Cancer Survivor, 8, Leaves a
Lasting Impression

St. Mark’s, Sallies Honor Jimmy McKeon in Ceremony

By KRISTIAN POPE, The News Journal
Posted Saturday, April 14, 2007

WILMINGTON, DE - The toughest guy on the baseball field Friday stood just over 3 feet tall. He's never had an enemy but he's claimed a victory in a battle many adults struggle to win.

Still weak and in need of a little help from his parents, 8-year-old cancer survivor Jimmy McKeon was led by the hand to the pitcher's mound at St. Mark's High on a blustery afternoon.

His oversized jacket couldn't hide the excitement on his face.

With every player from St. Mark's and visiting Salesianum School watching intently from the infield -- standing behind McKeon in a seeming show of support -- McKeon threw out the first pitch in a pregame ceremony.

Naturally, McKeon became the center of attention in St. Mark's 11-7 victory.

The game quickly took on a meaning beyond the rivalry between No. 1-ranked St. Mark's and No. 6 Salesianum. Baseball took a back seat, and two teams paid homage to an 8-year-old boy from Landenberg, Pa., who did something that people of any age would have to notice.

"I got to see him, shake his hand and get a picture with him," Sallies pitcher Paul Cusick said. "It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience."

Similar sentiments were everywhere, and no wonder.

McKeon, diagnosed with a brain tumor in June 2004, has been battling far more dangerous things than fastballs and fly balls to deep center field. Two days after his diagnosis, he underwent an eight-hour operation to remove most of the tumor.

His rehabilitation has been slow and arduous, which is to be expected. But that hardly makes it any easier to cope.

Throwing that pitch Friday was something of a miracle for McKeon. The surgery forced him to relearn most of his motor skills, including things like swallowing -- a far cry from throwing a baseball.

His recovery is ongoing, although Friday was a big step forward.

Being able to throw a baseball might become an important part of the recovery process. At least, that's the hope of coaches Matt Smith of St. Mark's and Doug Nowell of Salesianum, who set up Friday's ceremony after recently becoming involved in the Tug McGraw Foundation, named for the former Phillies pitcher who died of brain cancer in 2005.

Nowell said that when he learned of McKeon's situation, it seemed only fitting to include McKeon, also involved with the McGraw foundation, in a ceremony of some sort.

Even something as simple as throwing out the first pitch.

"We were the two teams that got involved," Nowell said. "There wasn't a better day to do it -- Sallies playing St. Mark's. What a ... way to honor this young man."

The game drew a large crowd, with all the bleacher seats taken and folks in folding chairs covering much of the hill behind the field.

Even if they didn't come just to see the little battler, they did get to see McKeon and learn about his situation.

And that's what was important, right?

"It feels good," Smith said. "I think it was one of those times that both teams got something out of it."