A call once came to Christe Boen [married to Jason Mirikitani] and her family about a baseball player who had just come into the St. Louis Cardinal organization with a need “before being sent down to the minor leagues. He and his wife need a baby bed … and they don’t have any money.”
Pastor Jim Breeden and his wife had one that they loaned for as long as it was needed. Jim and Judy Boen and daughter Christe took it to their apartment and set up the baby bed. Judy asked Diedre Pujols if they knew Jesus. She said “Yes. Both my husband [Albert Pujols] and I do.” Judy then told them about the once-a-year “Christian Family Day at Busch Stadium.” Diedre responded that they would be delighted to be a part! So a quick friendship developed around the reality that they were all believers and followers of Jesus Christ.
Instead of being sent down to the “minors,” Albert Pujols had such success that first year with the Cardinals that he was named “Rookie of the Year” in Major League baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals.
After years of great baseball success with the Cardinals, Albert for several years now is playing for the Los Angeles Angels.
Some years ago Judy Boen was sitting by Albert on a Sunday morning in church worship. She brought up with him the idea of her and other of his friends renting a bus to come to see him play in an American League City (since his new team is in the American league). They both loved the idea.
So 2018 was the sixth trip … this time in Minneapolis, MI, home of the Minnesota Twins. Joan and I went in an earlier year on the bus to and from the Kansas City Royals/Angels. (We had our oldest grandson, Andrew “Drew” Hendrick, join us in KC to meet Albert.)
Albert has gone on to join only three other Major League Baseball players who have hit more than 600 home runs and more than 3,000 hits! While they were in Minneapolis, Albert hit a home run that placed him ahead of San “the man” Musial in career total of RBI’s [Runs Batted In]. As he rounded the bases, he pointed his finger to the sky (in thanksgiving) and then pointed to the part of the stadium where the busload of his St. Louis friends were sitting!
Albert always pays for the nice bus from St. Louis and a meal in a nice restaurant, always in a private room where they can share with each other.
Albert gave his story, his “testimony,” of how he came to saving faith in Jesus, primarily under the influence of his wife Diedre. This time Albert was preceded by Christe’s children, Abby and JoJo Mirikitani, giving their public testimony of salvation for the first time.
Albert got up to speak, and said to the group that these young people “… were hard to follow!”
Albert Pujols is a “sure fire candidate for Major League Baseball’s Hall of Fame” located in Cooperstown, New York. He has already asked Judy Boen to be with him at the ceremony “…in about eight years …” from the time of his invitation to her. (Major league baseball players must wait five years following retirement before being eligible to enter the HOF.)
Sports Related Radio Recordings from the past … using sports fame and sports to advance the good news of Jesus …
To hear … “Judy Boen, Daughter Angie: made sports collectors’ cards; player on one side, testimony on the other” … click on … http://haroldhendrick.com/2018/05/31/judy-boen-daughter-angie-made-sports-collectors-cards-player-on-one-side-testimony-on-the-other/;
To hear … “NFL Great Aeneas Williams with Rams & Cardinals tells of his spiritual journey into meaning in life” … click on … http://haroldhendrick.com/2012/05/01/nfl-great-aeneas-williams-with-rams-cardinals-tells-of-his-spiritual-journey-into-meaning-in-life/;
To hear … “Jason Julian played in 3 big college bowl games; later depressed, suicidal; now joyfully focused on inner-city youth” … (See www.urbanklife.com) click on … http://haroldhendrick.com/2010/02/02/jason-julian-played-in-3-bowls-later-depressed-suicidal-now-joyfully-focused-on-inner-city-youth/;
To hear … “STL Cardinal [late] great Wally Moon, author of ‘Moon Shots;’ & his fan club President Judy Boen” … click on … http://haroldhendrick.com/2014/11/08/found-radio-wstl-cardinal-great-wally-moon-author-of-moon-shots-his-fan-club-prez-judy-boen/; [Don’t miss viewing the Wally Moon website at www.wallymoon.com/the_book2.htm] ….
To hear … “FERGUSON MAYOR JAMES KNOWLES: IN 2014 CRISIS, SOUGHT FERGUSON PASTOR/NFL HALL OF FAMER, AENEAS WILLIAMS” … click on … http://haroldhendrick.com/2017/08/29/ferguson-mayor-j-knowles-2014-crisis-sought-ferguson-pastornfl-hall-famer-aeneas-williams;
To hear …” Randy Curless of www.sportscrusaders.org, providing sports camps to church locations nearly anywhere” … click on … http://haroldhendrick.com/2018/07/12/randy-curless-of-www-sportscrusaders-org-providing-sports-camps-to-church-locations-nearly-anywhere/;
To hear … “Businessman Bob Denckhoff leads new ‘Men’s Golf Fellowship’ in STL. See www.mensgolffellowship.com“ … click on … http://haroldhendrick.com/2018/06/08/businessman-bob-denckhoff-leads-new-mens-golf-fellowship-in-stl-see-www-mensgolffellowship-com;
To hear … “Taguchi, Emiko – Wife of Japanese St. Louis Cardinal So Taguchi May 31, 2007”… click on … http://haroldhendrick.com/2007/06/21/taguchi-emiko-wife-of-st-louis-cardinal-so-taguchi-may-31-2007/ (The baseball collector’s card on former St. Louis Cardinal baseball player So Taguchi … some of which are still available … having his Christian testimony of receiving Christ on the back of his card written in Japanese. Missionaries, other Christians, and those on short-term missions have taken them and distribute them in Japan) If you would like cards of several players, contact Judy Boen at 314.403.5312.
To hear … “Mark Oberhauser, wife, 7 children served years in China: now Fellowship of Christian Athletes leader on St. Louis’ Illinois side” … click on … http://haroldhendrick.com/2018/08/06/mark-oberhauser-wife-7-children-served-years-in-china-now-fca-leader-on-st-louis-illinois-side/; and …
To hear …” Judy Boen: busload from MVP Albert Pujols’ Church – STL/Chicago- to encourage and show love him, see him play” … click on … http://haroldhendrick.com/2012/08/30/judy-boen-busload-from-mvp-albert-pujols-church-stlchicago-to-encourage-love-him-see-him-play/.