by Cathy Byrd
Praise for The Boy Who Knew Too Much
“Byrd’s memoir almost reads like a suspenseful novel, and readers are sure to be gripped by the possible explanations she provides for (her son’s) seemingly inexplicable memories. She also thoughtfully reflects on her own spirituality, and the ways in which her son’s revelations challenged her Christian faith . . . On the whole, this is an affecting portrayal of parenthood, and an affectionate love letter from a mother to her unusual child. An eclectic mix of mystery, memoir, and the supernatural.”
— KIRKUS REVIEWS
“This is a wonderful book, intelligent, humorous, and overflowing with spiritual insights. One of the most transformative and thought-provoking books I’ve ever encountered.”
— JACK CANFIELD, CO-CREATOR OF THE NEW YORK TIMES #1 BEST-SELLING SERIES CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL®
“A riveting tale of a talented young boy with a love of the game and the natural talent to go along with it. More importantly, it is a story of how a mother’s love can defy all logic and move mountains. Cathy Byrd is one heck of a baseball mom and a true advocate for all children.”
— TOMMY LASORDA, NATIONAL BASEBALL HALL OF FAME DODGERS MANAGER
“A mother and son’s extraordinary story demonstrates how our connections with loved ones do not end with the death of the physical body. Love’s eternal bond brings our souls together again and again, leading to a richer sense of purpose in our lives.”
— EBEN ALEXANDER, M.D., NEUROSURGEON, NEW YORK TIMES #1 BEST-SELLING AUTHOR OF PROOF OF HEAVEN
“This engaging, soulful, and highly entertaining memoir has the power to transform the way you think about life and death.”
— JOHN GRAY, PH.D., NEW YORK TIMES #1 BEST-SELLING RELATIONSHIP AUTHOR OF ALL TIME, AUTHOR OF BEYOND MARS AND VENUS
“In her inspirational new book, Cathy Byrd documents the compelling past-life memories of her young son. She also describes her own past-life regression recollections, linking both mother and son in a previous lifetime. The Boy Who Knew Too Much is an exciting journey into the mystery and power of past-life memories. I highly recommend this book.”
— BRIAN L. WEISS, M.D., NEW YORK TIMES BEST-SELLING AUTHOR OF MANY LIVES, MANY MASTERS
“Growing up in the 1970s, I’ve always viewed the Lou Gehrig story as somewhat mystical, from the famous farewell speech to my all-time favorite movie, The Pride of the Yankees. After reading the amazing journey of Cathy Byrd and Christian Haupt, the spirit of Gehrig resonates for the next generation of baseball fans to appreciate.”
— MARK LANGILL, TEAM HISTORIAN, LOS ANGELES DODGERS
“The story you’re about to read is at once, astounding, riveting, and truly unbelievable, yet before too long, as humanity continues waking up from its deep spiritual sleep, this story will be most believable. The nature of our soul and its adventure is eternal, yet we’ve hidden this from ourselves for too long. For the courage of Cathy Byrd and her family, we can have a front-row seat on the revelations of a child who can see through the veils of time and space. The Boy Who Knew Too Much is about to blow your mind. Enjoy!”
— MIKE DOOLEY, NEW YORK TIMES #1 BEST-SELLING AUTHOR OF INFINITE POSSIBILITIES
“A testimonial to the fact that children can be our greatest teachers when it comes to spirituality and matters of the heart. So many children are providing evidence that we are all infinite spiritual beings having a temporary human experience. A message of light and love that will appeal to baseball fans and non-baseball fans alike.”
— DR. SHEFALI TSABARY, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST, NEW YORK TIMES BEST-SELLING AUTHOR OF THE CONSCIOUS PARENT
“This compelling, trustworthy book is a most reassuring guide for those whose children share vivid recollections of their previous lives, and anyone who is curious to learn more about this widely documented field of scientific study.”
