St. Louis Cardinals: Condolences to Stephen Piscotty and family

The St. Louis Cardinals don’t always make the right moves when it comes to player transactions but this cannot be said for the way they handled Stephen Piscotty. Today, we issue our condolences to his family in their time of loss.

The St. Louis Cardinals traded Stephen Piscotty to the Oakland Athletics following the 2017 season. This was done for many reasons but paramount among them was to get Stephen closer to home. Piscotty is from California and Oakland put him in his back yard.

This move- the move to get closer to home- was very important in order to get Piscotty time to spend with his ailing mother who was suffering through debilitating ALS. This move had been in the works from the offseason of 2016 but was finally concluded after the 2017 campaign.

Following a few months of baseball in 2018, sadness found its way to the Piscotty family on May 6, 2018 when their beloved mother- Gretchen Piscotty- passed from this life. Her battle with ALS had come to an end.

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As we approach Mother’s Day this Sunday, my heart is heavy for Stephen and for his family. Losing a loved one is never, ever easy but losing their mother seven days before a day celebrating mothers will cut deeply.

The baseball world aside, the human heart feels for others. This has been evident dramatically by condolences shared on twitter. Here are just a few:

Of all of these, the A’s and the Piscotty family shared the following offering a strong way to remember Gretchen:

I could write forever about the love I have for my mother. I could write forever about the love my children have for their mother. None of this would take away the pain that the Piscotty family is feeling and for that I feel a deep sadness.

Of all the rants that I have written, this one hurts. I am ranting less with anger and more through tears. I wish I had the funds to donate in the manner that Yu Darvish just did but instead I have only my words.

My words are these: Stephen, you were a great player for the St. Louis Cardinals. You are smart beyond means and far beyond almost all of us. You will rebound from this and I wish you a speedy recovery for your heart. I will never forget your playing time with the St. Louis Cardinals nor will I forget the story of your mother.

To the St. Louis Cardinals organization I can only offer thanks: thanks for doing something that is right far beyond the impact to the game of baseball. A favorite Twitter follow of mine is Anti Matheny who shared the following sentiment today which I echo and appreciate:

Let us all, baseball fans, join together in remembering Gretchen Piscotty and offering our shoulders upon which the Piscotty family may cry. May God offer his loving arms and wrap this family during the time of joyous release for their mother who will no longer suffer such atrocities under her illness.

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Thank you for reading. My heart hurts for another today.