Jonesboro, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – It was a mixture of Major League Baseball history and local community support Monday night as 2006 World Series MVP David Eckstein and author/entrepreneur Ashley Eckstein visited Jonesboro.

NEA Baptist, in conjunction with Mid-America Transplant, hosted “An Evening with David & Ashley Eckstein,” at the Fowler Center, a ticketed book talk and fundraising event with all proceeds benefiting the NEA Baptist Center for Good Grief.

The evening kicked off at 5:30 p.m. with a nod to David’s roots on the diamond. Attendees were treated to a “Batting Practice” reception featuring classic ballpark fare like nachos, brats, and, of course, hot dogs.

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Rhonda Parker, events manager for the NEA Baptist Charitable Foundation, said it gave people a real opportunity to mingle and connect.

“We had the World Series game playing on the big screen, and so it really lent that air of just a ballpark, laid-back atmosphere,” she said. “We were thrilled to have about 200 people… I talked to one guy who is a huge Cardinals fan but also a huge Star Wars fan, and he actually drove up from Little Rock to come to the event.”

Parker noted that the Ecksteins came out during the final inning of the broadcast, with David treating fans to an impromptu play-by-play, sharing his insights on what pitcher Adam Wainwright was feeling on the mound during those crucial final pitches.

“I wasn’t expecting that; that wasn’t part of the program, but he did it, and it really added something special,” Parker said.

At 7 p.m., the doors to the drama theatre opened. Before the Ecksteins took the microphones, NEA Baptist Director of Marketing Ty Jones and Foundation Executive Director Kim Provost warmed up the crowd. The pre-show featured trivia, games, a Mexican hat dance on the screen, and door prizes that included David Eckstein bobbleheads provided by Mid-America Transplant.

When the focus shifted to the Ecksteins, the setup was notably intimate.

With just two armchairs on stage and no MC, David and Ashley shared insights from their respective books, “Just Enough” and “Lucky 22.” They wove together tales from the major leagues, the challenges of entrepreneurship, and the broader journey of navigating life’s hurdles.

Parker said the core message of the night was never giving up on what you want, the power of believing in yourself, and having a teammate that believes in you.

“David told a story about when he left the Angels and was traded to St. Louis. He said that when Tony La Russa welcomed him to the Cardinals club, the one thing Tony said that he will never forget is, ‘We want you to come just as you are,'” she said.

Following the program, attendees had the opportunity to meet the Ecksteins for photos, which Parker said was the most impactful time of the night.

“They never rushed one person; everybody had a story,” she recalled. “One of the neatest things of the night was a family that had been partnered with Mid-America Transplant after the loss of their dad and husband. They were able to share their story with David and Ashley and talk about how much of a Cardinals fan their loved one was. It was a beautiful opportunity… there were a lot of tears.”

Attendees also had the chance to walk away with a unique haul of signed memorabilia.

Ticket packages included signed copies of both books, an exclusive Lucky 22 bookmark, and a David Eckstein signed baseball card. Notably, attendees also received an exclusive Organ Donation Champions baseball card signed by both David and Ashley.

The evening event capped off a full day of community outreach in Jonesboro for the couple.

Earlier in the day, the Ecksteins visited the NEA Baptist hospital to meet with patients, managers, and directors to spread their message of being the best version of yourself. They also visited Arkansas State University to meet with the Red Wolves baseball team before spending their morning signing books at the Fowler Center.

While the stories and signed baseballs were the draw, the true purpose of the night was to support local families navigating loss.

The NEA Baptist Center for Good Grief provides free bereavement services to individuals and families across the region–a mission bolstered by Monday night’s ticket sales.

“The proceeds go to the center to continue these services, which even includes a summer camp for children after loss and telehealth options,” Parker explained, adding that unlike many insurance-based therapies, the center does not limit the number of sessions a client can have.

For more information on the NEA Baptist Center for Good Grief, click here.

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