HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) — Shane Victorino, who hails from Maui, earned the moniker "Flyin' Hawaiian" after an impressive 12 seasons filled with spectacular diving catches.
But in a conversation with theThe "Pardon My Take" podcast from Barstool Sports.Victorino shared that as a child in Wailuku, he would often find himself airborne – he recounted one instance of being propelled from a moving vehicle, and another, years later, of being struck by a car.
Victorino recounted a story, saying, "Imagine driving through your town when suddenly the door swings open. Little Shane is on that side and tumbles out. Then, an elderly woman driving 30 mph hits me. She claimed I was thrown 60 feet."
Victorino mentioned that despite visiting the ER a full 10 times before his fifth birthday, he was always well enough to participate in games.
Despite dedicating much of his time to athletic pursuits, the island native never picked up surfing.
He admitted that as a child, he wasn't very skilled at boogie boarding, often got tossed around, and developed a fear of the ocean.
Surprisingly, baseball consistently ranked last in popularity among land-based activities.
"I loved soccer more than anything. I even dreamed of becoming the next Pelé," he stated.
Next up was football season, and after that, track and field.
Despite being noticed by the University of Hawaii baseball scouts, his toughest critic was someone he knew well.
My mother once told me, looking me straight in the eye, that I would never make it to the major leagues. She insisted that pursuing a college degree and getting an education was a far more realistic path for me.
At the same time, Victorino was also being drawn towards the football field.
He recounted receiving a partial baseball scholarship to the University of Hawaii. However, on the day he was drafted, June Jones offered him a full scholarship due to a kicker scholarship becoming available, given his background as a soccer player.
In the end, Victorino chose to pursue baseball and was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1999 MLB draft.
In 2018, he ended his career with a distinguished record: two World Series titles (one in 2008 with the Philadelphia Phillies and another in 2013 with the Boston Red Sox), two All-Star selections, and four Gold Glove awards.
Victorino's current priorities are his roles as a husband, a father to three children, and a coach.Hawaiian youth baseball team, known as the Flyin’ Hawaiians. in Las Vegas.
He reflected, "When I consider the sheer number of baseball players throughout history, the fact that I spent a decade in the major leagues is remarkable. It's an even tinier fraction of that total, making me feel incredibly fortunate!"
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