Methodist Physician Loves Babies and Baseball

Dr. Haufrect's collection of baseballs signed by players' wives has now grown to 32 … and counting.

When is the one time a baseball player's wife is the star of the game? At The Methodist Hospital, an OB/GYN physician collects baseballs signed by the wives of professional baseball players after he delivers their babies.

Eric J. Haufrect, M.D., is a lifelong fan of Major League Baseball's Houston Astros. Now the vice chair of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department at The Methodist Hospital, Haufrect goes way back with the team — he gave tours of its stadium in high school, attended the first opening day at the famed Astrodome and still follows the team closely in its new ballpark. But in recent years, some Astros players have had a chance to watch him at work as well — when he delivered their babies. He has a collection of autographed baseballs in his office to prove it. Only they aren't signed by the athletes themselves, but rather by the heroes of the delivery room: the players' wives.

"One time, when I had delivered a [player's wife's] baby, I saw someone asking for her husband's signature," he says. "But I thought she was the star of the show that day." Haufrect now has more than 30 baseballs autographed by players' wives whose babies he has delivered. Among his signers include Nicole Oswalt and Cara Berkman, wives of pitcher Roy Oswalt and first baseman Lance Berkman, respectively. The opportunity to deliver Astros babies, he says, fell onto his plate when two pitchers' wives started coming to him. The word spread.

"Obstetrics is like a chain letter. Within five to 10 years, I was caring for most of the team's wives," he says.

For more information about our maternity services, to schedule a tour or sign up for our parent education classes, call 866-886-6836 or visit www.methodisthealth.com.

METHODIST MATERNITY SERVICES

The birth of a child is one of the most exciting times in a parent's life. Maternity Services at The Methodist Hospital seeks to make this joyous event even better through exceptional care for both the delivering mom and the newborn baby. No other hospital in Houston can compare to Methodist's comprehensive adult care capabilities for the delivering mother and baby coupled with extraordinary facilities. Insist on delivering at Methodist for its world-renowned patient care and comprehensive clinical care.