John’s Note: Jon Lester, today a Chicago Cubs (www.chicago.cubs.mlb.com) pitcher, avid hunter and a member of Mossy Oak’s Pro Staff (www.mossyoak.com), just signed in December, 2014, with the Cubs for a 6-year $155 million contract. Lester won the last game in the 2007 World Series as a pitcher. He pitched in games one and five for the Red Sox in the 2013 World Series and won both those games, enabling Boston to be the 2013 World Series championship team. Jon, who’s featured on the cover of the December 22, 2014, “Sports Illustrated” magazine, has been playing in the Major Leagues for 9 years as a pitcher and enjoys being outdoors. According to the article, “Jon Lester Fears No Curse,” “The Chicago Cubs have been the worst team in the NL the last 5 years, but with Lester signing, the rebuilding Cubs have signaled they’re finally ready to compete.”

Phillips: Jon, what was having one of the biggest audiences in the world watch you win the last game of the 2013 World Series like?

Lester: 2013 was completely different from the World Series in 2007. I had been with the team (Boston Red Sox) for the entire year, growing and learning with my teammates. The years since 2007 have been tough, not only for me, but for the Boston Red Sox Organization, also. When we finally got back to the World Series, and we won it all, words couldn’t explain that feeling.

Phillips: Jon, what was it like when the team arrived back to Boston after winning?

Lester: Boston was crazy. The Boston Red Sox fans are some of the best in the world. In every way, they showed their appreciation for what the team had done for them and the city of Boston.

Phillips: Jon, everybody was excited when the Red Sox won the World Series – the ultimate mountaintop experience for a baseball player. You’ve been to that mountaintop twice. What’s life like when the parades have ended, the gloves are hung up, and the enthusiasm from the crowd has died down?

Lester: I like to go home and take a couple of weeks to relax. I go to my farm and ride around, just to be out in nature and decompress. I’ll get the farmhouse reorganized and then go into the woods for spring turkey season. Spring turkey season is my go-to time – the time of the year when I can re-gather myself and get back to the natural way of life. Hunting is a major part of my life, and spending time with my family is a major part of my life. We still travel a lot to go see family. Now the process is starting all over again to try and make another run for the mountaintop.

Watch this video with Jon Lester on how he got to the World Series:

To learn about turkey hunting from the masters, get these Kindle eBooks by John E. Phillips, including: “ The Turkey Hunter’s Bible (available as an eBook or in paperback),” “PhD Gobblers: How to Hunt the Smartest Turkeys in the World,” “Turkey Hunting Tactics” and “Outdoor Life’s Complete Turkey Hunting.” Click here to get these books.

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About the Author

John Phillips, winner of the 2012 Homer Circle Fishing Award for outstanding fishing writer by the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) and the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA), the 2008 Crossbow Communicator of the year and the 2007 Legendary Communicator chosen for induction into the National Fresh Water Hall of Fame, is a freelance writer (over 6,000 magazine articles for about 100 magazines and several thousand newspaper columns published), magazine editor, photographer for print media as well as industry catalogues (over 25,000 photos published), lecturer, outdoor consultant, marketing consultant, book author and daily internet content provider with an overview of the outdoors. Click here for more information and a list of all the books available from John E. Phillips.

Next: Jon Lester – a Two Team Player for the Chicago Cubs and Mossy Oak with John E. Phillips