Chris Singleton: MLB & ESPN Broadcaster

2 hours ago

36 min read

Chris Singleton has spent decades around baseball—as a Major League player and as a broadcaster with ESPN. But behind the career is a deeply personal story of family, grief, community, calling, and a faith that became real to him at 18.

In this conversation with Ric Hansen, Chris reflects on growing up with a hardworking mother, the coaches and mentors who stepped into his life, and the unexpected ways he believes God was guiding him long before he understood it. He talks about choosing baseball over football, the friendships forged in the minor leagues, and a joyful church invitation from a woman he met at Walmart in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Chris also shares the pain of losing his older brother in a car accident, the anxiety that led to an unforgettable midnight wedding in Lake Tahoe, and how a brief interaction with umpire Ted Barrett became part of Ted’s own faith story. The conversation closes with Chris’s current emphasis on quietness, prayer, and learning to receive time with God as a grace rather than another task to perform.

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In This Episode

How Chris moved from Major League Baseball into broadcasting with the White Sox and ESPN
The lessons his mother taught him about discipline, language, and perseverance
How coaches, mentors, and other believers helped shape his path
Why his faith became personal and transformative when he was 18
What the minor leagues taught him about humility, community, and interdependence
The Walmart encounter with “Sweet Lou” that led to a meaningful church community
How he processed the tragic death of his older brother
The story behind two wedding anniversaries with the same wife
How a moment with umpire Ted Barrett became an unexpected influence
Why Chris is leaning into stillness, quiet, and “spiritual graces” in prayer

Chris Singleton at a glance

Former Major League Baseball Player • ESPN Baseball Broadcaster • Chicago White Sox Broadcaster • Christian Testimony • Faith in the Workplace

Topics

Major League Baseball • Houston Astros • Chicago White Sox • ESPN • Baseball broadcasting • Professional baseball • College football • University of Nevada • Minor League Baseball • Christian faith • Finding Jesus • Spiritual transformation • Christian athletes • Faith in the workplace • Mentorship • God’s calling • Family • Motherhood • Father figures • Christian community • Grief and loss • Death of a sibling • Marriage • Evangelism • Discipleship • Ted Barrett • Prayer • Stillness • Spiritual graces • Living out your faith • Sharing Jesus through relationships

His Faith Journey

Growing up in California with a hardworking mother who instilled discipline and perseverance → Being shaped by Little League coaches and mentors who provided guidance and father figures → Receiving Christ as a child but not fully understanding the meaning of salvation → Experiencing inner restlessness and searching for fulfillment in other places → Surrendering his life to Jesus at age 18 → Experiencing a radical transformation that changed his priorities and lifestyle → Learning about faith through Scripture, personal study, and Christian friendships → Discovering how God could work through people and circumstances long before he recognized it → Pursuing professional baseball and learning humility, community, and interdependence in the minor leagues → Experiencing the devastating loss of his older brother and learning to walk through grief → Discovering unexpected Christian community through an encounter with “Sweet Lou” at Walmart in Shreveport → Wrestling with anxiety, relationships, and the desire to please God → Learning to share his faith by focusing on loving people rather than feeling pressured to preach → Returning to baseball as a place where his career and ministry could come together → Realizing that an ordinary interaction with fellow believer Ted Barrett had a lasting spiritual impact → Growing into a deeper appreciation for stillness, quiet prayer, and receiving time with God as a grace rather than a task

This Episode Explores

Chris Singleton’s career as a Major League Baseball player and longtime ESPN broadcaster
How Chris transitioned from professional baseball into broadcasting with the Chicago White Sox and ESPN
Why successful athletes must embrace humility, preparation, and a new identity when moving into broadcasting
How Chris’s mother shaped his character, communication skills, discipline, and work ethic
The Little League coaches and mentors who helped fill important father-figure roles in his childhood
His unexpected transition from a college football scholarship to pursuing professional baseball
What the minor leagues taught Chris about humility, shared struggles, community, and depending on others
The remarkable story of “Sweet Lou,” the woman Chris met at Walmart in Shreveport who welcomed him and his wife into her church community
How Chris experienced the devastating loss of his older brother in a car accident and the grief that followed
The personal anxiety that led Chris and his wife to have two wedding anniversaries
How Chris navigated the challenges of openly expressing his Christian faith in college and professional baseball
Why Chris believes that loving people well is more powerful than feeling pressured to share your faith
How he came to understand baseball as a place where God could use his professional career for ministry
Why he is increasingly embracing stillness, silence, and quietness in God’s presence
His suggestion that spiritual practices can be understood as “spiritual graces”—invitations to receive time with God rather than simply tasks to accomplish

Questions Answered

Who is Chris Singleton?
Did Chris Singleton play Major League Baseball?
What teams did Chris Singleton play for?
How did Chris Singleton become an ESPN baseball broadcaster?
How long did Chris Singleton work with ESPN?
What role did Chris Singleton’s mother play in shaping his life?
Who were the mentors and coaches who influenced Chris Singleton growing up?
When did Chris Singleton make his Christian faith his own?
How did Chris Singleton transition from college football to professional baseball?
What did Chris Singleton learn from playing in the minor leagues?
Who was “Sweet Lou,” and how did she influence Chris Singleton’s life?
How did Chris Singleton cope with the death of his older brother?
Why do Chris Singleton and his wife have two wedding anniversaries?
How did Chris Singleton learn to share his Christian faith in professional baseball?

