Frank Tanana Speaks During Annual Good Friday Breakfast

WINONA LAKE – The 10th annual Good Friday breakfast was held at Christ’s Covenant Church in Winona Lake Friday with guest speaker Frank Tanana, who spoke about his extensive career in Major League Baseball and the faith he has cultivated over the years.
Pastor Marc Goodwin, of Christ’s Covenant Church, opened the breakfast with a welcome and a prayer before dismissing people for the breakfast provided by Shigs In Pit/Mad Anthony catering service.
YMCA CEO Dr. James Swanson thanked those in attendance for getting up so early in the morning to be a part of the breakfast. He gave a brief history on the YMCA and its being “a long cornerstone in community service.” He noted this was the 175th anniversary of the YMCA in America.
Swanson said Good Friday is a day of reflection and sacrifice. He said it represented hope in the eyes of many Christians.
“If you spend any time with me at all, it won’t take you long to find out that I’m from Detroit,” said Swanson. “I remember hearing Frank (Tanana) speak when we went into church at Highland Baptist Church together. Listening to him share his story about his transformation and resilience … who had successfully shifted his identity from a fame-driven pitcher to faith-driven mentor.”
Tanana had a 20-year career in Major League Baseball and was able to pitch for teams such as the Los Angeles Angels, Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers, New York Mets and New York Yankees. He spoke about his career in baseball and about his wife, Kathy, who “has been an amazing supporter, wife, mother, grandmother and my best friend.
“Baseball became a total obsession for me,” said Tanana. “What happens when you get an obsession? You get good at it. I was drafted to the LA Angels in 1971, and I had forsaken a basketball scholarship for Duke University, but I was a better baseball player than a basketball player.”
Tanana talked about the long losing streak he had at the Kansas City Royals field and how he never won a single game against the team. He won 100 games in his first five years as a pitcher.
“I had a father who drank a lot,” Tanana recalled. “I became involved with alcohol at an early age. I thought I was taking good care of myself if I didn’t drink the night before I pitched.”
Tanana spoke about his elbow injury and then signing with the Texas Rangers, where he subsequently lost 19 games. In 1982, he was traded to the Detroit Tigers, and he talked about his journey with God in 1983. He shared the speech he gave after winning the game in 1987 against the then Montreal Blue Jays. The game was won by one point against the Blue Jays and Tanana noted that was a “thrilling moment for my team and myself.”
“When I started going to church, I told God I had three conditions: I would not become a Jesus freak, I’m not going to be poor, and I’m not going to Africa … Well, my wife makes sure I’m not poor, but I’m wonderfully poor in spirit. I have gone to Africa and I am a bonafide Jesus freak,” said Tanana.
Tanana shared a poem and told those in attendance that Good Friday is a day for celebration. He noted that “yesterday’s gone, but today’s the first day of the rest of your life,” and told those that they should share their faith with others.
Bryan Hickerson, YMCA director of operations, gave the closing prayer and thanks to Tanana.