— MICHAEL BERNARD BECKWITH, FOUNDER OF AGAPE INTERNATIONAL SPIRITUAL CENTER AND AUTHOR OF SPIRITUAL LIBERATION
“The Boy Who Knew Too Much is a real-life story about a young boy, a talent for baseball, and a memory of a past life. It poses the most important question you can ask: do I only live once? One game, nine innings, and out forever! Or do I live many lives? Beautifully written, with integrity and humor, this gripping story might change the way you choose to play this game called life.”
— ROBERT HOLDEN, PH.D., HAPPINESS EXPERT, BEST-SELLING AUTHOR OF SHIFT HAPPENS!
“Experience this joyful journey of knowingness. This story will remind you of your own eternal soul, and how we timeless beings share this earthly existence with others to learn and experience the connected force of love.”
— JAMES VAN PRAAGH, SPIRITUAL MEDIUM, TEACHER, AND AUTHOR OF THE POWER OF LOVE
“For her debut publishing venture, Cathy Byrd offers a memoir of exceptional intrigue that at times reads like the pursuit of The Da Vinci Code. Told with the skills of both investigator and spiritual pilgrim, it is also a tale of the connection between mother and child beyond the unexpected—a love story of the spirits.”
—ELLIOT MINTZ, RENOWNED MEDIA CONSULTANT
“Meeting Christian and Cathy Byrd and doing a past-life regression with them both allowed me to witness for myself the extraordinary life story of Lou Gehrig and Mom Gehrig. I fell in love with Christian and Cathy, and you will too as you dive into this riveting account of their adventure exploring reincarnation and the deeper truth that love always brings us together life after life. As a result of our work, Christian no longer has asthma and Cathy is fulfilling her soul’s purpose in opening people’s minds to the truth of our eternal existence. After I left their home, I immediately called my friend Dr. Wayne Dyer, and with awe and contagious enthusiasm I shared their story with him. I know that as soon as you turn the last page of this exceptional book, you too will be passionately sharing Christian’s and Lou Gehrig’s story with everyone and carrying the light of their soul in your heart.”
— MIRA KELLEY, REGRESSIONIST, BEST-SELLING AUTHOR OF BEYOND PAST LIVES
Copyright © 2017 by Cathy Byrd
Published and distributed in the United States by: Hay House, Inc.: www.hayhouse.com® • Published and distributed in Australia by: Hay House Australia Pty. Ltd.: www.hayhouse.com.au • Published and distributed in the United Kingdom by: Hay House UK, Ltd.: www.hayhouse.co.uk • Published and distributed in the Republic of South Africa by: Hay House SA (Pty), Ltd.: www.hayhouse.co.za • Distributed in Canada by: Raincoast Books: www.raincoast.com • Published in India by: Hay House Publishers India: www.hayhouse.co.in
Cover design: Tricia Breidenthal • Interior design: Pamela Homan
Credits for color insert photos: Photos on pages 1, 2, 4, 7–12, 14–15 courtesy of the author. Photo on page 1 by Karen Halbert Photography. Photos on pages 3, 11–12 courtesy of National Baseball Hall of Fame Library, Cooperstown, NY. Photos on pages 4–6 courtesy of Ed Lobenhofer. Photos on pages 6 and 13 by Jon SooHoo/Los Angeles Dodgers LLC. Photos on pages 8 and 12 by Charlotte Haupt. Photo on page 9 by Peter Lars © Cornerstone Photography. Photo on page 13 courtesy of Ken Hawkins. Photo on page 14 by © Ultimate Exposures, Inc. Photo on page 15 Courtesy of Lori Dickman. Photo on page 15 by Marc Belmonte. Photo on page 16 by Michael Coons.
End paper photo: by Bettmann Collection/Getty Images.
The article in Chapter 10, “Three-year-old a film star, pitching prodigy,” is reprinted Courtesy Fox Sports West, www.foxsportswest.com.
