Puyallup honors MLB pitcher Jon Lester with ballfield naming

With spring just around the corner and baseball practices underway, many local children of all ages have started to dream big about their futures.

Not long ago, Chicago Cubs pitcher Jon Lester was one of those children whose big aspirations at the ballparks around Puyallup led to even greater success at the playgrounds he currently calls home in the professional ranks.

A simple fantasy matched with a blistering fastball as a child led to incredible things for Lester along his path to Major League Baseball, first with the Boston Red Sox (2006-2014), before a stop with the Oakland Athletics (2014) and now with the Cubs (2015-present).

And on Feb. 16, the city of Puyallup and Puyallup Parks and Rec honored Lester by naming Jon Lester Ballfield at Wildwood Park after him.

It was a tremendous honor for the Chicago ace as he returned home for the unveiling, as well as his number being retired by his high school, Bellarmine Prep in Tacoma.

“Obviously, it’s pretty high up there. It’s one of those ones (where) you always as you grow up, you see other guys with the opportunities (to play) is kind of few and far between,” Lester said at the ceremony. “Even as a kid, you know how special it is. You know, even when you’re young, you see something like this, you know, you think it’s cool that you get to play on that field … hopefully that resonates with some kids, maybe help them out or be cool to be here or whatever it is. It’s obviously a huge honor. “

Born in Tacoma on January 7, 1984, Lester grew up with the game of baseball. Early on it was obvious he had something special while playing baseball in and around Puyallup.

The kids he played against and the coaches who helped him grow in the game all had the same idea when they knew Lester was going to be on the mound:

Good luck.

It’s been ages since John Lester saw his son play baseball in the pee-wee leagues at Wildwood Park, before the park was renovated about a decade ago.

Back then, there were more trees, a more raw look to the park and area and, yes, his son in total control of batters from the left end of the bump.

“People told me at a young age that, when he was probably 11 (years old) or 12, that someday you’re going to watch him on TV. I just chuckled and laughed, thinking, ‘Yeah, right,’” John Lester said. “As I always thought, as long as he turns out to be a good kid. That’s really all I wanted. But now to see this (park) and the success he’s had at the professional level, and what he does off the field — and this recognition.

“You can’t be proud enough of where’s he’s gone since the days of him playing here.”

As Lester continued playing baseball, first in Puyallup as a kid and then at Bellarmine Prep in high school, his skills continued to gain notice, to where the Red Sox drafted him at the No. 57 pick in the second round of the 2002 draft.

Four years later, Lester was making his MLB debut (June 10, 2006) against the Texas Rangers. Two months later, Lester was diagnosed with lymphoma and had to undergo off-season chemotherapy at Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. The treatment was a success, and a year later, Lester made his return to baseball as he took the mound for Boston to face Cleveland on July 23, 2007. Lester picked up the win (6 innings, six strikeouts) in a 6-2 victory in his return.

Lester sometimes thinks back to when the crowds were microscopic compared to the ones he faces now. It was a time when the game was a game.

“Some of the fondest of playing for me, were these couple years I got to play here,” Lester said. “Just a lot of the stuff you go through when you’re learning about baseball (and) learning about team sports. You know, all the goofy stuff that happens and all that. A lot of great friendships that were made. Obviously a lot of great memories — my mom (Kathie) was my coach.”

“You know, I have some different memories about that,” Lester said with a laugh.

Three months later, Lester was in the game every kid who puts on the leather dreams about. He was in the World Series as the Red Sox faced the Colorado Rockies. It took only four games for Boston to win the World Series, and it was Lester who earned the Series-clinching win for Boston.

“I don’t think you learn lessons until you’re old enough to appreciate them, especially now that I do this for a living,” Lester said.

Lester, like many children of the area, had dreamed of that moment — as well as his second World Series win with Boston, in 2013. It’s the reason why many strap on their batting gloves, pull down their ballcaps and pound the hide of their mitts.

It was a special moment for Lester and his family as they pulled down the veil of the ballfield named in his honor.

Lester took a moment to admire the sign and the work put into the field, miles different from when he last remembered pitching there.

“There’s definitely a lot to remember. A lot to appreciate. Now we have this and all the upgrades, it’s kind of cool to come back to see,” the pitcher said.

Here is where Jon Lester became the pitcher people have seen mature into one of the games top left-handed starters, a three-time all-star and a $155 million arm for the Cubs. It all started here.

“I’m definitely thankful that my parents didn’t push me to be something that I wasn’t. Or didn’t put pressure on me to excel in something,” Lester said. “They just knew how much I enjoyed playing sports, and they let me play as many as I could that they could drive me to without getting in trouble, and keep up with my homework.”

“I think for me, just going out playing and having a good time playing baseball. Being on these fields, like I said with my mom as my coach — it’s coming full circle. Just really trying to enjoy being a kid, and now grown up and I have kids. You can kind of see them, and see how they go about things. I’m glad my parents did what they did and just let me have fun.”

With baseball right around the corner, children of all ages can begin to start their careers on Jon Lester Ballfield, dreaming big — and hoping their aspirations can be put into reality, too.

This story was originally published March 2, 2016 at 12:14 PM with the headline "Puyallup honors MLB pitcher Jon Lester with ballfield naming."