Author: Tammy Lane • First Posted: Friday, January 20, 2012

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"It's been a dream of mine to play catch with a major-leaguer," Meadowthorpe Principal Joel Katte said before the schoolwide assembly with Lexington native John Shelby, an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Brewers.

John Shelby, who grew up playing baseball at Douglass and Castlewood parks and Henry Clay High School, always aspired to the major leagues. And despite some setbacks and bumps in the road, he made it – both as a player and a coach.

Such achievements do not come without perseverance, he told students at Meadowthorpe Elementary School.

“You have parents, teachers and other people willing to help you overcome failures and give you confidence. If you’re determined, there’s nothing you can’t do, so I encourage you – Don’t give up,” said Shelby, now an assistant coach with the Milwaukee Brewers.

The two-time World Series champion and Lexington native dropped by Meadowthorpe at the invitation of Principal Joel Katte, who himself played a year in the minor leagues. Katte, whose staff uses the book “The Leader in Me” to bolster students, said Shelby’s story fit well with this month’s theme.

“Not everybody’s comfortable taking risks and chances, and we want our kids to know it’s OK to fail. When times are tough and you think you can’t make it, you have to persevere,” he said. “It doesn’t just happen. It’s hard work and perseverance. The more they hear stories and hear it’s possible, the more they’ll be excited.”

Shelby, who played with several organizations including the Orioles, Dodgers, Tigers and Red Sox, talked about his longtime MLB dream, his move from shortstop to the outfield, and the grueling schedule’s toll on his family life.

With 25 players per team and only nine positions on the field, the competition was fierce.

“They all have talent. Some run faster, throw harder or hit better,” Shelby noted. “If I was going to fulfill my dream, it would take a lot of hard work.”

Early on, at age 21, one of the hardest transitions was learning to switch hit. “I struggled every day and went home frustrated because I couldn’t get it together,” he recalled.

His mother urged him not to quit and assured him things would turn around. Sure enough, with about three weeks left in the season, Shelby found some success as a lefty. Even though he hit a disappointing .201, he later realized his coach was pleased with his dedication and progress.

“It gave me a lot of confidence the next season,” he told the youngsters.

He also grew more comfortable snagging fly balls. “After a lot of hours and a lot of batting practice, I learned how to be an outfielder, and defense became my specialty,” he said.

Shelby, who now mentors major-league outfielders and hitters, encouraged the Meadowthorpe students to set their own goals and always stand firm.

“It’s a big world out there, and you can make a positive impact by doing things the right way,” he said. “When you get older, you’ll be proud because you never gave up on yourself.”