Andrew (Fergie) Ferguson steps on to the grass and dirt of Maple Field just as any other Seaholm baseball player does. He adjusts his pant belt, puts on his glove, and readies for a round of pre-game the same way as his fellow ballplayers would.
This Seaholm athlete, however, has taken a much different path toward reaching his goal of playing baseball compared to the rest of his teammates.
After suffering a stroke at birth, Ferguson permanently lost most of the feeling in his right side leaving his right hand completely immobile. Although he had always realized he was a little bit different than the other kids his age, he was able to find a common bond between most of his friends through the love of baseball.
Fergie’s passion for baseball originated at a young age and has remained a constant throughout his life.
“I used to go to Cubs games every weekend from the time I was a child,” Ferguson said. “Those games really spurred along my love for the sport.”
After watching so much baseball as a kid, it was natural that Fegie wanted to play the game he loved so much. Although his disability would not allow him to hit or field like most players, he remained determined to become a ballplayer and dedicated his time to pitching.
“I grew up watching Jim Abbot pitch with no right hand, and it really made me believe I could replicate what he accomplished,” Ferguson said.
Although when he was younger Fergie had dreams of becoming a professional ballplayer, recently his goals have begun to change.
“I’d love to coach high school baseball one day,” Ferguson told the Highlander. “I’ve matured to a point where I know that managing is more for me.”
After getting cut from the Seaholm JV team last year, Fergie decided he would still stick with his favorite sport and become the team manager.
Through managing he discovered talents in himself he never knew he had, and potentially found his true passion.
Fergie’s roles on the team included keeping the pitch count, helping the players warm up before the game, providing moral sport during the game, and serving as an overall inspirational figure for the team – a role in which Fergie thinks he does best.
“I think a lot of times the players take their athletic abilities for granted, and when they see me out there throwing with one arm, it really makes them appreciate how lucky they are just to be out there playing the game they love,” Ferguson said.
“Fergie did a great job. He was always on time and did whatever the team needed of him,” Seaholm’s JV baseball head coach Dan Drapal said. “It’s cool because the players really view him as more of an equal than a coach’s assistant.”
“I can definitely see Fergie helping out a High School program one day,” Drapal continued. “He can really be an asset to a team as a manager.”
The words of Drapal are well backed up by Fergie’s teammates.
“Fergs is always there for a tap on the back during games. I can definitely see him being a great high school coach one day,” said former JV ballplayer Kevin Crimmins.
Ferguson hopes to live up to that potential one day.
“As with most people my home life is not always the greatest, so when I get on the field all of my troubles just seem to fade away and I can just focus on the simple game I love,” said Ferguson. “I really thrive off the social interaction with my teammates; they’re constantly making me laugh.”
Throughout all the adversity that Fergie has faced, he has constantly proven that he can rise to the challenge and never back down. This type of perseverance has earned Fergie the respect of his peers, and his passion for life and baseball have left people asking, “what disability?”
