Between the Lines

Gaylord Perry on MLB in Japan, Tom Glavine and MVPs

Q:

What are your thoughts on MLB’s plan to open the 208 season with Oakland and the Red Socks playing in Japan?

A:

I think it is a big future income for Major League Baseball; television rights, merchandise and many other things play into the financial decision. If you go back to the Giants, we had the first Japanese player, Masanori "Mashi" Murakami, he was a relief pitcher and he was very popular. We went over to play in Japan in the spring of 1969, to finish spring training.  Major League Baseball began playing games in Japan after World War II and it’s just gotten bigger and bigger. The Japanese are great fans of the game and it is a privilege to play in Japan. I just pity the team that is going over there; it’s about a 17 hour flight. The effect is tremendous. It will take a few days for them to recover after such a long trip, so if you come back and you have a big series, it’s going to hurt you. That said, I like that Major League Baseball continues to play in Japan. It’s a good thing for the game of baseball.

Q:

Tom Glavine announced that he wants to play the 22nd season of his career. He says he is having too much fun to stop. Would you please discuss, as a pitcher that has had that kind of longevity, what you were thinking when you decided to stay on extra seasons?

A:

When I was there in ’82, after I won my 300th game, I said I wanted to play another year because I want to pass Walter Johnson in strikeouts.  When I played, you needed to give the club a reason to keep you but now they need pitchers so much more. If you do a good job like Glavine has, it’s easier for you to have another year like. He’s earned his paychecks pretty well. He’s good for the game and I look forward to watching him pitch another year or two.

Q:

Who would be your pick for American League Most Valuable Player?

A:

Probably Rodriguez, third base for the Yankees.

Q:

What about the National League MVP?

A:

I can’t pick right now because it’s too early. Fielder is doing a great job in Milwaukee, but I don’t have a definite answer yet.  I’ll let you know when I do.

Cooper, Metro-Dome Vacancy & MLB’s HR Surge on Perry’s Mind

What do you think of Cecil Cooper as the Astros’ interim coach and potential head coach?

I’ve known Cecil for a long time and think he would be an outstanding manager for the Astros.  I know personally that Cecil was a tough guy to get out; he played hard during every game and had the respect of his opponents because of his ability to play the game.  He’s paid his dues as a bench coach.  I’m pulling for him

What do you think about MLB’s push to include more minority managers?

Managing a major league baseball club is a tough job and in some cases you don’t always have a lot of applicants to choose from.  This is not a new issue; Major League Baseball has been addressing minority managers and Cecil being selected at the Astros would certainly help, and he’s more than qualified for the job.

This week, baseball lost a great minor league third base coach when he was hit with a line drive.  Isn’t that a very dangerous job?

I’ve always thought that first and third base coaches are the most dedicated in the game.  They do not have time to watch the hitter because they keep an eye on the runner so they can help him advance the bases.  Mentally, they approach the job as if they don’t worry about the ball hitting them.  It takes a special breed of person to stand 90 feet or less from some fantastic hitters.  They impress me with their dedication.  My prayers go out to this coach’s family. 

Minnesota announced plans to move from the Metro Dome.  Will you miss it?

A dome stadium without a retractable roof just isn’t attractive.  I remember playing at Cleveland in 1972 at an outdoor park by the airport.  It was a fantastic place to play ball.  We know that you are going to have a cold day at Wrigley, in Atlanta and at a lot of parks in the spring.  It’s part of the game and fans come to expect it.  I was talking to Harmon Killebrew last Sunday and he recalled not believing the Metro Dome wasn’t constructed with a roof that would open.  It really would have made a difference in the overall baseball experience for both the player and fans.

Since Pete Rose reached 500 homeruns, we’ve seen a 50% increase in the number of players reaching that statistics.  Next year alone, MLB has the potential to add four or five members to that club.  How do you explain this surge?

Owners and fans have put a lot more emphasis on hitting homeruns.  Plus, parks are just so much smaller these days. They are built for homeruns.  For instance, there was a homerun in the Yankee’s game yesterday that would have been a given pop-up out in DiMaggio’s day. 

I remember in Pittsburg, where I got my first win, they would put the batting cage in centerfield so the balls would go out of the stadium. 