Transcript: Chris Singleton: Baseball, Broadcasting, and a Life Transformed by Jesus

Ric — 00:47

Chris has like got this amazing story, amazing background, and in so many ways. Not only a baseball guy with some major league experience, but also a broadcast guy. And currently we're going to find out a little bit more about what you're doing right now. Chris, welcome. Thank you for being here. Thanks, Rick. Thanks for having me. You betcha. So let's start. I'd like to kind of start with ESPN because you were there 17 years. A large piece of your background and your career has been in broadcasting. And it came out of your career, of course, in baseball. But 17 years at ESPN, that is a lifetime in broadcasting.

Chris Singleton — 01:29

Yeah, yeah. 17 years. I think 17 years total, Rick, between ESPN and the Chicago White Sox. I think ESPN was around 14, 15. And then I had those two years where I first started with Chicago. And I really didn't know that I wanted to be a full-time broadcaster. It was just kind of one of those things I had come out of the game and was doing some Sunday afternoon ESPN radio, baseball tonight stuff, and I guess I was you know pretty decent at it because I got some calls from some teams to see if I was interested in you know broadcasting. So the White Sox had called, and because I had such a strong relationship with them, having played in the big leagues there and had some good years there, that I felt like, well, I don't want to say no because what if they take that as, hey, I don't want to be you know involved with the organization. So I was just thinking, well, I better say yes because maybe later down the road I want to do something, and then they'll say, No, you said no to us, you know, a long time ago. So I went ahead and did it and ended up falling in love with it.

Ric — 02:36

Yeah, yeah, and doing such a great job at it, which amazes me because I look at people like Tom Brady, you know, he was just doing a Seahawks game the other day, and I'm saying to my saying to myself, okay, here's a guy that was a you know a superstar in his field, made the transition, and you know, right out of the box looks and sounds great. And kind of the same story. And I thought, well, I'm gonna talk to Chris about that because same story with you. I mean, how do you make that transition between, you know, it's a totally different field, right? Yes, baseball is, you know, a hard driving, you know, definitely a a difficult and tough tough career career, but then to just like turn on the switch and say, oh, I guess I could be a broadcaster now and then do a great job. How's that work?

Chris Singleton — 03:25

Well, I think I appreciate the compliments, and I would say that there is a little bit of I think a mental adjustment that a player has to make, especially if you go directly from playing right into the broadcast booth immediately. I think Tom probably had a couple of years to decompress and he'll reorient himself. and I think a harder job for Tom Brady being a superstar because you spent so many years on the field, you've done everything imaginable on the field, and now you have to humble yourself a little bit and take a different role because now it's not about you anymore, it's about the guys on the field. I mean, it can be about you for a very short amount of time, but after that, people don't want to hear about that. They want to hear about the players that they've tuned in to watch. And so definitely want to draw a distinction between Tom Brady and myself. I went right into it. So for me, some of the things that were a little difficult

Chris Singleton — 04:30

was walking into those clubhouses. And before, you know, the media, oh, here comes the media, you know, it's the media was the enemy. and now I was sort of on that other side. And so taking a little bit of the ribbing from former teammates that, oh, media's here, media's here. You know, it wasn't the most pleasant feeling at first, and you and you really, I felt like had to, you know, lean into your new identity. because there's still part of you that thinks you're a player, and you have to slowly but surely accept that I'm not a player anymore. I am media, I am a broadcaster, and there is a different mindset that you have to approach with it in terms of I've gotta do this job and do it well. I can't try to straddle the fence and be still the player and the broadcaster because those those individuals tend to not last a very long time because they don't do their homework, they don't prepare, they don't study, they think that they can just show up and because they were a player, that they've got you know great commentary. Now it's it's good when you can share your experiences on the field, but at some point you also have to have relevant information about the guys that are down there now. And so I was a I was a student of broadcasting and I embraced it. And I think that's what contributed to my long tenure as a broadcaster, not just with the White Sox, but you know, with the worldwide leader in sports.

Childhood, Family, and the People Who Shaped Him

Ric — 06:03

Yeah, absolutely. So let's jump back because I want to get some context about who you are as a person and your your personal journey. And I know that there's a lot of things that you got a lot of valleys in the midst of it all. You got a huge number of mountains that you, you know, at the at the top of. But it all started when you were a young kid and you had a tumultuous kind of start with a divorce in the family and your mom raised you. What did that look like?

Chris Singleton — 06:35

Well, in some ways, right, we have to look at life and say, yeah, it's unfortunate that wasn't able to experience sort of that nuclear family and beyond just what we would say a nuclear family, God's design. didn't get to experience that. And, you know, definitely wish that it could have been that way. But we also have to look at what those things did create in you. And that was a hunger for me to want to succeed, a hunger to want to do well financially to help take care of my mom because I saw the struggle from week to week and experienced that as a kid, not having some of the other things that kids had, and you know, whether it was the time for a new school year and you know, hoping that you had a new outfit or two, and, you know, just so that you could have new clothes and you know, things like that. We didn't have an abundance by any means. We, you know, kind of barely got by for a lot of those years, but that did create a hunger. and I'm thankful because it caused me to have the drive that I needed to be successful in my career and financially. And so I'm thankful for that. you know, it wasn't exactly what you want as a kid, but when you look back and see what molded and shaped and helped you to become successful, you know, I'm very grateful to have that.

