Impact Of A Scholarship: Scott Christopher

Little did Scott Christopher know that his greatest passion would lead to one of the most pivotal moments in his life. At the age of six, as he fell while sliding to home base  at the hallowed grounds of his local Little League field and the trajectory of his life as both a baseball player and as an individual underwent a profound transformation. 

Nearly losing his life to the very game he cherished, when a broken bottle sliced through his dominant hitting hand, severing seven tendons, both nerves, and both arteries, Scott Christopher emerged from the ordeal with newfound strength and an unwavering determination to achieve greater success than ever before.

Throughout his youth, as Christopher diligently rehabilitated his hand, he never once put down his baseball glove and bat. With unwavering determination, he tirelessly explored innovative ways to make the most of his injured hand, refusing to let his handicap deter him from enhancing his game and pursuing his dreams of playing at the University of Maryland.

As a junior in high school, Christopher faced the challenge of having a batting average of zero, all while being one of the smallest players on the team. His junior year season was undeniably a tough one, however, these setbacks didn't diminish his determination to become a Maryland Terrapin. So he got to work. 

“I never stopped practicing baseball. I could see my dream, but nobody could really comprehend it,” Christopher said. 

That summer going into his senior year, as a recommendation from one of his coaches, Christopher built a batting cage in his backyard. 

“I lived in it, the bat handles were covered in blood, there wasn’t anything that would stop me from trying to perfect my skills.” 

The next season, Christopher led the varsity team in hitting and was named the most valuable player for that season. But that was not enough to get him on the Maryland field with Coach Elton Jackson. 

Christopher went on to attend Mercersburg Academy, a prep school in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, which opened doors academically and artistically for Christopher, but it still wasn't enough to elevate his game to the necessary level. His next stop was Ferrum College, where he continued perfecting his skills and bettering his game, yet Coach Jackson's criteria remained just out of reach.

During the following summer, Christopher found himself on a unique, somewhat disorganized, but incredibly talented team. Their journey led them to the championships, where they faced off against a star pitcher that also happened to be a top Maryland recruit. Christopher was unaware that Coach Jackson was present in the stands that very evening.

At the plate, Christopher encountered a rocket screwball, the best pitch of the evening. With his trademark focus and determination, he launched that ball a remarkable 380 feet into the outfield. Although the game ended in a 3-2 loss, Christopher's incredible hit caught Coach Jackson's attention.

“He walked over to me and asked me to explain my hit back to him. I got a little technical and he looked at me and said, ‘Would you like a full scholarship to the University of Maryland?’ Right then and there. He shook my hand and that was it. He said, ‘I’ll see you in the spring.’” 

For Christopher, the first time on the Maryland field as a Terrapin was dreamlike. Being a Terp taught Christopher valuable life lessons and galvanized what being a part of an organization truly meant. 

“The generosity of the University of Maryland donors, athletic department, and Coach Jackson in awarding me a full baseball scholarship to play ball in the spring of 1974 affected me immediately. From that moment and forward throughout my life, the impact of such a gift of kindness was and still is overwhelming at times. My academic and athletic experiences at Maryland created one of the most important and stationary core life foundation blocks I could have ever imagined. I consistently draw on those privileged and honored times in my athletic, artistic, and life journey. Maryland gave me the strength, courage, and confidence to move forward with each and every day, regardless of the victories or defeats I may have endured.”

However, the challenges of a compromised hand still followed Christopher through to the Maryland field. Without the ability to even pick up a baseball properly, and wrap all 10 fingers around the bat, Christopher had to constantly find new ways to overcome and perform. 

Coach Jackson was a huge contributor to Christophers' successes, constructing a plan to take his handicapped throwing hand and bring it back.

“I’m indebted, and will forever be to somebody who was so committed to giving me the best shot he possibly could,” Christopher said. “Coach Jackson cared about his players' academic progress as much as their improvement on the field, and that made me feel wholly supported. He had an interesting mind and was a reflective contemplator.”

Leading his team to victory time and time again, Christopher was named captain of the 1976 squad. Enduring a challenging start to the season with six consecutive losses, the team faced another adversity when they were involved in a severe car accident. 

However, the Terps regrouped and accomplished something remarkable—putting together an impressive run to advance to the ACC tournament championship.

With the bases loaded in the semifinal game against the Virginia Cavaliers, Christopher was poised to do what he did best: swing for the fences. And that's precisely what he did, hitting a grand slam that propelled the Terps to the championship game. 

Shortly after one of the Terps’ fall ball games, Scott Christopher received the long-awaited phone call of a lifetime. Scout Dick Bowie from the Baltimore Orioles was on the other end, extending an offer for him to join the Orioles organization.

Continuing to live out his dream, now in the minor leagues, Christopher found himself in a winner-takes-all game for the Single-A Miami Orioles in 1978. As the lead-off hitter in the ninth inning, he delivered the game-winning home run, a moment of a lifetime for Christopher. 

“I cranked it, and it went. It was like out of Field of Dreams. I mean, it literally went into the lights, I watched it, and then I went around the bases. I thought I was in a dream. It was unreal. And when I get to home plate, all the guys are there. And I just launched into the air like a rocket ship. And you know, that was the moment I was the happiest guy on the planet Earth.”

Christopher was speedster on the basepaths, leading the Florida State League in stolen bases in both 1977 and 1978. He reached the Double-A Southern League Charlotte O's, finishing his professional career in 1980. 

The critical factor in Scott Christopher’s success is his never giving up. His relentless perseverance, coupled with the invaluable support from his loving family, friends, Coach Elton Jackson, generous donors, and countless others, ultimately paved the path to his extraordinary journey.

“Anybody that's in athletics has to be mentally tough and so focused. Then if you do have a handicap, you have to accept it. That's quite complex. I never got angry that I had a handicap. I dealt with my hand and never told anyone about it.”

In his upcoming book, Baseball, Art, and Dreams, Christopher shares his story of grandiose moments, total collapse, failure, and importation. It is an 18-year memoir that includes an insight into Christopher’s mind and heart and is the coming of age of a truly inspirational athlete. 

“What I accomplished is about one in a million. I wrote it to inspire and show my intention, passion, and willingness to work hard and study the game that academics and baseball gave me opportunities that could be for anybody if they really applied themselves.”

Today, Christopher continues to live with a baseball in one hand and a paintbrush in the other. His art serves as a powerful medium through which he shares his inspiring message and story, encouraging others to reach for their dreams. His daily life is a living example of the power of swinging for the fences.