Nike logo is a registered trademark of NIKE, Inc. Use or appearance of the Nike logo does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by NIKE, Inc. • Los Angeles Dodgers logo use with permission by Los Angeles Dodgers LLC. • Wilson logo used with permission by Wilson Sporting Goods Co. • MLB logo is a registered tr
ademark of Major League BaseballTM and is used with permission. • Majestic® logo used with permission by Majestic® and VFC.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic, or electronic process, or in the form of a phonographic recording; nor may it be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or otherwise be copied for public or private use—other than for “fair use” as brief quotations embodied in articles and reviews—without prior written permission of the publisher.
The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.
Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-4019-5342-3
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
1st edition, March 2017
Printed in the United States of America
To Charlotte and Christian.
May you always see life
as a daring adventure.
CONTENTS
Foreword by Jack Canfield
Introduction by Eben Alexander, M.D.
CHAPTER 1: Baseball Fever
CHAPTER 2: Babe Ruth Was Mean to You?
CHAPTER 3: Tall like Daddy
CHAPTER 4: Old Souls
CHAPTER 5: The Grudge
CHAPTER 6: Finding Lou Gehrig
CHAPTER 7: Possessed or Crazy
CHAPTER 8: Spring Fever
CHAPTER 9: Take Me Out to the Ball Game
CHAPTER 10: The Pitch
CHAPTER 11: A National Treasure
CHAPTER 12: I Just Know
CHAPTER 13: The Good Doctor Comes to Town
CHAPTER 14: I Will Find You
CHAPTER 15: A Mother’s Love
CHAPTER 16: Love Never Dies
CHAPTER 17: Whispers of the Soul
CHAPTER 18: Baseball Heaven
CHAPTER 19: The Pride of the Yankees
CHAPTER 20: Family Heirlooms
CHAPTER 21: Heaven Sent
CHAPTER 22: Finding Mom Gehrig
CHAPTER 23: 108 Stitches
EPILOGUE: A Wink from the Universe
Acknowledgments
About the Author
FOREWORD
As an avid reader and the co-author of more than 150 books, I can honestly say that the book you hold in your hands is one of the most transformative and thought-provoking I’ve ever encountered. As the co-author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul® books, I receive countless requests to provide endorsements for books, and because I don’t take these requests lightly, there are very few that I feel compelled to recommend. However, this extraordinary book not only hooked me from the start and kept me turning the pages until the very last word, I couldn’t stop talking about it with everyone I met. You are about to embark on a remarkable journey that could very well change the way you view life and death forever.
At first blush Cathy Byrd’s story may seem as improbable to you as it did to her. What makes this story so compelling is that Cathy Byrd is a Christian who previously never believed in reincarnation. As you follow her miraculous journey of a mother trying to make sense of the things her young son is telling her about his former life as a professional baseball player, you will be stretched to examine your own beliefs regarding life before life and after life on this planet. But beyond this, it will also inspire you to honor your intuition, listen to the children in your life, love without limits, and make the most of each day that you are blessed with. You see this book is really several books in one. In addition to being a book about reincarnation, it’s also a book about learning to deeply listen to and trust our children, a book about baseball, and a book about how the universe constantly conspires to arrange events to expand our consciousness.
I’ve long believed we are all infinite spiritual beings having a temporary human experience on earth, and The Boy Who Knew Too Much is a powerful testimony to this grand idea. I was first introduced to the concept of a soul living more than one lifetime at 16 years of age. Growing up in a Christian home, this was all new to me, but somehow it rang true. When I was in graduate school at the University of Massachusetts, a professor gave me the book Life After Life by Dr. Raymond Moody and later Life Before Life by Dr. Helen Wambach, both of which deepened my belief in past lives. Since that time I have had several vivid past-life recall experiences, some arising spontaneously and others facilitated by psychologists. And I have also read numerous academic books on the subject.
So the story of Cathy and her son, Christian Haupt, did not surprise me, but I was completely mesmerized by it. I had never read such a long, beautifully written, deeply truthful and transparent account of the gradual revelation of a child’s past-life memories and a skeptical mother’s gradual acceptance of it. Because there are so many unexpected twists and turns along the way, I don’t want to reveal any more details for fear of spoiling your own experience of the mysterious unfolding of it all.
