Remembering Gerik Baxter

This is an article I hadn't intended to write, but the Internet is a funny thing, and a lot of times you end up connecting with someone you hadn't expected to meet. To set the stage, last July the Padres lost promising young right-hander Gerik Baxter in an automobile accident and I expressed my sympathies to the Baxter family via this site.

Then the other day, out of the blue, this shows up in my in-box:

I am Gerik Baxter's sister, and I just wanted to express my thanks for your condolonces. It's wonderful to see that there are people that loved the game of baseball as much as Gerik did. As you said, unfortunately, we will never know how great he would have been, but I know that if he had any idea how many people were touched by his too short life, he would be shocked. Thank you again.

Sincerely,
Meaghan Baxter-Hansen

Thanks, Meaghan, for writing and for allowing me to share your thoughts with Ducksnorts readers.

Although I never had the chance to meet Gerik, I'll not soon forget him. Very shortly after he was drafted back in 1999, his name became intertwined with that of fellow draftee and right-hander Jake Peavy (eerily similar to the relationship between Gary Matthews Jr. and the late Mike Darr). I saw Peavy pitch on several occasions last year at Lake Elsinore, and every time he took the mound I thought of Gerik. I'm sure the same will happen when Peavy reaches San Diego. I can't think of one without thinking of the other.