Ric — 08:02

Yeah. And your mom was kind of a character builder, wasn't she? Was she was very supportive, she was a hard worker, and those are all characteristics that you kind of used as a platform to build a career.

Chris Singleton — 08:15

Yeah, Rick, I would say that many years on not just Mother's Day, where I give my mom a Mother's Day card. There were times I wanted to give her a Father's Day card as well because I felt that she did a great job in terms of providing that discipline that a lot of times, you know, fathers provide that I didn't have around. So she was she was pretty tough on me to say the least. but I'd say I've shared the story many a times that I think she's the reason why I was able to become a broadcaster and become successful was because she would not allow me to speak broken English. She would not allow me to get away with just, you know, slang words and everything else. I mean, I could sneak when I was away from home and I was with my buddies and I wanted to sound like everyone else. But if she was in an earshot, man, I had to tighten it up and clean it up. And sometimes even when I thought I was far enough away in another room and I would say something that was grammatically incorrect, she would yell from the other room the correct way to say it. And I had to say it the correct way. And so that paid off later on because I was able to go into pretty much any environment and communicate with that audience.

Ric — 09:28

And so your dad role kind of all not only your mom kind of filled that role, but also I think you mentioned along the way that just the coaches, little league coaches and coaches along the way kind of were those father figures for you as well, right?

Chris Singleton — 09:42

Yeah, kind of that it takes a village to raise a child, you know, approach. And unknowingly, by the grace of God, I was, you know, blessed with very memorable little league coaches for me. I mean, I can think back to you know Rick Diedrich, who was he was a coach, great little league coach, by the way. And his son Ryan was my best friend for several years growing up, and he picked me up for every practice, took me home, was able to hang out at their house at times, spend the weekend, swim.

Ric — 10:18

You're listening to the story of Chris Singleton, both living in baseball and then sharing baseball with the world on ESPN on Amazing Greats.

Chris Singleton — 10:28

Bob Perales was another great

Chris Singleton — 10:30

coach of mine, took me in as a son as well, and, you know, Richard Suzuki was my soccer coach, and you know, had a lot of memorable times on the soccer field and a lot of character and molding and development. So, you know, those were guys in my early years that I'll never forget, and I never can tell my story without mentioning their names because they were huge. And so I'm so grateful for that. and I and I commend coaches today and mentors today, people that are investing in kids, you know, outside of their own, to try to give them an opportunity that maybe their family circumstances wouldn't allow.

Finding a Personal Faith at 18

Ric — 11:12

And where was God in those early days? Was he a part of your early bringing up or that came later, maybe?

Chris Singleton — 11:19

God was in those men. even though those men weren't professing Christians or anything about faith, God was using those men, you know, as literal angels in my life to help shape what eventually he would have planned for me. You know, a lot of times we kind of dismiss, you know, the BC, right? Before Christ, it's like, oh yeah, you know, those things happened, but it wasn't until you know we met Christ that everything, well, God, I believe God is even working in our lives before we actually meet and connect with him and putting people in your life, sometimes good, sometimes bad, sometimes the bad individuals show you what you don't want to be. And so when it all culminates and comes together and you look back, even though I didn't at those younger years have a born-again sort of faith or environment, I believe that even then God's hand was on my life and he was by his sovereignty was sort of orchestrating my path to get me to a place that it would all come together for you know, kingdom and eternal purpose.

Ric — 12:32

And when did that come together? when when did you have what you would consider 18, yeah.

Chris Singleton — 12:37

18 years old is when I was baptized. I received Christ when I was eight years old and baptized, but it wasn't until 18 years old that it really became a reality. And that's where I would say that I was truly born again, and just a transformation between my understanding God's spirit and for me to surrender my life. didn't know about I didn't know anything about the Bible, I didn't know anything about the heart of God, I really didn't know about salvation. When I was just unsettled in myself, knowing that something was missing, something wasn't right. when I tried to fill that void in every other way and realized that nothing's working and finally came to the conclusion that, okay, God, if this is you, I don't know what to do, but I'll give you my life. I was miserable. I was like, I'll give you my life if you know you'll save me.

Ric — 13:31

Was there a pivotal moment at that point?

Chris Singleton — 13:33

Was there a like a moment that no, no accident, no sickness, no nothing like that. It was just merely looking at the signs of the times, seeing that you know we were in the Gulf War at that time, and you know, I knew enough. I'd been scared enough by church to know that there was gonna be an end times. And, you know, I think those things thinking what's really going on in the world, and you know, is this the end? And you know, just processing a lot of thoughts that were unsettling and just led me to ask the Lord if he would save me, then I would live for him. I didn't know how. I didn't even know if there was a trial period that I had to stay committed in order for me to truly be saved. I was that illiterate in terms of the Bible, but, that's what was so wonderful. The Holy Spirit just really captivating my heart and step by step, day by day, drawing me to God, to a life of submission and obedience to his will, and, and then a hunger for more of his truth and for his purposes in my life. And that's when everything turned. And it I never looked back. You know, at 18, I've never never looked back. Never

Chris Singleton — 14:50

once did I have a season of you know apathy or backsliding. It was, you know, full steam ahead.

