The Ballad of Adam Greenberg

Editor’s Note: In a first for Fashionable Amish, the following is a completely true story.

Despite his relatively small stature, Adam Greenberg was a star athlete in high school. He set the Connecticut high school record with most soccer assists in a career. In 1999, he was named the state’s male athlete of the year.

Greenberg attended UNC where he excelled at baseball. After his junior year, his success netted him a place on the ACC All-Conference Team. In 2002, the Chicago Cubs selected him in the 9th round of the amateur draft.

Early in his minor league baseball career, Greenberg put up impressive numbers. As he climbed the minor league ladder and the competition got better, Greenberg experienced his first setbacks as a baseball player. It looked as though Greenberg would suffer the fate of many aspiring Major Leaguers, who, despite showing great promise as an amateur athlete, didn’t have enough talent to cut it in the big leagues.

Then a minor miracle happened. The Cubs needed an outfielder on the major league roster. Although Greenberg’s offensive numbers were not impressive, he was always an exceptional defensive outfielder, and apparently that was good enough for the Cubs. On July 7, 2005, Greenberg was called up to the Major League team for its upcoming series in Miami against the Marlins. Adam’s parents flew down for the big debut.

On July 9th, the Cubs were blowing out the Marlins, so the manager decided to use Greenberg as a pinch-hitter. It was Greenberg’s first Major League action. The first pitch, a 92 MPH fastball, hit him squarely in the back of the helmet, causing him to fall to the ground. Greenberg was removed from the game, suffering a mild concussion and vertigo. He never appeared in a Major League game.