Vernon Wells, Blue Jays Center fielder, Partners with The Salvation Army to Help Kids in Need

by Salvation Army
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Blue Jays center fielder Vernon Wells is one ball player who is enjoying a rebound season. But, number 10 is more than about home runs, and making great catches and jumps on fly balls. On June 23, 2010, Vernon and his wife Charlene sat down with SalvationArmy.ca to talk about the game, their family, faith and Foundation that is dedicated to supporting and protecting children in need.

Vernon, tell us about your early years

I was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, on December 8, 1978. I grew up in Arlington, Texas, where my family moved in 1988. Before I was born, my father, Vernon Wells Sr., was a football player, a receiver who, at one point, played in the CFL with the Calgary Stampeders. Sports were a big part of our family.

As a young boy you were an infielder. What changed?

At age seven I began my little league career as an infielder. At age 11, I was charging ground balls before a game and got hit in the mouth. There was blood everywhere. I didn’t lose any teeth, but the hit was hard enough for me to get as far away from the batter as possible.

Describe your path to the major leagues

In high school I played quarterback on the football team, and was an outfielder on the baseball team. After graduation I signed my letter of intent to go to the University of Texas to play baseball and football. Football was as a wide receiver. Before I got my foot in the door I was drafted by the Jays in the first round of the 1997 draft. I worked my way through the minors and 2002 was my first full season with the Jays.

Can you comment on a career low and how you moved forward from it?

In 2009 I struggled with consistency at the plate. Nagging injuries caused my body to give up on me. Stats left me with some of my career-worst numbers. I was frustrated that I couldn’t make a difference in the game. In the off season surgery to a left wrist injury cleaned up fraying and inflammation. Throughout winter training I focussed on batting and made changes to my stroke. I mentally put the 2009 season behind me. If you dwell on the past you may miss something waiting for you in the future.

Charlene: In 2009 boo’s from the fans started from the time Vernon’s name was called to when he left the field. Taking our two sons, now ages five and seven, to the games was no longer an option. Vernon’s struggles at the plate caused strife in our marriage. He became disconnected from our family as he constantly replayed games over and over in his head. Nobody wanted him to do better than himself. We prayed and cried a lot.

Throughout your career, who has been your greatest mentor and why?

Without hesitation, it would be Deion Sanders, a former Major League Baseball outfielder and National League Football cornerback. He is currently an NFL Network commentator.

We met in 2000 when we both played for the Syracuse SkyChiefs. I watched how he dealt with struggles and how he carried himself.

What is the best advice you’ve ever been given?

The true test of a person is not how you deal with success, but how you deal with failure. It’s easy to go through the good times, but it’s how you respond and get through the tough times that define who you are.

Explain the Vernon Wells Perfect 10 Foundation

Charlene: It was established in 2008 and is a Christian faith-based organization to support and protect children and mothers in need. After embracing a charity event in our hometown we were astonished at the level of poverty we saw. We were asked to take two homeless little boys shopping for shoes. Their feet were black. They hadn’t bathed in days. They shared clothes and were undernourished. At that moment we knew we must do something to impact the lives of children in need.

One of the Foundation’s partnerships is with The Salvation Army. We admire and respect their work as they invest in the marginalized and overlooked people within our communities. Our work with The Salvation Army began in Arlington, Texas, and now we are partnering with them in the Greater Toronto Area. From cookouts to toy drives to sending kids to camp, to providing practical assistance for kids and families in need, our partnership with the Army focuses on encouraging and equipping those who have met with hard times to improve their lives.

What do you do off season?

I strive to be a successful contributor to my community in Arlington, Texas. Off season is busier than the baseball season. I meet with student organizations to share my testimony of faith and my work habits as a professional baseball player.
Most important is time spent with family. This includes our 10-year-old American Eskimo dog named Lacee. And, Charlene and I are extremely active in Christian and Jayce’s school volunteering and serving on the auction committee.

What is an important life lesson that you’ve learned?
It’s better to be a good person than to be a good baseball player.