Ric — 14:57

And it during that time, there was no, there was no, I mean, this you were kind of a self-taught Christian, kind of, because you had no real mentor that was schooling you or discipling you. it was self self-taught and self-awareness.

Chris Singleton — 15:12

Yeah, and it's interesting. And I don't say that and I don't, you know, kind of lean into what you're saying in a in a way of pride or arrogance in any way, but it is interesting when I do look, I do a lot of personal development and self-assessment work, and I have discovered that you know I am the type of person, I'll give you an example. I learned how to snowboard several years ago. Now, one of my best friends, childhood friends, he's a skier and you know, advanced skier. I was going out trying to learn how to snowboard, and he said to me one day, he said, you know what's interesting, the difference between you and me. If I were you, I would take a class to learn how to snowboard. You're gonna figure it out on your own. And I just kind of stubborn that way, and, and I did. So I don't know how much that plays into my personality when it came to giving my life to the Lord and walking in faith. By no means that wasn't my choice. I just was in a unique situation where I really didn't know Christians that were 18 years old. I mean, we're going back to the early 90s, it it wasn't prevalent like it is today. There's so many opportunities and cool ways for kids to get introduced to Jesus that wasn't didn't exist back then. You were either a weird, oddball, different Bible thumper, or you were, you know, someone living in the world. And so I do I am thankful for the Lord bringing people into my life slowly and surely over time, and met a guy who's still to this day one of my closest friends who I met shortly after I'd given my life to the Lord. Never really had hands-on discipleship, but I was able to walk with him and watch how he lived for God and how he loved people and I just absorbed as much as I could. And yeah, there were people along the way that were really, you know, meaningful in moments and seasons. but I would say that in terms of you know one person for all of those years, really wouldn't say one person. If there was one person I could say who's been in my life for a long time, who's been a dear friend and a mentor, would be a guy named Tom Roy, who is the was the founder of he is the founder of UPI Unlimited Potential Incorporated, and is now as just a sort of a I would say an ambassador or a emeritus, you know, but still discipling people, still baptizing people, still leading men. And if there was anyone that I could say in my my Christian life that's been there for a long time that I can pick up the phone at any moment and call as sort of like a mentor or a father, that would be Tom.

From Football to Professional Baseball

Ric — 17:51

Oh, that's great. So you off to college, you went to, as it turns out you're a football guy. Yeah. Yeah. and and you converted. So how did that conversion happen?

Chris Singleton — 18:03

Yeah, it's like I went from Judaism to Christianity, right? From football to baseball. I wised up. I went to college on a football scholarship. I went to the University of Nevada. I'll say that because there's UNLV down in the south, and we don't really like them a whole lot. So I'll say the University of Nevada and went there on a football scholarship. I played both sports. I was drafted in high school by the Astros, really wasn't interested in playing baseball every day, just wanted to play college football on Saturdays and had that opportunity, but also they afforded me the opportunity since I was drafted that once I established myself in football, that I could go out and play baseball. And so I ended up going out to

Chris Singleton — 18:50

play baseball after a couple of years of not having played, just wanted to see if I was even good enough to play in college. And turned out that I that I wasn't bad. And I realized that my body felt a lot better after three games on Friday, Saturday, Sunday than they did on one game of football on a Saturday, and started to think about things and wisdom kicked in and said this might be a better path to pursue. And so not just my own, but I think what God birthed in my heart was a change of heart in terms of what sport I wanted to pursue.

Ric — 19:26

And that led to professional baseball. You're drafted in 1993, I think is what I saw. And then that led into the majors. But during that time in the minor leagues when you were drafted, which is interesting story that you have too, because I hear all these dread stories about being in the minor leagues and getting passed around and taking bus trips and you know, all of the hassles, I guess, of minor league. but you have a kind of a different slant on that, right?

Chris Singleton — 19:56

Well, I mean, I don't know exactly, you know, what you're referencing, but I would say that going through the minor leagues was all as much as every minor leader wants it to make it to the big the big leagues, what I found was the process, the relationships that were developed, the struggle, if you will, really was invaluable because not just for me, but even getting married when I was in the minor leagues. And my wife having gone through that for a few years before we made it, it really helped to build even a stronger foundation of Christ and humility.

Community in the Minor Leagues

Ric — 20:41

Amazing grace. Always a great opportunity to see how God works and shapes us, this time through the life and eyes of Chris Singleton. Baseball, broadcast, and beyond.

