Malli, (Rob / Robbin / Lefty / Percy / Robbie Dale, Hey You)
I was born November 16th, 1964, in St. Helens Oregon. My father was managing a grocery store at the time and with snow the roads were icy. Dad was late to my birth BUT he made it and of course Mom made it. We lived in Salem in my early years. White house, two stories and a block away from South Salem High. I loved throwing a baseball and that throwing started at a young age. Mom would walk with me around Bush Park, and I loved to throw rocks. With the stream and millions of rocks I was in heaven.
My Junior year I was just having fun pitching and hitting. A few games into my senior year I pitched against one of our rivals. Beaverton. They had a highly scouted catcher with a dozen scouts watching him and I ended up striking him out 2 times. This ended up helping my visibility with professional baseball and college.
This put me on the radar with scouts and colleges. I started getting offer letters and phone calls but once I was drafted in the 8th round by the Detroit Tigers out of high school my dream was starting to happen. Once I signed, I spent every waking moment focused on baseball and trying to move up through the system. I spent the fall after the minor league season ended in Phoenix in the Astros Instructional League for 6 weeks, then drove down to Houston after the new year working with other players on the MLB team and it helped me tremendously.
Basically baseball had become my life. I ended up playing for 11 years and spend nearly 3 years in the MLB, but my shoulder gave out and required 3 surgeries to repair and this took time away from me. I would not trade anything for the experience playing baseball professionally. Many get the chance, but only a few make it to the MLB.
February 4 2025
I have attacking this cancer like I approached my baseball career. Focused on beating it and staying positive during all the visits and treatments. I should be excited to hear that my health insurance approved a procedure called Y-90 and the lead oncologist mentioned they might not approve it due to the fact I have stage 4 cancer in 4 organs now: Liver, Colon, Lung and Lymphatic system. They did approve it and it is now scheduled for Feb 11th and 28th.
The Y-90 procedure is two visits. The first visit is to mapping my circulation in and around my liver and the second is a full dose shot at getting as many Y-90 spheres into my liver and keeping them there.It is not a wonder cure but it can help improve my quality of life somewhat.
I truly think the most destructive organ in my body is whatever has cancer in it AND my brain and how much energy is taken to weave through the emotions and thoughts over the last 5 years since the colonoscopy.
To ALL men out there. GET YOURS DONE and DO NOT DELAY THIS!
Thanks to Baron Robison and the Kicking-Cancer team I found some support and care that I had no idea even existed. Thank you for everything Baron and thank you Kicking-Cancer for inviting me down to Salem last year and again at this event in the town I spent the first 11 years of my life in.
The Little Giant market for giving me a place to ride my bicycle to and spend the .05 or .10 I had in my pocket at a young age. Everly Volkswagen for sponsoring the little league team I played on in South Salem
I plan on giving any/all effort to extending my life on this spinning rock but quality of life is also something I also want. I have been given a pretty amazing life when I look back at some of my accomplishments.
Submitted by Rob Malicoat