Trivia Answer: B) Pete Rose. Do you think that record will ever be broken?

👀 In case you missed it: This guy turned down the #1 overall pick to try going pro in an entirely different sport. And it paid off.

🎶 Ever seen a modern-day prodigy? I came across 9-year-old Miles Bonham on Instagram and am absolutely blown away by his talent.

🍿 Movie suggestion: Point Break (1991) is a classic summer action flick that holds up surprisingly well in 2026. “Utah, get me two!”

📦 One thing I can’t stop buying: Quest bars. Specifically, the chocolate chip cookie dough flavor. 21 grams of protein for less than 200 calories. I eat one before every trip to the gym.^*

🥹 A comment that made my day: “You really found a niche. Sports are all about dreaming, so your page is very inspirational. I pray that you keep finding stories and sharing them with us.” – Matt Price on Instagram

_{*This is an affiliate link, meaning I’d earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you decide to buy these delicious protein bars.}