Uncovering the Legacy of Pinky Deras
Adam Deras had always known about the cedar chest in the basement, filled with his dad, Art “Pinky” Deras’s old stuff. But it wasn’t until after Art passed away that Adam and his brother, Kevin, finally opened it. Inside, they discovered a treasure trove of memories from Art’s days as a Little League superstar.
Art was a humble and reserved man who never talked about his baseball career, which was widely regarded as legendary. Despite making it to Double A in the St. Louis Cardinals system, Art walked away from the game and spent the next 29 years working as a police officer.
Over the years, Art’s achievements faded from memory, but the ghost of unmet potential haunted him. Despite his early success, Art’s professional baseball career never reached the heights many had expected. After retiring from the sport, he distanced himself from baseball, battling depression and avoiding any discussion about his past.
It wasn’t until a few years before his death that Art’s children, Kevin, Deb, and Adam, truly began to understand the scope of their father’s legacy. A documentary titled “The Legend of Pinky Deras” shed light on Art’s extraordinary talent and the impact he had on the world of baseball.
As they uncovered the hidden stories of Pinky Deras, his children came to realize the weight of expectations and the unfulfilled dreams that had colored their father’s life. Despite the complexities of his past, Art Deras left a lasting impact on all who knew him, a legacy of greatness, humility, and unspoken struggles.
