Former Dodger & Cardinal Pedro Guerrero Escapes Death After Suffering Massive Stroke

This is absolutely incredible:


Former Major Leaguer Pedro Guerrero, who suffered a massive stroke Monday, awoke from a coma Wednesday morning and spoke with friends and family, according to a report by ESPN's Enrique Rojas.


Guerrero was taken to the Jamaica Center Hospital after suffering a massive stroke -- his second -- near his home in Queens on Monday evening. Guerrero's wife, Roxanna, told ESPN her husband was then transferred to Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan, where he is now resting.


"It is a miracle that Pedro is alive, completely conscious and speaking clearly two days after a doctor basically declared him brain dead," Roxanna Guerrero told ESPN. "This is a miracle."


Doctors told Roxanna she had to sign a document to declare Guerrero dead, but she would not do so until they were able to speak with the doctor who had operated a brain bypass surgery on her husband in February 2015, according to an ESPN report.


Mrs. Guerrero is absolutely right. This is a miracle and I'm glad she wasn't ready to sign a death certificate. No doubt she knew her husband would fight back just like he fought to get to the big leagues.


I remember Guerrero as one of the most powerful figures in MLB during the 1980's first with the Los Angeles Dodgers and later the St. Louis Cardinals. In 15 MLB seasons, Guerrero was named to five NL All-Star teams, finished in the top five in NL MVP balloting four times, drove in 100 or more runs in a season thrice and earned a World Series ring (and co-MVP honors) with the Dodgers in 1981.


It's hard to see men who looked so strong now look so vulnerable. Willie Stargell comes to mind in this respect. But the 60-year old Guerrero has lived to fight another day.


On a personal note, I saw Guerrero in my hometown of Thunder Bay, Ontario in the summer of 1993. That year was the inaugural season of the Thunder Bay Whiskeyjacks in the independent Northern League. Occasionally one would see former big league players and Guerrero was one of them playing for the Sioux Falls Canaries. I remember seeing Guerrero in the on deck circle just as the inning was about to begin and there was some music playing over the PA system and he was dancing to it. This would earn him a loud ovation.


No doubt Pedro Guerrero cannot wait to return home to dance once again.