Was just reading about Chris Combs this morning, and his battle with ALS/Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, and how he had been fighting, but he lost his battle this morning, and succumbed to the disease and died at age 45…Combs was a “Power Pitcher” and a “Power Hitter” for the N.C. State Wolfpack and he holds several State pitching and hitting records…
He had young children and he was a ‘mountain-of-a-man’, at 6’7. and he was a very personable guy, when you got to know him…
After his N.C. State baseball career was over, he was selected in the MLB Draft, but injuries curtailed his pro baseball career…
When his baseball career was over, he came back to N.C. State and worked with Bobby Purcell and the Wolfpack Club, in the fundraising department…
He was a “people person” and you did not have to know Chris Combs, to know he was loved and respected by everyone he came in contact with…Just a great person, to all who knew and loved him…
Chris Combs has been taken out by the same disease(ALS/Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) that took out Jim “Catfish” Hunter…
Combs’ dad is Francis Combs, another former N.C. State baseball great, and Francis Combs has worked with the N.C. State football and basketball broadcasts for what seems like 50 years..If you ever listened to Wolfpack football or basketball broadcasts with Wally Ausley and Gary Dornberg, and then later with Gary Hahn, Johnny Evans and Tony Haynes, then you have heard of Francis Combs…And for everything that Francis Combs has been to N.C. State over the years, his son Chris Combs was just as big, and just as important…
He will be missed, and he was loved by all that knew him…
RIP:Chris Combs, gone at just age 45….
from Joe Giglio, with WRALSportsFan.com:www.wralsportsfan.com
Chris Combs, ALS fundraiser and NC State baseball legend, passes away
NC State’s baseball program retired Chris Combs’ jersey number in March.
That Combs was one of the best power hitters in school history was only a small part of the reason his No. 26 will never be worn again.
Combs’ inspirational and unrelenting fight against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis helped raise more than $4 million for research for the disease.
He also had an agreeable personality that made him uncommonly popular with, and beloved by, his teammates, coaches and later as a longtime associate director for the Wolfpack Club.
Five years into his ALS fight, Combs passed away early Thursday morning, according to his family. He was 45.
A giant of a man at 6-7, Combs had an unusual combination of easiness and selflessness.
“Everybody loved Chris,” NC State baseball coach Elliott Avent said. “The way he fought this disease – and never let it break his spirit – tells you all you need to know about who he was as a person.”
CLICK HERE to read the rest of this post, from Joe Giglio, at WRALSportsFan.com….
When Chris Combs came onto our podcast after his ALS diagnosis, he admitted to us he didn't want to be known as "the guy with ALS," but he also knew he had a chance to make a difference.
That he did. A remarkable Wolfpacker who will never be forgotten and will be sorely missed. pic.twitter.com/v7qc1cDEu0
— The Wolfpacker (@TheWolfpacker) September 3, 2020
We are extremely saddened to hear about the passing of Chris Combs. He was an outstanding ambassador for NC State and an incredible father, husband, son and man. The Wolfpack community is praying for the Combs family. #RIPChrisCombs pic.twitter.com/ZzEMKAixTQ
— Pack Pride (@PackPride) September 3, 2020
Chris Combs, a former N.C. State baseball player who was drafted by the Texas Rangers and Pittsburgh Pirates, has been battling ALS since 2016 and died on Thursday, according to a report. #NCState https://t.co/1UGqQysDjb
— ACC Now (@accnow) September 3, 2020
Our baseball family lost a warrior today. Chris Combs was not only a great baseball player, but a great man and a friend to so many of us. A true class act and a Wolfpack legend. My deepest sympathies to the Combs family. RIP Chris. You will be missed. @NCStateBaseball
— Neil Avent (@AventNeil4) September 3, 2020