Jason Mackey: How Sid Bream turned the most frustrating play in Pirates history into a 'magnificent' opportunity to help others

"But I do have fond memories of being here in Pittsburgh."

Even the play and the slide ... it's amazing Bream was even there.

Bream played just 19 games in 1989 and had three knee surgeries in a four-month stretch. Furthermore, after the operations, Bream began playing more conservative on bunts, taking shorter leads and keeping it simple on slides, fearful of what might happen.

"I didn't know what my knee would do if I changed directions," Bream said.

Bream has worked as a motivational speaker with Christian Sports International. He's also done things for the Outdoor Dream Foundation, which is basically like the Make-A-Wish Foundation but specializing in elk hunts or elaborate fishing trips.

The chaplain gig has been another passion. It's been almost 10 years for Bream at PGT, where he relays his experiences as a professional athlete and the difficulties it presents with resisting temptation and connecting with spouses and kids back home.

"Every Monday, I tell the new group coming in, 'Baseball has been a big help for me to understand what you're going through,' " Bream said. "I didn't think that I would be here this long, but God continues to give me opportunities."

It sure has been a fascinating life for Bream, who's now 63. He easily could've left Pittsburgh, knowing the type of vitriol he would have to endure, despite doing nothing wrong.

Instead, Bream has remained and leaned harder into his faith, and he's quick to talk about having a personal relationship with God, praying about things and using it all to direct his steps.

The Breams have three grandkids and a fourth coming in July. Sid also has no plans to scale back his PGT schedule or reduce his 20 or so speaking appearances a year or whatever other charity work he can find.

Bream remains eager as ever to use an incident dripping with frustration for a good cause.

"It has been a blessing to do different things and try to help people," Bream said. "It's fun to see change in peoples' lives when I speak.

"The knee changed a lot for me. It definitely made me slow enough to only beat the throw by about four inches. At the same time, it really turned out to be something magnificent for me as far as my life is concerned."