Well, now, lemme tell ya somethin’ ’bout that young fella, Justin Verlander. He ain’t just some big-shot baseball player y’all see on the TV. No sir! His story started right there in Manakin-Sabot, a little place not too far from Richmond, Virginia. Born on February 20th, 1983, that boy was raised right with good ol’ country folks who taught him the value of hard work and family. His mama and papa, Richard and Kathy, they played a big part in makin’ him the man he is today.
Now, Richard, Justin’s daddy, he’s a big ol’ fella. Worked as a supervisor in the local steel plant. Ain’t no easy job, I tell ya that. He’s been there for Justin through thick and thin, always encouragin’ him, keepin’ him grounded. Justin’s mama, Kathy, well, she’s a schoolteacher, bless her heart. Taught the young’un all them book-learnin’ things, but she also made sure Justin knew the importance of family, faith, and, of course, hard work.
Now, I don’t know if you’ve heard, but Justin ain’t the only one in his family with some talent. No sir, he got a younger brother, Ben Verlander. Ben ain’t no stranger to sports himself. He done went on to do some baseball playin’ of his own, though he ain’t quite hit the big leagues like Justin. Still, they both grew up with that strong work ethic and drive their folks instilled in ’em. They’re real close, them two brothers. Always watchin’ out for one another.
Justin, though, he always had a special gift for throwin’ that ball. He wasn’t no ordinary kid, no sir. Even back in his school days, he was standin’ out. Played at the local high school, Goochland High, where he was as much of a star on the field as he was in the classroom. He was always one of the hardest workers, stayin’ late to practice his throws, and his folks, well, they were right there supportin’ him every step of the way. They ain’t never let him get too big for his britches, though. They kept him humble.
Now, I reckon you might wonder how a young fella like that makes it all the way to playin’ in the Major Leagues. It ain’t no easy feat, let me tell you. But Justin, he worked his tail off, and after high school, he went on to play for Old Dominion University, a college right there in Norfolk. There, he made a real name for himself. His mama and daddy, they’d drive all the way up to watch him pitch in them big games. The whole family was always cheerin’ for him, and even after he got drafted to the Detroit Tigers in 2004, they kept right on supportin’ him. You could say it’s that family love and determination that got him where he is now.
When it comes to Justin’s mama and daddy, they ain’t just proud of his baseball skills—they’re proud of the kind of man he turned out to be. He’s humble, polite, and always remembers his roots. And it ain’t just his parents that raised him up, no sir. His whole family, his grandparents too, they’re all part of the picture. See, his maternal grandmother, Olympia Caponi, she’s got Italian roots, and that’s somethin’ Justin don’t forget. Family means a lot to him, and that’s why he’s always been so grounded.
Now, I know y’all probably seen Justin on the TV and thought he was just a big ol’ superstar, but let me tell you, he’s just like any other fella who grew up with a strong family that worked hard. His folks ain’t never let him forget where he came from. And that’s why, even with all his fame and fortune, he’s still the same ol’ Justin, the boy from Manakin-Sabot.
And don’t forget, his younger brother Ben, well, he’s followin’ in big brother’s footsteps too. Though Ben might not be in the Major Leagues just yet, you can bet your boots he’s tryin’, and Justin’s right there supportin’ him all the way.
So, next time you see Justin Verlander pitchin’ that ball on the big screen, just remember, he didn’t get there alone. His mama, his daddy, his whole family—they’re all part of his journey. They taught him that no matter how big you get, family’s always the most important thing. And that’s a lesson we could all stand to learn, I reckon.
Tags：[Justin Verlander, Justin Verlander parents, Richard Verlander, Kathy Verlander, Ben Verlander, Manakin-Sabot, baseball, family values, MLB, Detroit Tigers, Old Dominion University, Major League Baseball]