Baltimore started the trend towards smaller baseball parks.  Then owners jumped on the bandwagon by paying a bonus for homeruns hit in a season.  It was all to make the game more exciting for fans and I support that.  But, as a pitcher, it sure doesn’t do a lot for pride!  Heck, no one wants to see a shutout unless you are a Yankees fan and Boston is up.

Is there anything else that’s lead to more homeruns?

Yes, there’s a lot more emphasis on protecting the batter then in previous decades.  If a pitcher throws at the batter’s head, for instance, he’s automatically going to be ejected from the game.  In my day when Gibson or Drysdale were on the mound, batters didn’t dig in at the plate like they can today.   

Owners who are fortunate to have an A-Rod or Derek Jeter on the roster always think that it will be another 20 years before another player of this caliber will come along and they really want to protect their investment. 

The same thing is true about football.  Heck, I remember when Eddie LeBaron played for the Redskins.  As s 5’4” QB, he had to run for his life on every play.  Now, the QB is the most protected player on the field.

Another thing that has led owners to these measures is expansion.  In the ‘60’s there were 16 clubs. Now with 32, the talent is spread out across so many teams.  This gave birth to the franchise player concept, which some teams have made work very well while others still struggle.

NL Cy Young winner Chris Carpenter almost gave up the game in 2003 due to injury.  How does a pitcher avoid this situation or does he have any control over injuries at all?

Taking care of your body is the first thing.  That means treating your body well by getting enough rest, working out and keeping your body fit and strong.  The other, and most important for pitchers, is good mechanics. 

A pitcher cannot afford to throw against his body.  Power in pitching is from the waist down.  Strong legs took stress off the arm and when you could get the upper and lower portions of your body working together, it’s like a well-oiled machine. 

Good coaches are always looking at mechanics and suggesting ways to improve.  This is to keep a player healthy and in the lineup on a daily basis.

Does the game change for a player in October?

To make it to October you have to have a great September.  Take Cy Young winner, Carpenter. He won with four or five solid games in September that capped off a good spring and summer.  It also laid the foundation for a really good autumn.   That’s how to win Cy Youngs and Pennants.  The last six weeks of the season either make or break a lot of ball clubs.

Right now you see the Yankees picking it up, as they always do this time of the year.  You also see Boston having trouble; heck, it only takes one week to blow a seven-game lead.

When I played baseball, everyone on the team had their eye on September and October.  That’s when you could really make some money to carry you through the off season.  Back then, if you could win the World Series, a player would make more money than the rest of the season.  That’s why September and October are so critical. 

What are your plans for the holiday weekend?

We’re headed to Atlanta with my grandkids to watch the Mets series.  It should be a very fun weekend.

Gaylord Perry on the Little League World Series, Michael Vick, Alex Rodriguez, lead-off hitters, NL and AL manager of the year choices and Phil Rizzuto

Q:

Do you watch the Little League World Series?

A:

Oh yes, I sure do! I remember watching it the year Jim Bruher’s son pitched the winning game. I played with Jim, it must have been ’82 or ’83 and their team won the Little League World Series. His son later became third baseman for the San Diego Padres.

Just the other night I saw that great catch when the kid reached over the fence. They’ve really hit a lot of homeruns this year. I even have an autographed ball from when Jim’s son played. It’s on the dresser side of my bed and I think about how some of those kids made it to the big leagues.

Q:

We’ve just learned that Michael Vick is going to plead guilty. What do you think of him as an athlete and as a person?

A:

Well, as an athlete, he probably should have been a running back. Last year he set a record of over a thousand yards as a rushing quarterback. He certainly isn’t as good a passer as he is a running quarterback. He did come from a tough neighborhood, went to college and got drafted number one; he had everything working in his favor but now he seems to have thrown it all away on something that is despicable. It reminds me of a time when my kids were young. I took them to see the movie Bambi. At the time I hunted a little bit. However, after taking the kids to see Bambi, my kids would start crying if I wanted to go hunting. They would say ‘mama, daddy is going to kill Bambi’. I gave up hunting.

We always had dogs as pets. Now, we have an Irish wolfhound who is just a very loving dog. We also have a Sheltie named Champ. We even have horses now. As an animal caretaker, I believe Michael Vick has to know what he did was wrong and I’m sure the Court will take care of that.

Q:

Alex Rodriguez is closing in on 150 RBIs and 150 runs for the year. Has he been overlooked in the year of Barry Bonds?

