ST. LOUIS — Thousands of fans cheered as Paul Goldschmidt hit the Cardinals’ go-ahead home run Saturday night at Busch Stadium. But none of them knew that, just hours earlier, Goldschmidt had been dealing with a nightmare no father would ever want to experience.
His daughter, Ella, was 6 years old and had just been diagnosed with a rare heart rhythm disorder. The news came just as Goldschmidt was preparing to leave the hotel for practice. He recalled the moment:
“I stood there frozen. I collapsed in the middle of the tunnel. Not from physical pain, but from fear — the fear of losing the most important thing in my life.”
When his coach let him off, Goldschmidt shook his head. He called his wife in the hospital. After a few minutes of silence, he said:
“Tell Ella that Daddy’s playing today. Daddy’s playing for her.”
And true to his word, Goldschmidt came out with an unusual look in his eyes—calm, powerful. In the first at-bat, he hit a powerful single, then raised his hand to the sky as he stood on base.
When he reached the dugout, Goldschmidt did not celebrate. He just quietly held his glove, sat looking toward the stands—as if trying to send a message that transcended distance and time:
“I don’t need a four-hit night. Just Ella knowing I’m there, fighting for her—the way I do best.”
“He’s the heart of this team. But today, he was a father figure.”
— Coach Oliver Marmol
“Paul never lets his emotions get in the way of the game. But today, he brought his emotions to it—and that’s what touched us the most.”
— Teammate Lars Nootbaar
A father. A warrior. A great heart.
Paul Goldschmidt didn’t need many words. He just needed a bat, a ball and a reason to play. That day, his reason was Ella – and it was the most emotional game of the season, not in terms of points, but in terms of love.