Inaugural Henry Pearson Classic Honors the Mira Costa Graduate

Editor's Note: The inaugural Henry Pearson Classic, which Manhattan Beach Patch wrote about last week, was rained out and is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Monday, March 28 at Marine Avenue Park in Manhattan Beach.

“You see, you spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball, and in the end it turns out that it was the other way around all the time.”

-Jim Bouton, Ball Four

For Nick Adenhart, Courtney Stewart, Henry Pearson and Jon Wilhite, a love of baseball united them in friendship, a friendship that became the unthinkable, when, on April 9, 2009, the four were victims of a drunk driving accident that claimed the lives of Anaheim Angels pitcher Adenhart, Stewart and Pearson, and left Wilhite clinging to life.

On Monday, baseball fans and the community will gather at Marine Avenue Park in Manhattan Beach to launch the inaugural Henry Pearson Classic, featuring a double-header between Mira Costa and El Segundo high school baseball teams. The Pearson Classic, which begins at 4:30 p.m. with crash survivor Jon Wilhite throwing out the first pitch, brings together those who wish to celebrate Henry's life, the triumph of the human spirit and, of course, a love of baseball.

“Having this double-header annually is a wonderful way to celebrate what Henry was about and we will be reminded of that message ‘play for fun’ each year,” Henry's father, Nigel Pearson told Manhattan Beach Patch.

“Play For Fun” will be immortalized on the Marine Sports Park scoreboard as a lasting nod to him. Henry wrote the phrase down as one of the goals he would pursue with his teammates as captain of the Mira Costa baseball team his senior year.

Indeed, baseball is a unifier and a cause for celebration.

“There is no doubt in my mind that I am where I am today [recovery process] because of baseball,” crash survivor Jon Wilhite told Manhattan Beach Patch. Jon, who played catcher for Mira Costa and Cal State Fullerton baseball teams and lives in Manhattan Beach, has made a miraculous near-full recovery from his internal decapitation, an injury that is usually fatal. The only thing left for Jon to conquer is a limited range of motion in his neck.

Henry and Jon's purposeful lives and attitudes have made lasting impressions. Here is Henry's story.

Uncommon Balance

Three year-old Henry Pearson got his hands on his aunt’s Mets magazine and was captivated by baseball from then on.

Throughout his childhood, Pearson would bypass toys for the simple pleasure of throwing the ball around. 

He developed excellent hand-eye coordination and exhibited a scrappy all-out mentality at second base for Mira Costa.

“You almost couldn’t help but have fun when you were around Henry," said  former high school teammate and friend Michael Wilhite. "He was just having a great time, all the time."

Ask anyone who came in contact with Pearson and they will happily recount a story related to his exuberance for life, unflinching positivity and genuine love of baseball.

“As a young man he was very fun-loving and outgoing, but at the same time he was very responsible and hardworking and that’s not something that often comes in one package,” Henry’s father, Nigel Pearson told Manhattan Beach Patch.

Henry’s upbeat demeanor and contagious love of the sport would not end with his playing days in high school.

Pearson earned a journalism degree at Arizona State University, following which he attended Western State Law School in Fullerton. At the time of the crash, he was developing his own business as a sports agent, and was already representing a number of  baseball players.

Henry and Jon Wilhite grew up as teammates in little league and into high school.  But, it was at Fullerton, where their friendship grew, with Henry attending almost all of Jon’s games.

“If you met Henry once, you remembered him forever. That’s the type of guy he was,” Jon told MB Patch.

Pearson's joie-de-vivre extended beyond the baseball diamond and into his numerous meaningful friendships.

“There is a lot that can be learned from his life and the way he was," said Nigel. "We want to show people and the youth of the community it’s possible to find the right balance."

Determined to Recover

On Monday, Jon Wilhite will throw out the first pitch at the inaugural Henry Pearson Classic.

It will not be the first time the 26-year-old has thrown out a game's honorary first pitch, anything but – he has taken the mound at Angel Stadium and has been asked to begin games often since recovering from an injury gruesomely termed as internal decapitation.

After the crash, Jon's injuries appeared to be only minor cuts on his hand. But it was beneath the surface where the damage had occurred. Beneath the surface is also where he would fuel his miraculous recovery.

Jon's skull had been separated from the spinal column. Dr. Nitin Bhatia skillfully performed surgery on him.

An injury that normally kills is one that Jon has attacked head on.

He has given his “entourage” of extended friends and family an example of extreme perseverance and positivity.

“Being able to persevere and deal with failure while working towards goals was so important for me during rehab,” Jon said.

He was shuffled back and forth from lengthy rehabilitation appointments, patiently enduring the intense struggles on his way to minor victories.

“Jon is such a strong young man," said his mother, Betsy Wilhite. "He never complained, ever, throughout the whole ordeal.” 

Jon made steady progress and refused to go about his long-road to recovery passively, instead attacking it, with the determination that led him to make a major college baseball team.

“A lot of rehab patients feel sorry for themselves," Jon told MB Patch. "I had the attitude of ‘Bring it on.’ I wanted to push myself and get the most out of my rehab.” 

Jon, who in less than two years has made a near-full recovery with limited range of motion in his neck as his only hurdle, has resumed his characteristically intense workout regimen and works alongside his father Tony Wilhite at Echo Global Logistics.

“Jon’s work ethic was so admirable," said his older brother Michael. "He treated every day like his rehab was his job. He worked so hard and was so positive.” 

Lasting Legacy

After Monday’s games, baseball fans and the community can look forward to next year's Henry Pearson Classic and a commemorative wall at Marine Avenue Park that will honor Henry, Jon and other positive contributors to the city's youth sports community.

In February, the Manhattan Beach City Council approved the building of the commemorative wall.

“Initially, I think they [Manhattan Beach City Council] were skeptical of the project, but the public outpouring of emotion forced them to do a 180-degree turn and back this,” said Henry's dad, Nigel Pearson.

Jon, who has worked tirelessly on getting his health back in order, now feels ready to speak out against the perils of drunk driving.

“I don’t want to look back and say I was given that stage and didn’t do anything with it,” he told MB Patch. 

Monday, when Jon steps to the mound of the Marine Sports Park baseball diamond, it will be with purpose and emotion.

“This one is one I’m looking forward to," he told MB Patch. "It means so much to honor them. It’s important to honor Henry.” 

If you'd like to contribute to the Wall, make a check payable to Pearson-Wilhite Commemorative Fund and mail it to Pearson-Wilhite Commemorative Fund, 4733 Torrance Blvd., Suite #620, Torrance, CA  90503. In the memo line on the check, please write "Account # 9423723981."