Life experiences shape Graham's tenacity on the mound

By Tom Schreier

"No Fear" is written on the back of J.R. Graham's baseball cap. After three near-death experiences, the phrase eloquently summarizes his approach to baseball and, more importantly, his approach to life.

"It basically just explains itself," said Graham about his hat. "That's what I'm trying to do every time I'm on the mound. 'No Fear.' I know that the batter has a disadvantage when I'm up there because I'm fearless."

The mantra has been with Graham throughout his entire life, beginning when he was little with weekend trips to the river when he lived in Sacramento.

"I would be scared to death...I'd crash, I'd fall and I'd be crying and my dad just goes 'No Fear'...It's something that has stuck with me and it always transferred over to baseball."

Graham was relatively unknown until his senior year at Livermore High School. However, after he set the single-season school record for saves and was named team MVP, he would regularly notice scouts in the crowd during his games.

"I never really told anyone," Graham said of the recognition he was getting. "I just kept working hard and doing my thing."

Although he stands six feet tall, the effort Graham put forth in the weight room and on the baseball diamond put him ahead of the competition he faced in high school.

Graham was named the "East Bay Athlete of the Year" and drafted by the Oakland Athletics after graduation. Although he was enamored by the idea of being called a professional baseball player, he aspired to continue his education while improving as a pitcher and never had qualms about declining his minor league offer from the A's.

"It has been really humbling," Graham says about the adversity he has faced at the college level. "I went through high school, junior and senior year, just coasted through. (I) got the scholarship to come here, got drafted and never really faced any adversity."

After experiencing the game at the college level he realized how different it was.

"I struggled. Last year I hadn't been doing the greatest. This year just really helped me build as a player. It's something that you're going to go through."

Closers are defined by their ability to overcome hardship in difficult situations. In order to motivate themselves to be aggressive with each pitch they throw, they often use life experiences to motivate with them on the mound.

Graham's near-death experiences have curbed his fear and allow him to remain aggressive in situations where many pitchers would back off. His first near-death experience came only minutes after he was born.

Entering the world three months premature and weighing only two pounds, Graham could be held in the palm of a hand.

"They pulled me out and gave me to my dad and I stopped breathing. They took me away and everything, they didn't think..." Graham struggled to finish his sentence. "I easily could have died, easily could have had some problems: brain issues, functions. I could easily not be here playing baseball so every day I'm out there is just a blessing."

"Maybe it's just ingrained in me," said Graham. "It's that doubt, the people who say 'You're not going to make it,' that keeps me going."

Later in life Graham had another near-death experience while playing basketball. He hit his head during the game and fell unconscious. He fell with enough impact to break his collarbone, and had his collarbone fell an inch further it could have punctured his lung.

"I could have broken my neck easily on impact," said Graham.

Graham has also been in a car accident. His car collided with another vehicle at 85 miles per hour and the airbags did not deploy, but once again Graham came out alive.

"It's just a determination to prove people wrong," said Graham vehemently. "I can still live. I can get through this and I'm going to overcome it."

At six feet, 175 pounds many speculate that he is too "wiry" to play Major League Baseball.

"I'm going to make it," Graham says with palpable resolve. "Once you get drafted it's not about talent anymore, it's about your mental makeup and how you are going to overcome adversity."

During a television show on ESPN a few weeks ago Rick Reilly asked three-time batting champion Joe Mauer which pitcher he hates to face.

"Nobody," Mauer answered instantly.

"He hasn't had to face me yet," said Graham. "If he saw me up there he probably would be a little freaked out."

J.R. Graham is fearless.

Contact Tom Schreier at tschreier@scu.edu or (408) 551-1918.