999 Days After Nick Adenhart

by Rev Halofan on Dec 30, 2011 4:00 PM PST in Angels News

January 3, 2012 will mark 1,000 days since the death of Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart and two others in a drunk driving homicide.

Hey Rev. While travelling on business to DC/WV/MD, I stopped by Nick Adenhart's gravesite in Williamsport, MD, and took a few pictures. Please share these as you wish. It was a very moving and solemn experience.
-Scott Heathcoat

As we look forward to what appears to be a bright new chapter of Angels baseball, we carry the heavy sadness of the past as much or more as we do the great moments. And in so doing, the fabric of what it means to be a fan of our team is woven into a much more complex tapestry of emotion, depth of feelings and a greater understanding for the range of human expression. The truest curse of any fan is actually to reach the highest highs without having touched the lowest of lows. To have suffered and then be redeemed is the only path to glory. The rest is just the ball bouncing on one side of the chalk or the other without ever falling in love.

You won't ever discern just how sweet the sweetest fruit tastes without having submitted to the bitterest root in the forest. Anyone can cheer for a winner. It takes a special breed to be denied what should have been and persevere with a commitment. Call it character, just do not assume that everyone has it in them - not just to be a fan but to stay a fan.

We did, though.

Rest in Peace, Nicholas James, your death brought a deeper meaning to our understanding about the game of life than we might ever have comprehended.

Please celebrate your New Year's Eve holiday responsibly. As Halos Heaven Social Media Director Pattimelt reminded us on Twitter recently:

Save this number... 1-800-222-4357. This is the number for AAA's Tipsy Tow. You do NOT have to be a AAA member to use this service!!! You can call anytime between 6pm and 6am on New Year's Eve, and AAA will tow your car and drive you home!!!

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RIP, Nick.

If the Halos don't care about the way they play, then why should I?

by red floyd on Dec 30, 2011 4:04 PM PST reply actions

Ditto...

by K3YEROUT on Dec 30, 2011 5:41 PM PST up reply actions

And Courtney and Henry.

And keep it strong, Jon!

If the Halos don't care about the way they play, then why should I?

by red floyd on Dec 30, 2011 8:16 PM PST up reply actions

Still so sad

One of those moments that will always resonate. In some ways it always seems like it just happened. I guess the wound is just so easy to reach.

Great write up Rev. One of the best I’ve ever read.

by JeffJoiner on Dec 30, 2011 4:10 PM PST via mobile reply actions

Missing #34 ...

I was just revisiting my photos from day 1 of the memorial the other day.

Also, I have a Williamsport, MD stopover on my DC vacation in April 2012 – want to visit Nick’s grave and play baseball with my children on the Nick Adenhart baseball field there across from the cemetery.

I love this team.

by Downing Rules on Dec 30, 2011 4:17 PM PST reply actions

Such a bummer...

I still think about that game. I watched the whole thing, despite having to get up in the morning at 5 (was working as a prep cook.) Despite the loss, I was so stoked on Nick, not only his talent but being THAT young and pitching six shut-out innings. I was only 3-4 years older than him. I was in awe, jealous, stoked, all things above.

Heard the news the next morning alone in the kitchen on ESPN radio. It shook me up to my core. The whole day at work was so weird and strange. I still think about it and I still got #34 on my Angels cap. In fact, I filled it in a bit earlier this week because it was starting to fade.

RIP Nick…

"The Transplant" (So. Cal boy stuck in NYC)

by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on Dec 30, 2011 5:08 PM PST reply actions

Well spoken Rev

let us not also forget the others who lost their lives that day.

Don't call me Bugs. Although Bugs Bunny could do it all on the baseball field.

by highlandhalo on Dec 30, 2011 6:03 PM PST reply actions

I will never forget that last game.

I was there with 30 of my friends in the RF pavilion for my friend’s birthday. I was so pissed at Fuentes for blowing that game for Adenhardt but that all meant nothing when we heard the news the next morning.

Rest in Peace Nick.

by Persi W on Dec 30, 2011 6:32 PM PST via mobile reply actions

Wow. This still puts a knot in my throat.

Go easy Nick.

