Josh Hancock 1978-2007

Josh Hancock made a strong impression on virtually everyone who came in contact with him during his two-year tenure with the Red Barons. His outgoing personality drew people to him like a magnet, and he had a wonderful sense of humor.

And he always seemed to have a smile on his face.

Hancock loved telling the story of his initiation to the big leagues with the Boston Red Sox in 2002. After pitching against the Chicago White Sox at Comiskey Park, his teammates forced Josh to dress up like a woman for the trip back to Boston.

He walked into the airport wearing a wig, a dress and high heels. Even though he was red-faced with embarrassment, Hancock seemed to treasure the moment because it meant he was accepted by his peers as a major leaguer.

Of course, he went on to prove them right. He wound up pitching for Philadelphia, Cincinnati and St. Louis before his tragic death in an automobile accident early Sunday morning.

For those who knew Hancock, news of his death was not only stunning-it bordered on disbelief.

"I'm pretty numb," said A.J. Hinch, a former Red Baron catcher who was Hancock's primary batterymate. "The last time I talked to him was in spring training. We crossed paths on the field. I played against him when he got to St. Louis and I was with Philly."

Hinch, who is now director of player development for the Arizona Diamondbacks, said fans often lose sight of the fact that baseball players are human.

"For people who don't have the luxury of playing the game, his death kind of mortalizes baseball," Hinch added. "You never expect anything like this to happen. The last thing you expect is to wake up and have to cope with this kind of tragedy."

There was an outpouring of phone calls Sunday to Hancock's home in Tupelo, Miss. Most of them were fielded by Bill Collins, a close friend of the Hancock family who knew Josh for eight years.

"It's like a bad dream," said Collins. "Josh stopped by on his way to spring training and spent a couple of days here. He also visited his family a couple of times after the season began."

According to Collins, Hancock's personality endeared him with the entire Tupelo community.

"Josh wasn't just a baseball player, he was a really good guy. The world would be a better place if it had a few more Josh Hancocks."

Hancock was a died-in-the-wool Southerner. He was proud of his Dixie roots, and was a big Auburn University fan. He played college ball for the Tigers, along with Atlanta Braves pitcher Tim Hudson. They helped lead Auburn to the College World Series in 1997.

Like every loyal Auburn fan, Josh found great joy every time the Tigers' football team defeated arch-rival Alabama. "It's a really big deal," he once said. "It's more than just a matter of bragging rights in Alabama."

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre General Manager Jeremy Ruby struck up a close friendship with Hancock when he played for the Red Barons in 2003-04.

"We knew Josh very well," Ruby said. "He was outgoing and just a regular guy. It's just a shame to see such a nice guy leave the world so tragically."

Hancock's baseball career came full circle last season when the Cardinals defeated Detroit to win the World Series.

It's only appropriate that he will be remembered as a champion.