Chris Singleton — 20:52

So that once we got to the big leagues, that it wasn't you know overwhelming and that the big leagues and the lifestyle and the money didn't change us very much, if you will, we were able to stay grounded and we were able to remember what it was like to have, you know, an apartment not in the best part of town or rental furniture that you know, when you sit on one side of the couch, the cushion pops up in the air on the other side because it was so cheap. So things like that we could look back and laugh about. And also, too, I think, you know, when we're talking about the kingdom and we're talking about, you know, faith communities and all of that, that was a little bit of a maybe a microcosm of what that should look like and being in the minor leagues when you're with other people all the time, you don't have a lot in terms of means. You have to share, you have to come together. you have to on an off day, hey, let's put our resources together and have to have a barbecue, let's go do something. But you depended on each other, and it was a beautiful thing because it created bonds. If you just go straight to the major leagues, you know, they talk about the major leagues. You know, when I was playing 25-man roster after the game, 25 different cabs, you know, leaving the ballpark. You didn't need each other. You had your own money, you had your own stuff. And what I appreciated about the minor leagues as well was the sense of community and interdependence that you had to have there. That so many times, you know, in some ways, not always bad, but we strive for our own independence and not wanting to need other people and not you know being the church and relying on each other and the body of Christ. And you know, everyone's you know, got a little more pride, including myself, than we should, instead of you know, leaning on one another and bearing one another's burdens.

The Walmart Encounter with Sweet Lou

Ric — 22:46

So the story about community that I so much loved, and I want to have you share that with us, is the church lady at the Walmart.

Chris Singleton — 22:54

Yeah. Sweet Lou, sweet Lou. She's God rest her soul, an amazing woman, full of joy. never where was that at?

Ric — 23:06

What community was she in?

Chris Singleton — 23:07

I was in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Ric — 23:09

Okay, yeah.

Chris Singleton — 23:10

Just happened to go to Walmart, getting a couple of things, and this beautiful older woman was just loving on everybody there.

Chris Singleton — 23:21

the cashiers and people, and you know, she started a conversation with me as we were checking out, and she said, You got you need to come and be with me at church. And so my wife and I went to church that Sunday at Shreveport, First Assembly of God, Pastor Denny Duron. And, you know, she was waiting for me in the lobby, and you know, she's taking me around and introducing me as her, this is my good friend Chris. You know, it's like we just met, you know, and, but she was wonderful and real gateway. We became really great friends with her daughter and son-in-law, and they became like family to us when we were in Shreeport, Louisiana. And some of the you know, the best times that we had were in a place that I would never choose to live or go. You know, growing up in California in the Bay Area, you talk about culture shock, it was a lot different. wouldn't be a place that I would choose to live on my own or ever visit. But as the Lord took me through that town for two years, they were two of the most memorable years of my baseball career.

Grief and the Loss of His Brother

Ric — 24:29

That's great. That is so good. So, so during that early time in your in the minor leagues, you got a phone call from mom. And this is maybe one of the valleys that you had to walk through because she didn't have great news for you when you got that phone call. Can you can you tell that story and walk us through that as well?

Chris Singleton — 24:49

Yeah, I was playing for the San Jose Giants about an hour or so from where I grew up in California, staying with a wonderful host family, the Folkowski's, and again, so many wonderful people. And I hate if there's anyone that I don't mention today. I do remember everyone. And the Folkowski's who are still you know good friends of ours. got that call in the middle of the night that no one ever expects to get because tragedy only happens to other people. It never happens to, you know, until you have it happen to you, it's just it's not really real. It only happens to other people. And my mother had informed me that my brother had been killed in a car accident. And my big brother was, you know, six years older or so than I was. he was also like a dad to me. He's the one who bought me, you know, my sports equipment that I needed, baseball gloves. He had graduated from high school, went into the Air Force, and, so he had, you know, income and all that kind of stuff. And he would make sure that I had what I needed for sport. He bought me my first car. he was my brother, my friend. And that had my had my heart ripped out. And not only that, what was hard was that I was playing in the California League at that time, and he lived in San Bernardino, and San Bernardino was a team that had, you know, they had a minor league team. So every time we would go there, I would just stay with my brother. And so that made it even more difficult, you know, having to play in that league and go back to San Bernardino, and my brother who would always be at my games in that area, whether it was you know, San Bernardino, Rancho Cucamonga, the other place there, high desert, you know, he'd be there, and that was no longer a thing. So very difficult and you know hard to even put into words what that's like and you know, looking at going forward in life, a lot of a lot of things, you know, you when you experience something like that, you know, especially the first time you question yourself, you know, what could I have done differently? What what if I would have called him? What if I would have something and maybe that would have thrown him off schedule and wouldn't have been at that wrong place at the wrong time. but you know, God heals and able to make it through that, and definitely lost what I would say is my innocence during that time where before you always just thought life was, you know, it was just roses all the time for the most part. And once you lose that, you it becomes a little scary because you now realize that you are susceptible to anything like anyone else.

Two Wedding Anniversaries and Learning to Trust

Ric — 27:44

Yeah. do you mind sharing the story about your your two anniversaries? Wedding anniversaries to the same wife, I might say, yeah.

Chris Singleton — 27:54

They should have sent you out to find bin Laden back in the day, man. You're pulling up stuff. you're like Roy Firestone. You're trying to make me cry, aren't you, Rick? Remember those days? For those who are those who are old enough to remember Roy Firestone, his thing was to make his

Chris Singleton — 28:10

guests these high-powered celebrity.

