Gammons: Allison understands Hamilton’s struggles

Gammo checks in with Jeff Allison…

Jeff Allison got up Friday morning to get ready to go to work at a local baseball facility and coach kids. Then he read the headline about Josh Hamilton.

“It tore me apart,” said Allison. “I know. I’ve been there.”

...“I’m happy,” he says, “and I’m proud of where I am. Do I wish I were in the big leagues? Of course, but once I hurt my elbow and didn’t say anything, my stuff was never the same.”

Allison is the best high school pitcher I’ve ever seen in New England. The night I saw him, he sat 95-97 mph with a hammer curveball. In seven innings, he faced 22 batters and threw 21 first-pitch strikes.

...And now, at 27, he is 62 months clean, trying to find his balance and help kids stay away from his demons. Today, he cares about Hamilton, “Because if you haven’t gone through this, you have no idea how it tears at you. Josh will make it through. He will succeed. He will be great. I say it from a different vantage point than many other people. I’ve been there. I know. And I know that in the end, Josh will win and continue to be a superstar. If I could help him as he helped me, I would, but he may not need anyone else, because he will make it.”