This story is part of Peak, The Athletic’s desk covering the mental side of sports. Sign up for Peak’s newsletter here.On Sunday, the three newest members of the Baseball Hall of Fame were inducted into Cooperstown.This year’s class included:
Carlos Beltrán, a former center fielder and nine-time All-Star who played for 20 seasons.
Andruw Jones, also a former center fielder who won 10 consecutive Gold Gloves.
Jeff Kent, a former second baseman and the 2000 National League MVP.
During their speeches, each player revealed the insights they learned along the way.Here is my favorite lesson from each of them:Jeff Kent: Simplicity is powerful As a teenager, Kent was passionate about motorcycle racing and wasn’t fully committed to baseball. But his father made him an offer: “Earn a college baseball scholarship, and you’ll get a pickup truck.”That challenge gave Kent one clear goal and he eventually earned a scholarship to play at Cal-Berkeley. He received his truck, which he still has to this day.“It sits in my garage as a reminder that some of the simplest things can change the entire direction of your life,” Kent said.One time Kent asked future Hall of Famer Eddie Murray how he stayed so calm in bases-loaded situations, and Murray told him: Focus on the one, not the three RBI’s sitting out there. Just focus on the one on third base.
