Paterson pitcher turned pro, then lost his career to addiction. Faith helped him recover

Michael Jackson of Paterson was once a major league relief pitcher who intimidated batters and awed fans with his powerful left-handed delivery. During a four-year career in the early 1970s he wore the uniform of the Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Indians.

But Jackson's toughest opponent was off the baseball diamond. His nearly 15-year addiction to drugs and alcohol would eventually cost him his job in baseball and leave him jobless, homeless, and in and out of jail.

Today, the 76-year-old has been clean since 1986 and helps others get sober through his work as a counselor at Straight and Narrow, a substance abuse treatment facility operated by the Catholic Diocese of Paterson.

Jackson is part of the clinical service team that provides individual and group therapy sessions for the men's long-term treatment program. He's a living, breathing example to those in treatment that there can be life after addiction.

Straight and Narrow, a nonprofit community-based program founded in 1954, is among the oldest and largest substance abuse programs in the country, said Angela Nikolovski, its executive director. She estimates that 1,200 individuals and families from all backgrounds walk through its doors each day, and the number is growing as the drug abuse problem has exploded in recent years.

She's grateful for Jackson's work as a staff member who helps run structured clinical services. "He's a wealth of knowledge and his message is powerful," said Nikolovski. "He supports the clients to reach their goals in recovery and work toward a successful discharge. He makes a tremendous impact on the clients in our care."

On a recent day, Jackson shared his story with NorthJersey.com, stressing that during his toughest times, it was the Almighty who guided him.

He's not alone. An array of former athletes have come forward in recent years to speak about their journeys from addiction to redemption, and several — most famously former Mets star Darryl Strawberry, who has become a minister — have touted their faith as the catalyst that pulled them from addiction.

Such inspiration is more needed than ever. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that in 2021, there were nearly 107,622 drug overdose deaths in the United States, an increase of nearly 15% from 2020.

But there's also good news: According to a 2020 study conducted by the CDC and the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 75% of drug addicts eventually recover from their addiction. The study also found that 80% of those who overcame drug and alcohol abuse subsequently accomplished a major goal associated with self-improvement — including starting a new job, completing an academic degree or volunteering.

Jackson's life exemplifies that point. He was born and raised in Paterson and had a difficult family life. His father died when he was 4 and his mother died when he was 15, so his sister took over guardianship of him.

He found comfort in sports, where he excelled. In Little League, he starred as a pitcher with an imposing fastball. As he got older, his pitches kept improving. "I found that I was able to do things on the baseball field that other people couldn't do," he said. "I made up my mind that I wanted to be a ballplayer."

He was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies after high school in 1964 and spent the first two seasons in the minor leagues. But in 1966, he was drafted to serve in the Vietnam War, and during his stint in the Army discovered the lure of alcohol and drugs.

When he returned home in 1968, he resumed his baseball career, and was soon sent to the major leagues, but he began using alcohol, cocaine and pot. So began a cycle of addiction that devoured nearly 15 years of his life.

"The coaches knew about it but never offered to help me," he said. "It got bad enough that nobody wanted me, but it's not like it is now where help is offered. It just wasn't an option."

He showed up to practices and games even as he felt like he was falling apart, and occasionally got so drunk he would black out.

After repeated drug and alcohol infractions, his coaches kept him on the bench, and he was traded to other teams. Jackson would get angry and turn again to alcohol or drugs. In 1974, the Cleveland Indians let him go, and he went to an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. They subsequently released him, too.

"My drinking and drugging ended my baseball career," he said sadly.

He returned to Paterson, where his downward spiral intensified. He ended up homeless, living on the street, in the hospital, and locked up in jail "mostly for behavioral things, like disorderly conduct and driving under the influence and not appearing in court," he said.

"Sometimes I would pray and ask God to help me. I began realizing there was more to life than drugs and alcohol. I was self-destructing. But with God's help, I am here today."

Eventually, he tired of the daily humiliation of being an addict, he said. "I had a spiritual awakening: I realized that if I wanted to continue living I had to make changes."

In 1986 he entered Straight and Narrow, the Paterson Diocese's drug treatment program, and graduated a year later. He's been clean ever since, which he considers one of his greatest personal triumphs. "I put my trust and faith in the Almighty and he saw me through it," he said.

He began to rebuild his life: He started going to church and served as a deacon, he earned his driver's license and worked for a recycling company, he took college classes, earned a degree in drug and alcohol counseling through a continuing educational program, and he became certified as a licensed clinical counselor. He worked at several treatment centers between 1994 and 2016 and in 2016 came to Straight and Narrow as an outpatient counselor.

He divorced his wife, with whom he had a son, in 1986 and he remarried in 1989. He and his second wife, Alphe, had a daughter, who lives nearby in Paterson and with whom he will celebrate Christmas. He credits Alphe, who died five years ago, with helping him to stay clean.

Jackson has been paying it forward by working with the men in treatment there. In the groups he leads, he speaks about the coping skills that they need to implement in order to enact positive change in their lives.

While he doesn't go out of his way to speak about his baseball career, he doesn't shy away from it either. If he's asked about it, he shares his story honestly so that others can learn from him. "I'm not ashamed of my addiction," he said.

Noting that he wasn't able to use his skills and opportunities because of drugs and alcohol, he said, "I have regrets." But everyone in the world has a purpose, he said, and working with the men and helping them "gives me purpose. I'm able to give back and help others redirect their lives."

"I made it to the big leagues. The only regret I have is that I messed it up because of my addiction," Jackson said. "I learned to live with that. You have to learn to live with the past. You have to learn how to let go. People have to learn how to forgive themselves."

He frequently quotes the Bible when speaking to others and to those in his groups. His favorite verse is from Proverbs: "Trust in the Lord, acknowledge him in all your ways."

"The easiest thing in the world was to give up," he often says. "But God gave me strength. He put people in my life who helped me in my recovery. I definitely didn't do it all on my own."

"Without my trust, without my faith in God," he said, "I wouldn't be where I am today."

Deena Yellin covers religion for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to her work covering how the spiritual intersects with our daily lives, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: yellin@northjersey.com

Twitter: @deenayellin

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Paterson pitcher lost pro career to addiction. Now he gives back