I Should Have Been Left-Handed: How the grip on an ordinary fastball gave me a grip on an extraordinary life

Dr. Yochum’s life represents an American success story. This book recounts the experiences of Terry R. Yochum as a young man, whose dreams, passion and energy to play professional baseball for the Cardinals are channeled into a new career that takes him far beyond the streets of his hometown of St. Louis. The early chapters tell the escapades of an energetic, athletic young boy growing up in south St. Louis, providing snapshots of life, music and local color in the 1960’s. While Terry’s drive to excel carries him to early success as a baseball pitcher, he finds his big-league opportunities are limited by the fact he is right-handed. A tantalizing opportunity for a professional baseball career presents itself during his college years and Terry is faced with choosing between the modest but tempting offer and taking his father’s sage advice for a different career path. The story follows his footsteps into his father’s career and presents the challenges of transitioning from athlete to doctor of Chiropractic. Lessons about perseverance, dedication and hard work are highlighted as a successful personal and professional life unfolds. Included are details of his accomplishments as an educator and chiropractic radiologist, culminating with co-authoring and publishing the landmark textbook Essentials of Skeletal Radiology. Dr. Yochum’s life shows that big dreams and a burning desire to excel can carry an average boy to extraordinary success. All profits from the sale of the book will be donated to the following charities: The United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation The Foundation for Chiropractic Progress The Whitey Herzog Youth Foundation