‘Storybook ending’ for young Sox hurler
MLB. Jon Lester’s stirring and heroic return from cancer took another triumphant turn yesterday afternoon when the courageous left-hander was named the 2007 winner of the Tony Conigliaro Award.
The award is dedicated to a major-league player who has overcome adversity through the attributes of spirit, determination and courage that were trademarks of Tony C’s baseball life.
“It’s just a storybook-type ending,” Lester said when he learned he’d won the same award as Bo Jackson, Jim Abbott and Mike Lowell. “If you’d have told me that at the end of last year in spring training, that we would have been in [the World Series], I probably would have laughed at you. This just fits. … it’s a great honor.”
One year ago, the lefty was battling his way through treatment for Non-Hodgkin’s Lympho-ma, but yesterday, the 23-year-old was happy to close the book on his comeback from cancer and again become Jon Lester, major-league pitcher.
Instead of talking about radiation treatments and a possible return to the big leagues, Lester was discussing his role in Boston’s starting rotation this coming spring and adding a little weight this winter to augment his strength and endurance next season.
After undergoing cancer treatment during the offseason, Lester started the year on the disabled list before spending more than a month in the minors.
The 6-foot-2, 190-pound-er was recalled in July and made a memorable start against the Indians at Jacobs Field before finishing the regular season with a 4-0 record and 4.57 ERA.
Lester then went on to throw dominant shutout ball during the decisive Game 4 of the World Series to cap off his comeback campaign.
What a difference a year makes.
“It’ll be a question I probably always answer regardless,” Lester said of the constant curiosity surrounding his recovery. “But, hopefully, I can just go back to being me and being a normal pitcher that just goes out every day and does his job.
“To regain confidence in my stuff and my command and mechanics and where I was at physically, it was great. You couldn’t have asked for a better ending. It’s always good to go out on top.”