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“I
like to be the type of guy who’s always available,” Taubensee says.
“I felt bad for the team, because I like to be available, ready to play
when called upon—even when I’m just a back-up.”
The
reason he’s “just a back-up” is that Taubensee has suffered a string
of injuries since the 2000 season—one right after another. And this,
after putting together the best season of his career in 1999. Playing for
the Cincinnati Reds, Taubensee hit .311, with 21 home runs and 87 RBIs.
Every year since, he’s been hoping to return to that level. So far, it
hasn’t happened. Now he’s on the bench again. But Taubensee isn’t
consumed by frustration or self-pity. “Baseball’s
a cool job, but it’s not my life,” he explains. “It doesn’t engulf
everything I do. Yeah, it stinks being on the disabled list. I always want
to stay healthy. I don’t want to be hurt. But actually, I’ve found
that it gives me great time that I don’t usually have to concentrate on
God. I can really get into His Word and grow more spiritually. I try to
take advantage of that.”
Taubensee also has used the time to go on overseas missions trips with a
ministry called “Unlimited Potential, Inc.” Over the past couple of
years, Taubensee has shared his faith at UPI baseball camps in South
Africa, the Dominican Republic, Thailand and Australia. Back home in
Orlando, Fla., Taubensee works with FCA’s multi-area director Del
Wright.
“You
can tell just talking to Eddie that he really loves Christ,” Wright
says. “He seems to be utilizing his platform of athletics extremely
well. He’s done some speaking for us at the National Baseball Coaches
Convention and at our Night of Champions. At these events, some athletes
kind of dip in and dip out. They don’t stick around. But Eddie stuck
around and talked to the coaches for a long time afterwards. Something
like that speaks volumes to people. Whenever we’ve asked him, he’s
made himself available.”
Says
Taubensee, “We’re all a part of the Body of Christ and I’m just glad
to help out.” “I
used to be an everyday catcher. I put up great numbers, playing every day.
Now I’m not in the spotlight anymore, which is okay. I can handle that.
In one sense, I’m free to do anything I want. But I’m going to make
myself a slave to everybody—to my teammates, to whoever I come in
contact with—to win as many as possible for Christ.”
Earlier
this spring, doctors gave Eddie Taubensee the bad news. His back injury
would keep him on the disabled list for at least 60 days. It was a real
disappointment to the 33 year-old Cleveland Indians catcher.
Taubensee’s
focus comes from a favorite Scripture, 1 Corinthians 9:19. In it, the
Apostle Paul talks about adapting his lifestyle so that he can meet the
needs of the people around him: “Though I am free and belong to no man,
I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.” This
verse has special meaning for Taubensee.
Articles on Athletes
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