On the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1978, he was labeled “This Year’s Phenom.” Sounds great, unless you’re a 21-year-old without the skills to handle the pressure and scrutiny from the media, teammates, other players and fans. It didn’t help when Clint Hurdle started drinking to help numb the realization he wasn’t living up to expectations.

Clint bounced around several teams as a player and when he retired in 1987, he when straight into coaching. He also kept drinking. Two marriages and one daughter later, Clint decided to get sober in 1999. At the time he was the Rockies hitting instructor. Sobriety brought Clint a third marriage (going on 23 years), two more children and a transition into being a manager for the Rockies and Pirates for a total of 17 seasons. Today he continues to help the Rockies as a Special Assistant to the GM where he works with Colorado’s four minor league teams.

He's faced a lot: being an alcoholic, divorced twice, a child with a birth defect and countless ups and downs in baseball. Yet through it all he remains positive and committed to giving. Clint sends out daily emails, both Devotional and Encouraging. Sign up to receive either or both at ClintHurdle.com. To find out more about Prader Willi Syndrome, visit pwsausa.org.

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