A:

Rodriguez has been a great baseball player for years. I remember when Seattle signed him right out of Florida. I knew when they gave him more than a million dollars to sign that he was going to be a great player. In those days Seattle didn’t throw money around – they were tight. Rodriguez certainly hasn’t disappointed anyone. I’ve never really understood why the people, especially in New York, don’t like him. I do think he’s been overlooked a little but setting a new homerun record is a tough act to follow.

Q:

Is Alex Rodriguez the best all-around player in the game today? A: I can’t think of anyone else that’s better. He’s got power, his batting average is good, he’s got good speed, he’s got a strong arm and he wants to play. He wants to play every inning of every day. I can’t think of a player that I would chose before him if I were starting a team.

***Gaylord Fun Fact: Who was the last man to go 150-150? Ted Williams in 1949 (159 RBIs, 150 runs).***

Q:

Curtis Granderson and Jimmy Rollins are on pace to reach the 20-double, 20-triple, 20-homer, 20-steal club this year. Are these guys receiving the credit they deserve or has the role of lead-off hitter diminished since it seems everyone is consumed with homeruns?

A:

When I played our lead-off hitter was Bobby Bonds, year after year he hit 30 - 35 homeruns and had 30 - 35 stolen bases. You have to reach those numbers before getting the recognition. 20 isn’t a number that you are going to be remembered for. There are too many players hitting the 20 homeruns and making 20 stolen bases. There are only a handful of players who have 30 homeruns and 30 stolen bases year after year. Between 20 and 30 homeruns is like the difference between 15 and 20 wins. These 20-hitters are close to reaching statistical greatness. Alfonso Soriano is on the Cubs disabled list right now, but when he comes back he’ll probably hit 30 homeruns or more. If the lead-off hitter gets you 30 homeruns you’ve got a heck of a lead-off hitter.

Q:

Who were the great lead-off hitters of your time?

A:

I’ve mentioned Bobby Bonds who played with me. Most lead-off hitters were guys that could get the walks, but Bobby wasn’t interested in walks, he wanted to hit the ball. Mickey Rivers was a good lead-off hitter but not a homerun hitter. In those days, if you could get both of those things together then man you had a great lead-off guy. Today, there are only a handful of players who can do it. Soriano is one of those guys.

Q:

San Diego Padres relief pither, Kevin Cameron, is on the verge of compiling the lowest ERA by any National Leaguer in history (Current ERA 0.80). Do you think there’s a chance he could break Dennis Eckersley’s all-time single-season ERA record of 0.61 for the 1990 A’s?

A:

It would be great if he did but the difference that I see is Eckersley did it year after year. One year doesn’t make a career. One year doesn’t make you into a Hall of Famer like Eckersley. When a pitcher is recognized by awards then other teams begin gunning for him. Repeat success is much more difficult. Like Bob Gibson, the first year he posted a low ERA everyone noticed him. The next year it was a big deal to win 2-1 or 1-0 against Gibson. That’s the reason I enjoyed pitching against the greats like Drysdale, Colfax and Gibson. If you were good enough to out pitch these guys then you gained more respect among your colleagues and fans.

Q:

Who do you like for National League manager of the year?

A:

Wow, phew! Well, the way it’s going right now I would have to say [Lou] Piniella. He took a team that was in last place last year. He added a lot of talent in the off season and has really turned the Cubs around. He caused a scene during the beginning of the year, but he’s a fighter. He put on that show; he knew what he was doing. He wasn’t doing it for himself; he was doing it to get his team fired up and the fans behind him.

[Sidenote: During a press conference after a Cubs-Reds game on April 13, 2007, when Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano blew a five-run lead in the 5th inning, in which the Reds scored 6 runs, winning the game 6-5, a reporter asked Piniella what was not working for the Cubs. He responded in a loud, angry voice, "What the hell do you think isn't working?! You saw the damn game!… This guy is your ace, you got a 5-0 lead with the eighth and ninth hitters coming up, you feel pretty good about that inning and all of a sudden it turns into a six-run inning.” Then Piniella said, obviously still agitated but calmer, “And then I bring in the reliever who’s throwing 30-to-40-foot curveballs to boot. I can see. I can start to see some of the ways this team has lost ballgames. I can see it. We’ve got to correct it obviously. This game here is one that got away from us that really shouldn’t.”

