San Diego’s Third Baseman is Centered in Life

“When I was a freshman in high school, my neighbor invited me to an FCA meeting, and it so happened that the topic that night was on salvation,” says San Diego Padres third baseman, Chase Headley. “By night’s end I had given my life to Christ. That was the beginning of my journey, my walk with the Lord.”

Headley, a native of Fountain, Colorado, grew up in a loving and supportive home. “My parents were always there for my older brother, Nate, and me, at all our games and activities,” he says. “Although we were not active in a church, I have a great family that shares lots of love.

Headley played varsity baseball and basketball at Fountain-Fort Carson High School. He earned all-conference four years and all-state twice in baseball.

Leading the Vols to the College World Series

In 2002, after graduation, Headley headed to California to play baseball at the University of The Pacific. He led the team in hits and the Big West Conference in walks. But his sophomore year he transferred to The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, the same school his older brother, Nate, was attending. Chase earned All-American, All-SEC, and Academic All-American honors, and helped lead the Vols to the 2005 College World Series.

“I had good experiences in college with Campus Crusade for Christ and Athletes in Action,” Headley adds. “I had two great leaders in Eric Phillips and Teg Tegelaar at Tennessee who were very helpful in the growing of my Christian faith.”

First Home Run at Old Yankee Stadium

After two years at UT, Chase was drafted by the San Diego Padres.

“In 2007 I made my big league debut June 15^th against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field,” Headley says, “You can’t beat that. It was pretty special.”

The following year he came up to the majors for good. “I got my first home run at old Yankee Stadium; it was the last year it was open,” Headley says. “Both of those stadiums are historical so it was special to achieve those things at these ball parks.

Power to Love the Unlovable

“If you put a circle that represents Christ, in the center of a pie: that represents life,” Headley says. “Any way you slice it, the circle will always touch a part of that slice. That’s how I try to live my life. I try to have Christ touch all aspects of my life.”

One of Headley’s favorite Bible verses is II Timothy 1:7 which reads, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”

“This encompasses what I want to do in my Christian walk,” Headley says. “Too many times Christians are portrayed as weak, (and they think) ‘I can’t be a man anymore or I can’t stand up for myself.’ This verse says (that) through God, in Christ, I have power to stand up as a Christian, to love even when it’s hard to love the unlovable, and to have the self-discipline to resist the temptations we face daily.

“Professional athletes have a tremendous platform,” he adds. “I try to use that platform, I look for opportunities to speak out about my faith.”

Headley does that through baseball cards that include his faith story, as well as speaking at FCA events, Family Faith Nights at the ball parks, and at churches or college events.

“Jesus changed my life”

“Jesus has changed my life,” Headley says. “My goal is to have Jesus be the center of everything. I can worship Jesus by the way I play baseball and in how I interact with teammates, opponents, umpires and fans. I try to let my life reflect my faith in Christ.”

“(Former teammate) Adrian Gonzalez once told me, ‘Don’t let our self-worth be judged by a box score, but on our attitude toward God.’ I try to keep my focus on Jesus and to help others if they might be struggling—whether in or out of baseball.”

Gonzalez, now with the Boston Red Sox, says, “Chase is a guy who is making a difference in living out his faith and being an example so others (can come to) be believers as well. He is one of the leaders in the Padre clubhouse in organizing Bible studies and chapels, and he encourages other players to attend and be open to faith in Christ.”

Padre chaplain Doug Sutherland adds, “Chase is one whose total commitment to the Lord is greater than any other commitment, including baseball. He sees baseball as a platform to do the Lord’s work.”

Padre teammate Rob Johnson says, “Chase is a man of great integrity who has a lot of passion to live for Christ daily. His constant goals are to really learn to walk by his faith and be an example to his teammates, his family, and his wife. Chase is one who has a great love for the Lord Jesus.”

Chase married Casey Scott in November, 2009.

“I had never been around guys who were as faithful a Christian as Chase,” Casey says, “Here was a guy who made the right choices.”

Casey continues, “I am still in awe of the kind of person Chase is. I think his love for the Lord is what made me fall in love with him.”

Chase and Casey are expecting their first child in early September.

By Mark E. Darnall and Bruce A. Darnall

Photos by Chris Hardy, San Diego Padres

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