Indians Pitch in for Private Plane to Get Jack Hannahan to Son’s Birth

When we see guys like Carlos Zambrano walking out on teammates and David Ortiz throwing a fit because an RBI was taken away from him, it becomes tough not to stereotype pro athletes as selfish people.  Moments like those can make us lose sight of the selfless acts that players commit. What the Indians did for teammate Jack Hannahan earlier this month deserves recognition.

With the Indians stuck in Boston on a road trip, Hannahan received a call from his agent that his wife, Jenny, was having contractions and was possibly going to go into labor in a few hours.  Jenny had already been having some complications with her pregnancy and was told her baby could be born anytime, despite the fact that she was in her third trimester.  The earliest flight Hannahan’s agent, Joe Speed, could book for him back to Cleveland was the following morning.  The only other option was to book a private jet, which would cost $35,000.  Spending that much wasn’t an option for Hannahan whose salary is $500,000.

When teammate Justin Masterson overheard what was going on, he ordered Hannahan to have his agent book the flight.  According to the Pioneer Press, Jack was hesitant but Masterson insisted.  After the game the entire team chipped in and quickly came up with $35,000 and sent Hannahan on his way to the airport.

Hannahan arrived at the hospital in Cleveland at 3 a.m. and his son was born just 15 minutes later.  The birth was premature but Speed says Hannahans wife and son, John, are both doing fine.  Don’t worry — stories like that are supposed to give you goosebumps.