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By Sean Connolly

Joba Chamberlain’s life story has been well chronicled since his debut in the majors last year, a story that was intensified by the media thanks to his amazing performance. Born Joba Heath turned Joba Chamberlain, he has become one of the most popular players in baseball. But, Joba’s mother has stepped up recently and talked to the Journal Star in Nebraska(Joba’s mother talks about her son and her life). She has revealed that she was a big part of Joba’s life and the stories of Joba’s father raising Joba alone are not entirely true. But, the story is still entirely sad.

For those who don’t know the story, Joba was raised by his father alone after separating with Joba’s mother(apparently). Chamberlain’s father Harlan raised Joba in poor conditions against tall odds and helped his son become one of the most feared pitchers in baseball. Harlan, who has Polio along with other health problems, has been seen in Yankee Stadium cheering his son on with as much enthusiasm as Joba shows on the field which garnered more fan interest in Joba. It’s the story baseball fans love, overcoming adversity and becoming the best, but the story isn’t as it seems.

In the article, Joba’s mother talks about her son and her life by Colleen Kenney, Joba’s mother, Jackie Standley, says that she had much more contact with her now estranged kids as was reported. She said that Joba lived with her most of the time until he was about ten years old and when Joba was with his father he was only a mile away. Jackie said that she did take advantage of Harlan, waiting for him to come home from work so that she could dump the kids off on him and go to bars. She also, later in Joba’s life, picked up a crystal meth addiction.

A point in this story where things began to really turn around was when Joba was 10. For father’s day, Standley changed Joba’s last name(originally Heath, Standley’s maiden name) to Chamberlain, Harlan’s last name. It’s said that it is from then when Joba began staying with Harlan and Harlan began to take total control, which in hindsight was conducive to Joba’s success.

Me and my son have had a good relationship. We lived within a mile of each other for his whole life. … Once I gave him his last name, it’s like he took total power. It was like, he starts staying there more. I got to the point where I was not going to fight with him over it. Joba was getting to school, getting good grades. He was doing sports, which is what he wanted.I don’t know why Harlan is doing all this. I’ve called, tried to ask him, and he don’t want to speak to me, which is weird, because Harlan raised me.

Jackie Standley on Raising Joba Chamberlain

It seems like there isn’t much animosity in this story, just sadness. No matter what’s true, or who says what, what Joba Chamberlain has overcome is a testament to his character and he, not his mother or his father, should be getting the attention. A truly inspirational baseball tale.

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