"I only wanted a few things out of life – a wife, children, to play baseball and to hunt deer." Informed that the Players Association (the union for major league players) would not allow him to play for free, Wendell said, "then I'll drop out of the union when the time comes." Personal life Wendell was recognized for significant charity work during and after his career. Wendell was given the "Good Guy Award" by the New York Press Photographers Association in 2000. In October 2006, he visited troops stationed in Afghanistan as part of the "Heroes of the Diamond Tour". He said he was so inspired by the trip that he enlisted in the Army upon return but was denied active combat duty eligibility because he is color-blind. Wendell owns Wykota Ranch, a 200-acre hunting and fishing camp in Larkspur, Colorado Wendell's son, Wyatt Wendell, plays collegiate baseball for Purdue University and is considered a pro prospect. His daughter, Dakota, plays collegiate soccer for the Minnesota State University, Mankato Mavericks. In or around 2003, former Mets teammate Jerrod Riggan named his son after Wendell. References External links Turk Wendell at SABR (Baseball BioProject) Baseball players from Massachusetts 1967 births Living people Major League Baseball pitchers Chicago Cubs players New York Mets players Philadelphia Phillies players Colorado Rockies players Sportspeople from Pittsfield, Massachusetts Durham Bulls players Greenville Braves players Richmond Braves players Iowa Cubs players Colorado Springs Sky Sox players Quinnipiac Bobcats baseball players Falmouth Commodores players