In a similar meltdown after the May 17, 2007 game against the Mets, Lou stated, "I don't care about feelings". On June 2, 2007, Piniella got ejected as a Cub for the first time, after throwing down his hat, kicking dirt at umpire Mark Wegner, and kicking his hat three times. He was arguing a call that Angel Pagan was out at third on a wild pitch. In the post-game press conference, he said Pagan looked safe from the dugout, but acknowledged that, after seeing the replay, the umpire made the right call. However, he also said he was going to argue no matter if Pagan was safe or out: "It didn't make a damn bit of difference." He was suspended for four games, the longest of his career.]

Have you seen what the Cubs have done since he threw that fit on the field? And man can he throw a fit. I saw Bill Morris do that a lot, whenever his team was dead, not doing well. Anytime he saw an opportunity to pick up one of his players and he’d just go nuts. He’d cover home plate, he’d throw his hat. Earl Weaver was the same way. He’d go out and sit on second base. He did that during one game when I pitched – I was with the Yankees then. He told the umpire that he wasn’t leaving until the umpire made Perry stop that pitch. Then the umpire said we are going to give you 60 seconds or you will forfeit the game. Well, he had to get up because he couldn’t stand to forfeit the game.

These managers put on a show to get their players excited and saying: 'Hey, our manager is taking up for us'. It makes players feel great when their manager is fighting for them. Look at Bobby Cox. For 15 years or more his team has done so well. He just took the lead for getting thrown out of games. He gets the word across. When a team of 25 people, who see their manager go out there day after day, fighting for them and taking up for them, it brings something out in them that nothing else does.

Q:

What about the American League?

A:

Well, I tell you that is going to be a toss-up between like four guys. The Yankees are only four guys out. The Red Sox are four games in front. You got Seattle in first place out there and the Angels are still in it. You got several candidates and I couldn’t pick one out right now.

Q:

There’s so many fun things we could talk about all day long, but I have to ask you in closing for your thoughts on Phil Rizzuto, a long-time Yankee player and broadcaster.

A:

I only knew Phil as a radio man, because I didn’t get over to the American League until ’72. He just had charisma. He was just so great, you just can’t mistake his high worth and value to the game; how he explains it and all. He’s been a great baseball man and he will be missed.

Gaylord Perry on Sports Media, Reaction to the New Homerun Record and the 300 Club

Q:

A lot of media outlets, especially ESPN, turned their coverage to cheating in sports immediately after Barry Bonds set the new homerun record.  As someone who has received a lot of press for the controversial “Spitter” pitch, what are your thoughts?

A:

When I played baseball a lot of pitchers tried to get an advantage.  One way was to make the hitter think there might be something on the baseball.  Maybe there was and maybe there wasn't, but the point is the pitcher knew and the batter didn't.  That's called a psychological advantage.  That's the main thing we did in my day.

It was very similar to using a corked bat during batting practice; the ball would jump off the bat and inevitably the opposing pitcher, who is watching from a far…trying to get an advantage…would say to himself ‘man this guy is really swinging the bat well'.  It would mess with his mind. 

Q:

What reaction have you witnessed so far to Barry Bonds becoming the new homerun champion?

I've been in Denver and the responses that I've seen have all really been positive about Bonds.  It's just something the media and all of those who don't want to accept it just have to live with. Barry has taken the test he's required to take and it's been negative.

People, in general, are resistant to change and those associated with baseball are no different.  It's like when they changed the baseball from horse hide to cow hide – it was very soft and loose and the ball didn''t travel far, then they glued it together and now they've changed or improved it to where it jumps and we're seeing the numbers of homeruns that we are.  I remember when wood bats were used in college and high school before changing to aluminum bats because of the cost. Aluminum bats are something that most of us wish we could get rid of but we can't, we just have to live with it. You just have to live with what Bonds and McGuire have done and put your own thoughts away and go from there.

Q:

What's the difference between cheating and psychological tricks? Where do we draw the line?

A:

I always go back to taking advantage of the situation. If the catcher gives a sign that is easy for the opposition to pick up then you've got to expect that it's going to happen. If a pitcher tips the pitch because of his wind-up then the opposing team is going to take advantage of it. It's the same for all sports. If a defensive player learns the pattern of a split ends habit and can associate those with different routes then we've got to expect him to anticipate the play. It's the same thing with baseball – if you know a pitcher is throwing a fast ball by the way he winds up then that's what you are going to be prepared to hit. Its part of the game, players do what they can within the rules to improve their chances.

