180 Degrees Of Separation

"You know what else? Before walking out of the dugout to start the game, Josh walked up to his grandmother, who was sitting on a lawn chair, and kissed her on the cheek. I mean, if there's a dictionary with the phrase too good, the picture is Josh Hamilton."

So how could LaMar have known that, five years later, Beckett would be named the MVP of the World Series, while Hamilton would be failing multiple drug tests, his career on the verge of flatlining?

"If I had to do it all over again, we'd still pick Josh Hamilton," LaMar says. "He was the right guy." Truth be told, if anyone had been forced in '99 to choose which one of the two Joshes might be a potential problem child down the road, a player who might wind up struggling to keep his career afloat, the choice would've been Beckett. Yes, scouts loved his eat-nails toughness. But was it confidence or insufferable arrogance? During his senior year Beckett was throwing a no-hitter against rival Cypress-Fairbanks High when the father of an opposing player started shouting out pitch locations to Cypress-Fairbanks hitters. For example, if Spring High catcher Stephen Ghutzman set up outside, the man would yell, "Outside!" Most high school kids would've been annoyed but unlikely to retaliate. Not Beckett. He reared back and threw a 97-mph fastball 20 feet wide of home plate, in the direction of the guy's head. The backstop was the only thing that prevented a mashed cranium.

Two days after the draft Hamilton, represented by IMG agent Casey Close, accepted a record $3.96 million signing bonus without kicking up a storm, as the 1997 top pick, J.D. Drew, had done in demanding a $10 million contract from the Phillies. "I just wanted to be fair," Hamilton told SI in 2002, "not take advantage." Beckett, represented by agent Michael Moye, got a $3.6 million bonus plus a four-year major league contract that guaranteed him a total of $7 million. At his press conference, nearly three months after Hamilton's, Beckett was anything but humble. As scouting director Al Avila was trying to place an adjustable Marlins cap on the young pitcher's head, Beckett looked at it and chortled, "Where'd you get that, Albertson's?" This was not long after he had boldly stated that he was ready to pitch in the majors and predicted he'd pitch in the All-Star Game in two years.

"Was I cocky?" Beckett says. "Sure. But to be a winner, I think you have to be."

Hamilton wasn't cocky. He was perfect.

They have met only once, on a day when the sun was shining and the fans were screaming and everything seemed right in the world. On July 9, 2000, Beckett and Hamilton stood shoulder to shoulder in the outfield of Atlanta's Turner Field, briefly chatting during batting practice for the Futures All-Star Game. Although most observers saw the moment as a summit between soon-to-be superstars, neither Beckett nor Hamilton even brought up the draft. "Just friendly chatter," Beckett says. "He was a real nice guy. Loaded with talent."

That afternoon neither player disappointed anyone. In his one inning of work Beckett struck out the side. In four at bats Hamilton had three hits. Though bothered by tendinitis in his right shoulder that season at Class A Kane County, Beckett went 2-3 with a 2.12 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 59? innings. At Class A Charleston, Hamilton batted .301 with 13 homers, 61 RBIs and 14 steals in 96 games. Despite missing the final month with a torn lateral meniscus in his right knee, Hamilton was named the South Atlantic League's co-MVP. "That guy was a man among boys," says Delvin James, a former Devil Rays prospect now pitching for Triple A Albuquerque in the Marlins' system. "Some guys, you hear the hype and know it's just hype. But I'll tell you, you'll never see a more gifted, more skilled player than Josh Hamilton."

The following spring the 19-year-old Hamilton reported to Tampa Bay's training complex in St. Petersburg with an outside shot at making the big club. He was swinging a hot bat and chasing down balls in the outfield with the same grace as the Minnesota Twins' Torii Hunter. Then, on March 3, 2001, there was an auto accident, and Hamilton's fast track to the majors took a horrible turn.

"It was just like any other drive home," Hamilton told SI in 2002. "A normal day." Josh and his parents were in the family's 1999 Chevy Silverado pickup, returning to their Bradenton, Fla., home after an exhibition game. Linda was behind the wheel waiting for the traffic light to change at the intersection of Victory Road and U.S. 301. After the light turned green Linda pulled into the intersection. Josh, half asleep in the passenger seat, looked out his mother's window and saw a yellow dump truck bearing down on them. "Oh s—-!" yelled Josh, as he pulled his mother toward him. According to witnesses, the dump truck, traveling 35 to 40 mph, ran the red light and smashed into the left front corner of the pickup, sending it spinning approximately 100 feet.