The Phenomenon: Pressure, the Yips, and the Pitch That Changed My Life

Local legend, high school superstar, big league talent—there, in a nutshell, is Ankiel (b. 1979). After being drafted to the minor leagues straight out of high school in 1997, Ankiel was promoted to the majors with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1999. In his first full season with the Cardinals, he started 30 games with a 11–7 record. But in the third inning of the 2000 National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves he developed the yips, or focal dystonia, which prevented him from throwing strikes. Lifted for a reliever in the third inning, Ankiel pitched again in games two and five of the championship series against the New York Yankees, again walking batters and throwing wild pitches. He was never again successful as a pitcher but reinvented his game as an outfielder and hitter, spending seven seasons with six different teams. His story, told here with sportswriter Brown, is beyond compelling, mixing tragedy with humor. Ankiel beat the odds as a rookie pitcher and, again, as a position player.