SIOUX CITY, IOWA (Iowa Media Wire) – Dwight Childs spent nearly 10 years away from baseball. But his love for the game never left. The 35-year-old catcher is in his seconds week with the Sioux City Explorers, continuing a comeback that’s defying the odds.
When his pro career came to a halt in 2015, Dwight Childs moved in a new direction.
“I went and became a police officer, a deputy sheriff in California,” Sioux City Explorers catcher Dwight Childs said.
But after years of trading in his bat for a badge, baseball was still in his heart.
“I was missing something in my life. There’s two things that I found. The first one was God and the second one was baseball,” Childs stated.
And his comeback was born.
“There was really no training wheels coming back either which was good because you want to be challenged. You want to make sure you’re ready,” Childs mentioned.
Many were impressed. Word spread and a spring training invite to the Sioux Falls Canaries followed. No roster spot became available, but he knew of room on another team that was in town for a series.
“I just noticed this guy was listening to our conversations,” Sioux City Explorers field manager Steve Montgomery said. “I was talking about how we should pitch guys in certain situations and then after the game this guy introduced himself as Dwight Childs.”
“If a guy goes down or you need a guy I’m here. I’m ready to go,” Childs said.
Childs worked out for the Explorers the next day and Mongo liked what he saw. A few hours later, the 35-year-old received what was some thought impossible. A professional contract.
“You have that moment when you’re offered a contract and you do make it back. I just stopped and I thanked God,” Childs remembered.
Finally back in pro ball, Childs’ return to the roster was complete. The next day was even better. Childs approached the lineup card and saw what he hadn’t seen in nearly 10 years: Dwight Childs. Starting catcher.
“I walked over I saw my name and one of the guys walks over and goes ‘hey don’t be nervous’ and walks away,” Childs recalled.
But nerves never came into play. Now facing the team where he started his comeback, Childs threw out a runner in the first inning, only to follow it with an RBI double off the wall the first at-bat of his comeback.
“I felt like I was back again,” Childs said. “That was step one. Now step two is come out and perform. Put up the numbers. Help this team win.”
That’s exactly what he did on Tuesday night. Reaching clutch status with a go-ahead RBI single in the 7th inning against first place Fargo-Moorhead.
“If anyone was every considering trying to make a comeback at almost 36 years old and they hadn’t been in the game in a while, Childs would be a guy to model that comeback after,” Sioux City Explorers outfielder Chase Harris said.
A comeback with the long-term goal of making an MLB roster. But Childs continues to take things day-by-day.
“Him and I joke a little bit sometimes about ‘hey we got to take care of our bodies’ being a little older,” Harris said.
“They keep me young, you know they keep me young,” Childs said.
Proving that age doesn’t define ability. Making the most of another chance at his baseball dreams.
“This league is about second chances,” Montgomery said. “Maybe he’s like a cat, Maybe this is his ninth life or something.”
“Everybody told me this is a pipe dream,” Childs said. “But here I am. I have a professional contract. I don’t care what age you are. If you want to pursue a goal, go after it.”