What I can say is that I believe this story will touch you on many levels—as a parent, a spiritual seeker, and a fan of baseball. Lou Gehrig is one of the true legends in the history of baseball, and the story of his relationship with his mother and their relationship with Babe Ruth is totally fascinating. No matter how much you already know about their tumultuous relationship with Babe Ruth, you will learn more about their lives.
As a baseball fan who had lived in Los Angeles for more than ten years, I had always admired Tommy Lasorda, the former manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, especially since the time Mark Victor Hansen and I coauthored Chicken Soup for the Baseball Fan’s Soul with him, but in reading about how he quickly recognized Christian as a young baseball prodigy and befriended and supported him and his family in so many beautiful ways, I learned so much more about his sweet compassion and deep humanity.
I first had the good fortune to meet Cathy when she reached out to me by e-mail requesting a short endorsement quote for her book. After reading the book, I was more than willing to give her a glowing endorsement, which I did. But then a few weeks later she decided to sign up for a workshop I was conducting for a small group of people on Maui. Over the five days of the workshop we all fell in love with her—her passion, her enthusiasm, her love of life, her sense of humor, her authenticity and transparency, her thirst for learning, her dedication to her mission, her sincere support for each person in the workshop, and her seemingly boundless energy.
A week after returning from Maui, Cathy contacted me and asked if I would consider writing the foreword for the book. Originally, she thought Dr. Wayne Dyer would write the foreword, until fate intervened. Wayne had met Cathy and her son, Christian, at the Hay House Writer’s Workshop in June 2015 in Maui, just two months prior to his passing. It turned out that Wayne was also passionate about the subject of children’s past-life memories and therefore became a big supporter of the book you are about to read.
When Cathy met Wayne, he was putting the final touches on the last book he would ever write, Memories of Heaven—a compilation of stories about children from around the world who came here with memories of Heaven, memories that reinforce the idea that the soul never dies. Wayne and his co-author, Dee Garnes, had collected thousands upon thousands of personal anecdotes about young children reporting how they remembered choosing their parents for this journey, how they had invisible friends that only they could see, memories of past lives, visitations with God, and much more. The experiences described in Memories of Heaven provide clues to an infinite spiritual realm far greater than we can perceive with our five senses.
The father of eight children, Wayne had his own personal experience with a child who came
into the world bearing past-life memories. As a toddler, his daughter Serena spoke in a foreign language, frequently spoke about her “other” family, and vividly described planes dropping bombs and wiping out her village. Hearing these odd things come out of his daughter’s mouth is what convinced Wayne that we all come here with memories and experiences from our previous lives.
I believe it is no accident that Wayne’s final piece of work, which was published after his passing, is about Heaven. Here are some of Wayne’s thoughts on the subject of children’s past-life memories in an excerpt of his writing from Memories of Heaven:
There is a growing body of evidence that is being subjected to rigid scientific examination procedures, which points to the fact of “life before life.” This idea is now a verifiable conclusion by those who have studied this phenomenon in depth. I have long held that children are much more than just biological beings shaped by their genetic makeup and the environment in which they are immersed. They are essentially spiritual beings who bring with them wisdom and a host of experiences from having lived here in previous lifetimes.
Who we are is obviously not these bodies we inhabit . . . From all that we can gather from what our children tell us, our souls are indestructible and they transcend time and space in a way that remains mysterious to all of us.
I suggest that you begin to view any of the young children in your life as new arrivals from Heaven. Communicate with them by asking questions about their recollections. Above all, do not dismiss anything they might say, regardless of how absurd it may sound to you. Make an effort to engage your children in your conversation, and rather than perceiving yourself as their teacher, allow them to take on that role with you. Be inquisitive and an active listener by drawing them out and taking a genuine interest in whatever they might offer.
Be aware that little ones, who are imparting those mysterious words that you might find difficult to grasp, speak their own unique truth. Let their honesty and excitement about these “weird” memories from Heaven remind you that you too were once a small child, and that little child resides within you at all times.