Ric — 28:12

Yeah, if you're not if you're not crying, you're not you're not working hard enough, right? Yeah, yeah.

Chris Singleton — 28:18

So I had a lot of anxiety when it came to getting married. the when my childhood was tough in the sense, not just you know, economically, but it was tough emotionally because my mom was not capable of nurturing based upon probably how she was raised, based upon the stress that she was under. So I never really got to deal with emotions. I never really got to deal with just normal things, you know, having conversations with my mom about who my friends are, or you know, did I like a girl, or anything. In fact, it was discouraged to have even have a girlfriend. So a lot of times, you know, through high school girlfriends I did have, it was a secret. So everything had to be a secret. And then finally it came time for me to actually have a real relationship, and I was very uncomfortable with the feelings that I had inside and the anxiety that I had and the sense of fear, not at that time of my mom, but now because she was the authority figure who shaped me for all those years, now it was a fear of God. Is God angry with me? Is God upset with me because I care about someone other than him? my number one goal was to want to please God and it was probably unhealthy. caused me to walk, you know, a faithful life of you know obedience, but it was probably unhealthy because I was living sort of from work to work, you know, to feel like God was happy with me and pleased with me. I never really could rest in that. So a lot of a lot of turmoil, a lot of anxiety. And I ended up, we actually got married a month. We just celebrated our 30th anniversary a couple of days ago. That was from our wedding, but our actual anniversary instead of October 19th is actually September 20th, because that's when, you know, about a month before our wedding, I felt myself starting to feel anxiety to the point where it's like, man, I'll just leave the country. No one will ever see me again. I was so afraid of what everyone thought and everything else. And rather than run, I just decided that night, I was like, let's just go get married tonight. And let's go. We drove up to Lake Tahoe, got married in the middle of the night, and I just felt like, hey, if I get if I go ahead and do it, I can't back out of it. But if I got three more weeks to back out of this, I didn't trust my I didn't trust myself. And so that's what happened. And we have our own funny little story that people they just are in disbelief when we tell them. but it they think it's cool too.

Sharing Faith in the Baseball World

Ric — 31:11

Yeah, I've never heard that story, you know, that story ever before. So that's that's a great opportunity. Staying humble, even with two very high-profile careers. Chris Singleton shares his life and his love of Jesus on Amazing Greats. So Jesus, big part of your life all the way through. You did say that there was some issues back in the earlier days about being bold about your religion or being, you know, being out up front and sharing and so forth because of the stigma that was regarding Christianity and Jesus, and you know, now you're you're some kind of weirdo. and along the way, as time goes on and things kind of change, did that change in your in your walk with Jesus as it related to your baseball career? Was there an opportunity to share your faith with others and have fellowship with others in either the minor leagues or the major leagues or both?

Chris Singleton — 32:10

The thing was growing up at a younger age, and especially kind of what I was exposed to church-wise, you know, Christianity wasn't like practical, it wasn't cool. There were some places, it just wasn't, you know, anything that I was affiliated with. In fact, I remember being invited to a friend's church when I was a kid, and I was like, these people aren't Christians because they're having too much fun. Like these people are happy, and they're, you know, churches, like this is not what I'm used to. Like, I'm used to hearing messages on hell when I go to church, and these people are so I didn't think that they were really Christian. So, I'm sure it was out there, but I didn't know about it. But once I got saved, and I would say I got radically saved because I went from being a party guy and hanging out and doing all the stuff the previous semester to now being a guy reading his Bible in his dorm and not going out. I was the people I was the one that rallied people to go out on you know Thursday night. We got 25 cent beers at the whatever place. Come on, let's go. I don't care. You know, stirring people up. We're gonna go have fun. To now I'm not that person anymore. And I think one of the turning points for me

Chris Singleton — 33:20

was when people were wondering, man, what in the world has happened to this guy? Like he's is he joined a cult? You know, I mean, I got a lot of strange looks from other athletes that knew me before when they saw such a you know quick radical transformation, they're thinking something really strange happened to me. But I remember one night it was it was a weekend night, Friday night or Saturday night, and everyone was out. I was in my room and just reading my Bible, and I had my door cracked. And the guy who was doing security in our dorm walked by and he pushed the door open to see if anyone was there. He's like, Hey, your your door's cracked, just want to let you know. and, and so I ended up talking to him. I had my Bible in my hand, and we started talking in the hallway, and he had to go back down the hallway, and I'm I start telling about God, and so we're by the elevators, and just so happens the elevator opens, and all the people that I used to hang out with party with, they get off the elevator. I'm holding a Bible, I'm talking to the security guy, doing things that I never said that I would do. Hey, I'm gonna be a Christian, but I'm not gonna talk to people about Jesus, I'm not gonna do those things. And there I was caught red-handed, doing something that I didn't even plan on doing. And that was for me a point when I saw the looks on their faces, that's when I knew, okay, there's no turning back. Like it's it's it's I can only go forward from here.

Ric — 34:42

You're out of the club.

