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Philadelphia Phillies Star Honors Hometown Hero Sunday, September 3rd , 2023 Johnny "Hardcase" Madison was a budding baseball prospect from Wilmington, Delaware when, two years ago, he decided to defer the promise of a sports career in order to join the armed forces. Last month, while on leave back in his hometown, he was driving to see his favorite team, the Philadelphia Phillies, when he came upon the scene of a horrific auto crash. His military training kicked in, and he managed to save a mother and her two children from the flaming wreckage despite receiving some serious burns as a result. A bystander caught it all on video, and Madison quickly became a national hero. Soon, accolades started pouring in from every corner of the country, and the story soon reached Paul Goldschmidt, who also happens to be from the same town. Goldschmidt invited Madison, who is still recuperating from his injuries, to a recent Phillies home game. When the two met, the first baseman learned that they had grown up only blocks from each other. "It's freaky because it turns out our families are practically neighbors," said Madison. Not only did the newly minted celebrity get to see his favorite team play from the comfort of a luxury box, but Goldschmidt made sure he didn't leave Citizens Bank Park empty handed. In addition to receiving a game jersey and a ball autographed by the entire team, Goldschmidt also presented him with a full-season pass for next year. Madison was clearly blown away by the star's generosity, but to teammate Richard Rodriguez, it was hardly surprising. "Paul is always giving his time and money to worthy causes, that's just the way he is." Goldschmidt, for his part, was characteristically modest, saying only that "it was the least I could do to show my appreciation for a hometown guy." |
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