Ben McDonald, a former MLB No. 1 pickpaid a moving tribute to his late father in a social media post on Sunday.
McDonald wrote on X that he was on the hunt when he started thinking about his father. Suddenly a giant buck approached him, and he was able to tackle him.
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Baltimore Orioles pitcher Ben McDonald, #19, in action against the Chicago White Sox during the 1993 season at Comiskey Park in Chicago in 1993. (USA TODAY Sports)
“I don’t normally share too many of my thoughts on social media, but this is too good not to share. I lost my dad in January…sitting in a bow stand yesterday enjoying hunting season without him for the first time gave me the chance to think about all the hours we spent together on ball fields, basketball courts and in the deer woods,” McDonald wrote “I had a conversation with him, told him how much I miss him and thanked him for everything he did for us and our family has made and the many sacrifices that he brought.
“I had a good cry wishing he was still here for another hunting season or just to talk one more time… 5 minutes after I dried my eyes and focused on the hunt again… there was a absolute giant around… this Buck could have gone anywhere on the 15 acre property, but followed a doe up to 80 feet under my tree… the shot was true as he lunged out into the middle of the property and fell over within seconds!
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Baltimore Orioles pitcher Ben McDonald during the 1990 spring training season. (USA TODAY Sports)
“This was undoubtedly divine intervention courtesy of the man above and #PawPaw… nature is my home… that’s probably where I feel most comfortable! It’s not always about the harvest, it’s about the making memories! This buck will always be known as #PawPaw’s Buck!”
McDonald joked that he doesn’t want anyone to tell his wife he’s getting emotional.
McDonald was a star pitcher at LSU before the Baltimore Orioles selected him No. 1 overall in 1989. He became a fairly serviceable pitcher in his prime.
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Baltimore Orioles pitcher Ben McDonald, #19, prepares to pitch against the Chicago White Sox in Chicago in 1993. (USA TODAY Sports)
He had a 3.91 ERA with 894 strikeouts in 211 appearances. He spent his last two seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers. The last season of his career was in 1997.
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