Dream comes true for Bees' Cory Aldridge

SALT LAKE CITY — Cory Aldridge is still a relatively young man, having turned 31 six weeks ago.

But Aldridge, a Salt Lake Bees outfielder, is a almost a senior citizen in his young man's profession. When he began playing baseball for money straight out of his Texas high school, Aldridge was a teen, Bill Clinton was in the White House, and Steve Jobs was several years away from making his first dollar on iTunes.

Aldridge's story is one of perseverance and love of the game.

Finally — in his 14th summer playing pro baseball and with his 14th different team — Aldridge got his first-ever base hit in the major leagues on July 10, an RBI triple for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim against the Oakland Athletics.

The Angels lost that outing 15-1 — with Aldridge's eighth-inning hit providing the team's lone score — but it was still special moment for a father playing a child's game for a living.

"It was like everything I had set out to do in baseball — with all the work and prayer that went with it — was accomplished at that moment," said Aldridge of his first big-league hit. "I finally got that hit. I can now say that I've done something positive in the major leagues. It was a 15-1 game, but so what, man."

That hit was a long time coming for Aldridge. He has been toiling in minor league baseball since 1997. He actually made it to the big leagues once before — nine years earlier — with the Atlanta Braves. But during that cup of coffee in "The Show," Aldridge saw limited action in eight games, going hitless in five plate appearances for Atlanta in 2001.

In 2002 Aldridge had hoped to stick with the Braves as their fourth outfielder. Instead, he injured his right shoulder, which required surgery by famed sports surgeon Dr. James Andrews. After the surgery, it was uncertain if he would ever play baseball again.

He did, but it was back to the minors. Aldridge played for teams affiliated with the Braves, Royals, Mets and White Sox and even for the independent Newark Bears in 2008, which gave him a renewed love of the game. Prior to signing with the Bears, Aldridge had made the decision to retire from playing. His shoulder injury and a pair of surgeries on his Achilles' heels had taken their toll. Plus, he felt he could do without the politics that often goes on in professional baseball.

"I had gotten tired with the business of baseball — the part of the game that fans don't see," Aldridge said.