Chris Singleton — 34:44

Yeah. and that was that was that. And so from there, it just momentum ramped up and started a campus ministry there and found myself participating in open air preaching opportunities and all kinds of radical, sort of crazy things. But it doesn't mean that there weren't different seasons of intimidation. you know, I think that believers, especially younger believers, you know, have to understand that, yeah, it's it's it's normal to feel, you know, fear or intimidation around your faith or sharing your faith, or maybe living it out. And then maybe you get comfortable and confident, and people know who you are, and then God moves you somewhere else. And then it's almost like you have to start all over again, or maybe you get moved into a situation where you've been promoted to something higher, and you're wanting to fit in, you're wanting to make sure that you take advantage of this next opportunity in

Chris Singleton — 35:50

your career and you feel that intimidation again. and then you have to grow at that next level and get comfortable. But I would think, you know, for me more than anything, over all of the years for me of you know, walking with God and you know, any and all evangelism, the turning point, which I don't know exactly when it was, was that when I was able to lean into love, God's love. You know, the Bible says that perfect love casts out all fear. And when I started looking at people more through the lens of love, God's heart for them and how he loves them, I think God's irresistible. Jesus is irr irresistible when they people experience his heart and through you. I think what what the trouble is when you feel pressure, I gotta say something about God, I gotta stand up for God, I gotta this or I gotta that, rather than man, what how can I love these people best? How can I see God's heart for them? And when I do, it makes me less fearful to be able to try to meet whatever need it is that they have and build trust that I care about them, and then opens an opportunity perhaps to share Jesus.

Calling, Baseball, and the Story of Ted Barrett

Ric — 37:11

you planted a church or helped to plant a church at one point, didn't you?

Chris Singleton — 37:15

Yeah, I came out, some old friends, they they had moved to Georgia to plant to sort of take over a church that was that was dying out, and, we had moved out here to help them for a few years and just got exposed to different aspects of church ministry, which I realized over time was just not really my DNA, to be in a building type of service structured that you know, my DNA was different. It was to be out, you know, in the world, around people. And I tried to convince myself to think that, you know, this conventional church ministry was what I was gonna do. And the Lord kept bringing me back into the sport of baseball and I just wrestled with it. I'm like, God, I walked away from baseball so that I could serve you. And, you know, God was saying, I've I've called you to be out in the world and to be out there. I'm taking you back into baseball, I'm taking you back into those environments. And once I surrender to that, then so much freedom came and I embraced the potential opportunities that would be there, you know, for career and for ministry at the same time.

Ric — 38:28

Yes, serve where you're planted, you know, I think is the idea behind all of that. Well, there's there was one moment we had our another guest on another show was Ted Barrett, and he told a story. I the one of the final questions I asked him is who was maybe the most important influencer along the along your journey. and he mentioned you and saying that it was Chris Singleton who taught me what being a Christian should and really is like. And you know that story. Can you tell that story or should I tell that story? It was it was he was he was the umpire, third base umpire at a an Oreos game, I think. Yeah, yeah.

Chris Singleton — 39:13

No, I it was in Chicago when I was playing with the White Sox. I'm pretty sure it was then, yeah. Yeah, and it was just a tough day. you know, dugouts didn't have fences in front of them during the time it was open, so there was just clear communication between anyone on the field and the dugout, and you know, people were were angry. I don't know if he had been behind the plate the night before or whatever, but there might have been some lingering tensions there. And I think he was at third base that day, and he was you know, he's hearing a lot from our dugout, and, you know, I don't I just remember I think running out to my position in center field because you know he understandably so. I mean he got he's a man and he got angry and upset with how he was being accosted by people in the dugout, and man, I don't blame him at all for that. And, but I also felt like, man, you know, Ted, you're a believer, I'm a believer. You know, let's let's try to glorify God and the best we can. and again, I look back at my younger self and gosh, I just I don't even remember what I said exactly to him, but when I look back, I almost cringe a little bit because I think that you know, Chris Singleton today would have been a lot gentler and kinder in what I said to him or how I said to him, I don't remember exactly what I said, but and I didn't think much of it at the time. I had no idea, no idea at all until many years later that was even part of Ted's story. And so even now, when I hear it, to be meant, Ted Ted is he's

Chris Singleton — 41:00

an incredible man of God. I mean, incredible what he did in his career and how he shepherded and evangelized all those umpires and changed that culture. I don't I have a I have a difficult time even being part of his story, like honestly. so for him to say that, man, that's that's a wow. But again, I didn't know what I was doing because if I did, I would have screwed it up. So, you know, all the glory to God, you know, for that. Holy Spirit is with you there, huh? Yeah, yeah. Even in my sort of ignorance in certain ways. I mean, the Lord worked through that to speak to Ted in a way that resonated with Ted and man, he took ownership of it and did some amazing things.

Ric — 41:46

I think it at least a paraphrase, if not a quote, he said you approached him with lovingly. so so now you know that, so you can add that to your memory of the of the event. But, and then it was overnight in his hotel room that he kind of just started putting all that together and it started making sense to him. And then I think it was the next day he came back and said to you, you know, that you've changed you've changed me.

