Catching a wife, then a relationship with God Cleveland catcher Eddie Taubensee says that his relationship with God matters most to him. by Heather Carroll   Some people might call it fate or destiny, but professional baseball player Eddie Taubensee says that the way he met his wife was divinely orchestrated.   It was Canada Day weekend, 1992, in Edmonton. Due to a streak of poor hitting Eddie had been sent to the minors by the Houston Astros and was set to start as catcher for their AAA team, the Tucson Toros. A flight delay left the team having to play a double header with the Edmonton Trappers.   Eddie’s plan was to focus on his game so that he could get back to the majors. Little did he know, an attractive young woman would seriously distract him.   “I looked up in the stands and I saw her,” says Eddie. “Wow, this was the girl for me! I was joking with the guys saying, ‘See that girl? That’s the girl I’m going to marry.’ ”   Before long, third base coach Dave Engle had heard of his love-struck ball player and decided to play cupid.   Between ball games he brought me over to the stands and introduced us,” recalls Eddie. “I got really nervous. All I could say was, ‘I have a stepsister named René,’ and I left. I was a goof ball, I thought I blew it!”   And what was René’s reaction?   “My mouth dropped open,” she says. “I thought he was cute, but I couldn’t figure out what was going on.”   René, who was living in Edmonton, had decided to treat her sister to the ball game as a birthday present. The most she expected from the day was a tan, a hot dog and some sisterly fun — not meeting her future husband.   The couple met for dinner the following night and a year and a half later they were married.   “I believe it was meant to be,” says Taubensee. “The flight delay, double header and René’s sister’s birthday weren’t just coincidences. It was definitely a God thing.”   Less than a month later Eddie was back playing in the majors with Houston. Soon, however, he was on his way to the Cincinnati Reds, where he played for parts of seven seasons. His best was in 1999 when he batted .311 and hit 21 home runs and 87 RBI.   The following season he suffered a string of injuries including a ruptured disk in his back, which required surgery. During the operation the doctors discovered three degenerative disks related to his catching career. In 2001, Eddie moved to the Cleveland Indians, where, due to injuries, he played in just 52 games. Currently, he’s on the team’s disabled list while undergoing rehab for his back.   “They basically say that I have an old man’s back,” says Eddie, 33.   If his back does recover there’s a good chance Eddie will have to play another position.   “There’s also the chance that this will be it after 11 years in the big leagues,” Eddie acknowledges. “I know that God’s in control and this is where I’m supposed to be right now.”   Eddie compares the relationship he once had with God to fans who follow baseball.   “People collect baseball cards and they know the stats of all their favourite players, but they really don’t know that person personally,” he explains.   “That’s how my relationship with God was, I knew His ‘stats.’ I knew about Easter and Christmas, but I never had a personal relationship with Him.”   In November 1995, at Pro Athletes Outreach in Orlando, Florida, one of the speakers caused Eddie to change the way he thought about God.   “He talked about how God made us in His image,” remembers Eddie. “All my life I had been making God into what I thought He should be, not what He already is.”   He also learned that sin had separated man from God but that Jesus Christ, His Son, had come to provide forgiveness and a way to have a relationship with the Creator.   “I knew I had to make a choice. I chose to have a personal relationship with God.”   From the moment he accepted Christ as His Saviour, Eddie’s outlook on God and baseball was forever altered.   “Baseball was my god before,” he says. “After becoming a Christian I actually became a better ball player because I wanted to play for Him. I was really excited about what God had in store for me. I looked forward to the challenges of life with His help.”   In 1996, during opening day with the Reds, an incident occurred on the field that would shock the baseball world but strengthen Eddie’s resolve to share the love of Christ with others. Following the seventh pitch of the game, umpire John McSherry began mumbling incoherently behind Eddie.   “I said, ‘John are you O.K.?’ He tried to walk off the field, but collapsed and had a heart attack,” recalls Eddie. “The next day he’d been scheduled for a procedure for his heart, but it was a day too late.”   Eddie has learned from the Bible that sin has tainted mankind and that each person needs to ask for God’s forgiveness — available through Jesus Christ.   “We all have a heart condition like McSherry. We have to make a decision about our relationship with Christ before it’s too late,” Eddie urges.   Eddie shares this message with others by distributing thousands of specially printed baseball cards of himself which include his Christian testimony and favourite Bible verses.   “My relationship with God is the most important thing in my life,” Eddie states on the card. “He gives me lasting joy, contentment and peace.”   And baseball?   “Now that I’m a Christian my outlook on baseball has changed,” explains Eddie. “It’s not my life, it’s just a cool job.” [LLN-Online] [Adopt-a-Block] [Newsbriefs][Event Calendar] [Lifestyles] [Juke Box] [Cover to Cover] [Movieguide][Casting the Net] [Viewpoints] [General Info] [Rates & Sizes][Marketplace/Classifieds] [Volunteer Ops] [Writing Guidelines] [Contact Us] [Subscribe][Archives][Good News] [About Us][Links]