Philadelphia – The press room was silent as Kyle Schwarber, the star of the Philadelphia Phillies, suddenly stopped mid-answer, eyes red, voice broken:
“My dad knocked on every door… borrowed every penny… just so I could continue to pursue baseball.”
There was no whispering, just sighs and a few tears falling on the table. Schwarber said that in the early days of pursuing his dream, his family was almost financially exhausted. His father, Greg, worked hard during the day and borrowed money at night to pay for his son’s training, gloves, clubs, and travel expenses.
“My dad told me, ‘Don’t worry about money, just hit the ball well.’ But I know he sacrificed a lot,” Schwarber said, his voice cracking.
Growing up in Middletown, Ohio, Schwarber didn’t have fancy courts or great training facilities. But he had a father who was willing to give up everything to support his son’s dream.
Back then, in their small house, every time his son played, Greg would stand quietly in the corner of the stands, cheering and calculating each debt. There were times when the family didn’t know where to get the money for the next tournament, but he never let Schwarber see that worry.
“He told me, ‘If you want it, I’ll find a way.’ And he kept his word,” Schwarber said emotionally.
Soon after the story was shared, social media exploded with the hashtag #ForDad. Thousands of fans sent their thanks to Greg, calling him a testament to the unconditional love and sacrifice of a parent.
Schwarber’s teammate Bryce Harper shared:
“That’s why Kyle always plays with a burning heart. He plays not only for the team, but for the father who gave him his life.”
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