NOBODY'S PERFECT

SALVATION ARMY OF TYLER | DOING THE MOST GOOD LUNCHEON

While many sports fans may most remember former Major League Baseball pitcher Philip Humber for his perfect game, he’s found that recapping the accomplishment doesn’t always make for a compelling story.

“You know, perfect games aren’t really all that interesting,” he said to the crowd at the Salvation Army of Tyler’s Doing the Most Good Luncheon on Thursday. “Nothing actually happens.

“Here’s how it goes: The first batter gets out. The second batter gets out. The third batter gets out,” he said. “Twenty-seven in a row, and then you dogpile.”

Although Humber, who was a Chicago White Sox pitcher when he completed the rare accomplishment against the Seattle Mariners in April 2012, knows his perfect game was an important part of his career, he also feels like recapping the years that preceded that day is important.

While he enjoyed an illustrious career in college at Rice University, his professional career was less predictable and full of highs and lows.

Humber was drafted by the New York Mets as the third overall pick in 2004, but began his career in the minor leagues.

In the 15th start of his professional career, he looked down to see his elbow had swollen to the size of a grapefruit. A few weeks later, he underwent Tommy John surgery.

“Fast-forward to 2010 to a place I’d been before — Omaha’s Rosenblatt Stadium, home of the College World Series,” the East Texas native said. “It was packed full

of screaming fans when I’d been there in college, but the atmosphere wasn’t so electric for a Triple-A Royals game, even on “Thirsty Thursday” or “Dollar Hot Dog Night.”

“Fifteen hundred people in a 30,000-seat stadium was a fitting backdrop to what my career had become — big dreams and lots of potential but nothing to show for it,” he said. “Sure I’d made it to the big leagues a few times, and even struck out my childhood hero Ken Griffey Jr., but I’d taken a serious detour on that road to Cooperstown.”

Fortunately for Humber, his game began to turn around. He began to pitch better than he had in years and would eventually make it to the big leagues again.

While his career took many unexpected turns, speaking to the luncheon crowd at the Green Acres CrossWalk Conference Center he said there was one constant.

“The plan I thought I had when I was 21 years old didn’t come close to what actually happened,” he said. “But the lesson I continue to learn is even though we don’t know what’s coming, God does, and we know that for those who love God, ‘all things (work together for) good for those who are called according to His purpose.'”

Humber was not the only person at the luncheon to share a message of hopefulness and what they’ve experienced through developing a relationship with Christ.

Several clients of the Salvation Army of Tyler, representing different educational backgrounds, ages and walks of life, talked about the dire shape they were in before receiving help from the nonprofit.

During the luncheon, Dr. Henrietta H. Grooms and the late Louise Herrington Ornelas, who died last year, were honored for their service to the nonprofit.

Capt. Bobby Parker, commanding officer at the Salvation Army of Tyler, said the organization shelters about 200 individuals each night and serves about 12,000 meals each month.

“Every single day at the Salvation Army we have the God-given privilege and opportunity … to give hope,” Parker said.

“There is literally someone being served by the Salvation Army in Tyler, Texas, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year,” he said. “… To have any chance at success at this mission we know that we cannot do it alone. It takes an army.”

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