Bartolo Colon is an enigma. His life could be the subject of a sports movie that no studio would greenlight, because it seems unbelievable.
He dodged death threats before a start. Colon pitched till the age of 45 with a body that isn’t ideal for an athlete. He had a second family, and he was suspended from the MLB.
Somehow, through all this, Colon became one of the most popular and beloved players in Major League Baseball history.
This is the wild life and story of Bartolo Colon.
Bartolo Colon Received A Death Threat Before A Start
On May 10th, 1997, Bartolo Colon was in a Detroit hotel before his fourth MLB start when his phone rang.
On the other line, the person said, “If you don’t pitch well tomorrow, we’ll harm your wife and kids.”
The caller would then give Colon his exact home address. This was not a prank and was not the last time they’d speak.
Grew Up In Domincan Republic Without Electricity, Plumbing, & Had A Pet Donkey
Bartolo Colon grew up in the Dominican Republic without electricity, plumbing, and he had a pet donkey named Pancho.
Colon dropped out of sixth grade to work on a coffee and avocado farm. He had to sneak out to play baseball. One time, he got arrested for tresing to play a pickup game. Today, Colon owns that land, and it is now his baseball academy. He has a statue of Pancho.
Faked His Age & Gained 100 Lbs
Bartolo Colon was 20 years old and throwing 84 mph when the Cleveland Indians, now the Cleveland Guardians, ed on him three times.
Colon would lie and say he was 18. They ended up g him.
Years later, his real age was exposed, but by then, Colon was throwing 99 mph. This was thanks to a diet consisting of McDonald’s, Taco Bell, and a refusal to work out.
At one point, he had a clause to earn $50,000 per year for hitting a weight target. He missed the target every single time.
Created The Gum Sandwich & Vanished
Colon once created a “gum sandwich,” which was a chewed piece of gum between two fresh pieces.
He also once disappeared from the Chicago White Sox in 2009 without any explanation.
Ozzy Guillen thought he was mourning the death of Michael Jackson. Colon vanished from MLB for an entire year.
Everyone thought he was done, but he came back better than ever.
Had Stem Cell Treatment
To save his career, Bartolo Colon had stem cells from his own fat and bone marrow injected into his elbow.
He promised doctors 10% of his future earnings if it worked. MLB launched a full investigation. The doctors sued him. Colon still won the case and posted a 2.65 ERA at the age of 40.
Bartolo Colon Was Suspended & Had A Secret Family
Colon was suspended for 50 games in 2012 for testosterone.
He was exposed in 2016 for having a secret second family.
Colon was allegedly a deadbeat dad who did not pay child .
If this were any other player, their career would likely be ruined. However, Colon remained beloved and still had sponsors.
More Info On Bartolo Colon
He has the most wins by a Latin-born player in MLB history and played until he was 45 years old.
Colon once took a 101 mph fastball to the gut and did not flinch.
At the age of 48, he threw a complete game in Mexico.
In his final years with the Mets, he played hide and seek with his pitching coach before starts.
Bartolo Colon’s story is truly strange. He was not supposed to have success, and he broke the rules.
Yet, Colon had a very successful MLB career and remains beloved by fans.