Official prediction: The Angels will win the AL west this season.

by RexTookMyStash on Dec 30, 2011 6:53 PM PST reply actions

Was at his last game......NEVER FORGET that game vs the As.....RIP Nick we miss you

From the baseball stand point imagine how crazy our rotation would have been

Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl Champs Tony Romo Super Bowl MVP
-Me, October 3,2011

by KB_24 on Dec 30, 2011 7:40 PM PST reply actions

rip NA

You will never be forgotten..awesome service provided by aaa. They most def will save lives with it.

me and the wonder dog got high!

by YOUknowulovetheIE on Dec 30, 2011 11:45 PM PST via mobile reply actions

Still so hard to read.

Honestly shed a few tears when I heard the news…it reminded me that no matter who you are, how much potential you have, however many Cy Youngs could rest on your mantle…nobody is guaranteed tomorrow.

Tough to imagine that almost 1,000 days have passed. The Angels are home against Kansas City on the three-year marker…wonder if they have something planned to honor him.

GORGEOUS BOURJOS! *clap clap clap-clap-clap*

by Of Maicer and Men on Dec 31, 2011 12:52 AM PST via mobile reply actions

Sad sad day

In my life.
R.I.P Nick

by CaptainCarlos on Dec 31, 2011 1:39 AM PST via mobile reply actions

This is a well written article about a young life who was taken from us too soon.

As a Rangers fan, I didn’t look forward to my team facing Nick Adenhart for the next 6 years, but as a baseball fan, I couldn’t watch this guy enough. He was a great young pitcher, and one of the few Angels I liked. As an above poster stated, nobody is guaranteed tomorrow.

RIP Nick

by Travis93 on Dec 31, 2011 4:31 AM PST reply actions 1 recs

Sometimes it sucks to be an Angels fan.

That day was one of the worst ever. It still makes me sad/angry when I think about it.

by waters96 on Dec 31, 2011 10:01 AM PST reply actions

BTW, great post Rev

And while I mostly lurk, I really love this community you’ve created.

Happy 2012!

by waters96 on Dec 31, 2011 10:04 AM PST reply actions

It goes to show.

The truth that the tough times resonate at least as much as the good.

Not unlike the Pujols signing, this was a time where I will always remember where I was and how I was affected.

by Say Halo to Pujols on Dec 31, 2011 10:09 AM PST via mobile reply actions

Was at the game that Nick pitched.

I was so excited for him. I’d watched him in ST and was excited to see what he would bring to the team that season. I wish I’d taken more pictures of him pitching. I only got one.

I went to work hearing on the news about a street closures in Fullerton. Little did I know what the closure was all about. At work I got a call from a friend saying that one of the Angels pitchers had been killed – she didn’t know the name though. I immediately went online only to find out it was Nick. I honestly began crying. I just couldn’t believe what I was reading. I was supposed to go to the game that night too but as we know it was cancelled. I’ll never forget that moment and well as Angels fans will never forget Nick.

People – be smart – there is absolutely NO excuse to drink and drive. NO EXCUSE!!! If you drink please don’t drive. You might think you’re ok but do you really want to take that chance. What if you end up killing someone? Not only will their life be over but so will yours. AAA will tow your car and give your buzzed/drunk butt a ride home – no questions. Please remember Nick, Courtney and Henry before you drink and drive.

by angelsfan7 on Dec 31, 2011 11:43 AM PST reply actions

Watched that game on MLB.TV

I was so impressed by Adenhart’s pitching that night and was picturing how awesome our rotation was going to be with him in it. I never got to see him pitch for the Angels, but being in the Air Force and stationed at Hill AFB in Utah at the time, I got to see hime pitch for the Salt Lake Bees a few times, and I remembered saying to myself that this guy was going to be huge.

Then the morning after he pitched, I got a call from a good friend of mine and she told me that one of the Angels pitch was killed in a car accident that night and she didn’t know who. So I went online and checked it out and learned that it was Adenhart, and only a couple of miles from where I grew up. I remember tearing up as I read the article. I even just teared up a little reading this article, excellent article Rev and it is hard to believe that it has been 1,000 days since we lost Adenhart.

RIP Nick, as well as Courtney and Henry, and my heart still goes out to their families, especially during this tough time of year.

by Halo1981 on Jan 3, 2012 3:54 AM PST reply actions

We watched the game on FSNW, and were impressed.

Early the next morning I was listening to KPCC in the car when they announced that he had died, and I was shocked by the accident, by the waste of three young lives. It never fails to shock because the young are not supposed to die before the older ones, parents are not supposed to outlive their children.

THIS… IS… ANAHEIM!!

by opiejeanne on Jan 3, 2012 3:21 PM PST reply actions