Major league baseball player speaks in Kidron at annual family gathering

Perci Garner speaks at the Ray Miller family breakfast in Kidron.

Dan Hostetler, Perci Garner, and Ray Miller. Dan Hostetler, along with Andy Miller, J Augspurger, and Eldon King have all spoken in previous years at the breakfast that supports the Salem youth mission trips. 

By JACQUI L. HERSHBERGER
DGKN contributor

KIDRON  If Ray Miller has met you, he probably remembers where you met, what year it was, and possibly even what day.

If there’s a chance you might be related to the Kidron resident, he will figure it out and let you know, and he has a story about each person he’s encountered in his life.

Miller enjoys getting people together, and for over 10 years, has organized a yearly family breakfast.

“We started in the basement of Kidron Town and Country—I wanted to get the men from my family together. Eighteen of us met, and J Augspurger was the speaker,” said Miller.

Over the years, Eldon King, Dan Bartlowiak, Dan Hostetler, and Andy Miller have all been speakers.

This year, Miller combined his love of baseball, his love of helping others, and his extensive network of connections to ask Perci Garner, a pitcher for the Cleveland Indians in 2016, to be the speaker at the March 22 event at Salem Mennonite Church in Kidron, an event that has grown to support the Salem youth mission trips.

Garner shared his story of growing up in Dover, Ohio, and his journey to the major leagues. A three sport athlete in high school, Garner decided to try to play football in college.

“There were 86 scholarships for football, and 11 for baseball, so I played the numbers,” he said.

He got a scholarship to play football at Ball State, and he played quarterback there, but it didn’t go great, so he switched to baseball. Garner shared his journey of getting to play for the Indians, and also how he grew in his faith and gave his life to Christ.

“If we are worth dying for, then Jesus is worth living for. Obviously there are times in my life when I fail, but that’s just how it’s going to be,” said Garner.

Garner shared about what it was like going out onto the Major League field for the first time.

“If you have ever been to Progressive Field in the bullpen, then you know there are a lot of stairs that you have to go up to start warming up. So I had to go up those stairs, and my heart was beating really hard from the stairs. When I went down the stairs, my only focus was to not show that I was out of shape! Also, I could not feel my legs, so I had to make sure that I picked them up intentionally so I didn’t fall—I didn’t want to end up on Sports Center for the wrong reasons! And it was a long run out to the mound, and I realized how bright the lights were—even though it was 10 o’clock at night.”

During his time with the Indians in 2016, he appeared in 8 games, compiling a 4.82 ERA with 12 strikeouts across 9+1⁄3 innings pitched.

“The Indians in 2016 were a great group of guys, great teammates, great coaching staff, and a great training staff. It was a great big family, and I was proud to be a part of it,” said Garner.

Garner is the Executive Director with the Rainbow Connection in Tuscarawas County, an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit health charity dedicated to assisting disabled and disadvantaged residents of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, and the organizations and schools that serve them.  The Rainbow Connection is celebrating 75 years, and was started by the New
Philadelphia Rotarians.

“If you know anyone in Tuscarawas County who is in need, contact us. One hurdle is that it’s always harder to be the receiver than the giver. I tell people–look, you may have been helping people your whole life, and you may have this one small roadblock. Let us help you with this roadblock so you can continue serving others. And usually that lets their guard down,” said
Garner.

Ray Miller gives personal invitations to the yearly breakfast, and the meal is made by Salem youth and some of Ray's sisters and relatives. Dan Bartlowiak, Dave Daniels, and John Weyrauch led music, ending again this year with “I Saw the Light.”

“At the end of the day, if we keep our mind and our tongues focused towards positive things and lifting people up, we’ll all be in a better place,” said Garner.

“Thank you very much for coming. Thank you so much for coming up from Dover, for everybody who helped, everybody who showed up. Thanks so much,” said Miller.