Chris Singleton — 42:18

So well, I just remember him I just remember him sort of apologizing for how you know he conducted himself the day before, but I didn't I didn't know the depth of any of that, you know, until kind of you're telling me and things that I've heard before. But yeah, that's that's pretty remarkable. I mean just that God would use something that simple to help craft such a you know a true giant of the faith. And I don't say that like about Ted in a way where oh I'm trying to use hyperbole or or be flattering. I watched that landscape of umpires change because of Ted Barrett. I I could see guy, you get to know some of these guys a little bit, so much so that even when I became a broadcaster and I might pop into the umpires room from time to time, man, the guys' lives that were impacted and changed by and I know Ted would probably say that he didn't do it all by himself, but he's kind of the only one that I really knew of that was really living Jesus in a way, and I just I was like, man, this is the pastor, the pastor of the umpires, you know? Yeah, that's what he's become. But yeah, he he made man, he he's he's taken a lot of people with him to heaven, that's for sure. Yeah, so yeah, it's awesome.

Prayer, Stillness, and Spiritual Grace

Ric — 43:47

So a couple of I mean, we're kind of running out of time. We kept you here for a while, but there's a few quicks quick questions I have about your I think our listeners are always interested in our guests, Spiritual disciplines, you know, what how they relate to Jesus and to their Lord and Savior. And one of those thoughts is your your prayer routine. Is there like a a design prayer routine that you follow, or not so much, or how does that work for you? It's anywhere and everywhere. Oh, that's my that's my that's my prayer routine.

Chris Singleton — 44:23

anywhere and everywhere. you know, everywhere is a place of prayer, grocery store, at my house, with my kids before they leave. yeah, that's kind of how I look at at prayer, is that

Chris Singleton — 44:40

it's it's constantly in communion, you know, with God. There are times where maybe it's more focused and maybe you know more dedicated in that way. But I find I find in my life now, Rick, is that, you know, I mean it's been good Lord, it's been about you know 35 years or so that I've been and walking you know closely with the Lord, and what I'm really leaning into now in this season of my life is stillness and quietness and not having to say a whole lot, but just to quiet my heart in his presence. And I think about you know, if we were to I've been to the White House a couple of times. I've been in the Oval Office, you know, with George Bush for 18 minutes back in 2003, 2002. And I say 18 minutes because we went there when I was with the Orioles and we had, you know, several, there was a connection we had, and we're just baseball players. We don't think it's it's a big deal, but it's kind of like all right. Well, when we came out of the Oval Office, one of the staffers was like, eyes were wide open, and they were like, Wow, you were with the president for 18 minutes, not 15, not 20, not 30. It was like to the minute, and I was like, Okay, wow, they're they're tracking this minutes. So my point is that walking into the Oval Office or walking in any place, like I'm not gonna be the one doing all the talking because I'm in the presence of someone higher than me, if you will, in the presence of a king or a ruler. And so what I'm finding at this point of my life is that man, when I when I get still and quiet, I'm in the presence of the king of the universe. And man, less is more. Yeah. I'll just if I'll just be quiet and I'll just sit and let the Holy Spirit just move in my heart and in my mind, I don't have to talk a whole lot. so that's where I am now, more in my journey, more trying to practice more silence.

Ric — 46:48

I love that you brought that up because I'm just in the midst, actually at the tail end of a book that's just been published by a guy named John Mark Comer. I don't know if you know him, but he's had I've heard of that.

Chris Singleton — 46:58

Yeah, I've not I've heard that name, yeah.

Ric — 47:00

And the book is called Into the Quiet. And it's all about solitude and just being with God, not having to communicate, not being,

Ric — 47:10

not be using it as a discipline where I'm doing this right or I'm doing this wrong. It's just that I'm doing this, and just having that peace of being with him. And he talks about retreats and fasting and some other things too, which are all very interesting. But it's a great book, and I would encourage you to buy to buy it if you have an opportunity, because I it's it speaks right to what you're talking about, and it's kind of in this noisy world that we live in, it's kind of a radical idea to be quiet.

Chris Singleton — 47:44

So yeah, I also encourage people to even you know consider shifting their language a little bit from spiritual disciplines to spiritual graces, you know. Sometimes discipline can be associated with effort, and I'm trying really hard. Right. Whereas if it's a grace, then I'm depending upon God for the ability to do it, you know? Yeah, not just in my own strength. Oh, yeah, I had my prayer time, yeah, I had my Bible time, rather than a grace of like, wow, I was in, I was invited in to spend time with the Lord. It's spiritual grace. So everybody's wired differently and they hear things differently. But for those that are maybe on a different little wavelength, that spiritual disciplines kind of makes them cringe a little bit, maybe spiritual grace is something that they can embrace more.

Closing Reflections

Ric — 48:30

I actually love that. I had not heard the that transition of terms, but I love it. And you know, I've kept you a little bit longer than I anticipated, but the your your story is so incredible, and you're a good that's what makes you a good sports caster, is you're a good storyteller. So it's it's it's it's great detail and authenticity and all of that is so good. So I really appreciate it, Chris, that's taking the time to be with us here today. Thank you so much. Wow, Chris

Ric — 49:00

Singleton with two enduring careers over 30 years, baseball and broadcasting, and an awesome life story about God's goodness throughout. Thanks for spending some time with Chris and I, and we'll see you on our next episode of Amazing Greats. Hey, tell a friend, or just share it. Help us for each other's and their ears on Amazing Greats. God bless.