Book Review: Beyond Belief by Josh Hamilton with Tim Keown

We've all heard the stories about Josh Hamilton. The former number one draft pick of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The best high school player ever. The best thing since Mickey Mantle. Drug addict.

Beyond Belief is the real life story of Josh Hamilton told by the man himself. The legend begins in Raleigh, NC with a six year old local phenomenon and the legend only grew from there. Scouts had their eyes on this country kid from Raleigh before he was in sixth grade. By age 15 there was little doubt that he would be a major leaguer. By age 18 there was little doubt that he would be a superstar.

You couldn't have asked for a better young man either. Hamilton always made it a point to never act like he was better than any of his teammates and always played the game with respect as his father taught him. From kissing his mother and grandmother before every game to cleaning up the dugout after he goes 4-4 in the game, you would be hard pressed to find a classier kid. The spotlight was steadily focused on Hamilton even before the Rays selected him number one overall in the 1999 Amateur Draft. He was now an 18 year old professional baseball player and a multi-millionaire.

So what went wrong with Josh Hamilton? How could a great kid with an such an abundance of talent fail? How could a kid who had never even had a drink turn into full fledged crack fiend? How could he waste so much potential? How could he let down so many people?

The story is almost unimaginable. It is almost hard to read about the bad times and the depths that Josh Hamilton sank to. The dark days were very dark. The lengths that Hamilton went to abuse his body are gut wrenching. Whether it was the booze, the coke, or the crack Hamilton just couldn't get enough. He got himself suspended from baseball and alienated himself from his family. Four years of heavy drug use was killing him. He was slowly dying and getting close to the end.

So what saved his life? As Josh would say, "It's a God thing". Hamilton had reached his lowest point and finally broke down. With the help of his Granny, he came to realize how much he was hurting the ones that loved and supported him the most. Hamilton gave his life up to God and put it in His hands to do with it what He wished. Josh quit using.

The clean, sober, and humbled Hamilton was given a second chance to play baseball and has not looked back ever since. We will never forget the memorable performance in this year's Home Run Derby. Now we see the talent. The same talent that we had heard about for years. The talent that was almost completely destroyed. We see that country kid from Raleigh and just how remarkable and special he really is. In the book, Josh will tell you just how he was able to return to being a phenomenal baseball player and an upstanding man of God.

Beyond Belief is full of incredible stories that will stick with you for a long time. The legends of Hamilton growing up playing ball in North Carolina. Stories of what would seem like supernatural occurrences that took place in Hamilton's life. And of course the thought that this man is now one of the best players in baseball yet alone walking the Earth. The story is intense and I had trouble putting the book down at all.

The story is also an inspirational one. It seems that if Josh Hamilton can overcome what he has endured in his life and still able to achieve his dream then anybody can. This book is his purpose. His duty is to try to reach out to as many people as he can, to try to help and to spread the Word of God.

There's no doubt in my mind that the Josh Hamilton story will be on the big screen one day. I would advise that you read the book first. This isn't just a book about baseball. This book is about real life. It's about strength, faith, and overcoming the greatest of odds. It's almost a miracle that Hamilton is where he is today. He's where everybody thought he would be from the start. He's a superstar in the Major Leagues. The real life Roy Hobbs.