Q:

Do you think the media makes too much of Bonds and cheating?

A:

I think ESPN has overdone the negative coverage and pretty soon the viewers are going to get sick of it.  A player still has to have hand-eye coordination in order to hit the ball. I haven't heard of any medications that help hand-eye coordination yet. Everybody thinks the negative stuff is what is going to get fans to the ball park, but I think it's the good things that are going to get the fans to come out. Fans, they enjoy competition. I went to a dinner last night and a luncheon today in Denver and they were talking about the Rockie's playing great ball; they're not talking about one of the Rockies' being tested. I think ESPN is overplaying it really.

Q:

So you believe the sports media over-sensationalizes their coverage in order to create a story?

A:

Absolutely. You hit the nail on the head. They are over-emphasizing what's going on. They aren't spending enough time comparing the different record-setting ball players and the times in which they played.  More focus should be on the Babe Ruth era - he was the greatest homerun hitter of his time - and then you take Henry Aaron, he was the greatest of his time, now we have Bonds, and in a few years it's going to probably be Rodriguez. Someone else will come along, they always do.

Q:

Is it kind of like comparing Tiger Woods to Jack Nicklaus?

A:

Exactly. You know Jack Nicklaus didn't have the knowledge of how athletic training benefits a golfer nor the access to equipment in order to workout. He didn't have nutritionists, trainers and other experts advising him day-to-day. Tiger Woods has all of these things so naturally he should be a better player.  Just look at the difference in equipment the two have access to during their prime years. The same is true in baseball. When I played, we didn't have the training or medial equipment or experts that they have now.  We didn't even have a whirlpool.

Q:

What was your reaction to the Hank Aaron message when Barry Bonds broke the 755 record?

A:

I thought that was just outstanding. I am sure the Commissioner got Henry to record the message. The Commissioner and Henry are very close friends. It was the right thing to do. And I thought Barry Bonds saying to Rodriguez - I saw it on tape - 'You don't have to worry about when you pass my record I'll be pulling for you. I'll be on the front row pulling for you'. And I thought that was very good of Barry Bonds. It took a lot of class.

Q:

Does A-Rod have that many homeruns left in himself?

A:

Oh absolutely! I think he's definitely going to hit 800 or more. And Barry knows that.

Q:

Does Dale Murphy hurt his own legacy by saying the things he did about Barry Bonds?

A:

I would think so. I know Dale Murphy and he's one of the finest gentlemen I know. I didn't like his attitude while talking about a fellow baseball player. So, maybe Barry isn't the easiest guy to get along with or even that nice a guy sometimes. It's just one of those things. I was surprised when I saw the Dale Murphy tape. I don't know why he took the stand that he did.  I was just very surprised because I know what type of gentleman he was for many, many years. It sounds like he's going into politics doesn't it?

Q:

Just one more follow up on the media and baseball.  How does the coverage of Barry Bonds compare to when you played baseball?

A:

The difference is back in the '60s and early '70s is that writers covering the game of baseball were there to report what went on during the game. I think now too may of them are reporting on what is going on before or after the games too much. If Barry Bonds went 0 for 4 then he's going to be upset and react that way. If a pitcher is knocked out in the second inning he's going to be in a foul mood, and if a writer wants to talk right then the conversation may not be too pleasant. The player makes his living through the game and it is very hard on him when he doesn't perform well, it's like he let the team down, let his family down. In these situations players sometimes say stuff they shouldn't and it gets turned around. When I played, baseball writers told the story of what happened during the game and left our personal issues out of the article.  That's the way it should be. We always remember those reporters for that respect. But now I think they just have to cover everything about a player to fill up all the time on air and space in magazines so they can keep selling advertising.

Writer needs to report the game itself, maybe a Hollywood writer should include what's going on before and after for a movie, but I'm just saying we need to get back to telling just what happened on the field and leave the rest alone.

Q:

Let's talk about Tom Glavine winning his 300th game. Did you talk with him?

A:

No I didn't. I sent a message to him by ESPN, of course, [chuckles] to congratulate him. Tell him that I was looking forward to having him join the club and for him to get many more. I was hoping he'd go nine innings but he came out about the sixth inning.

Q:

Did watching Tom Glavine accomplish 300 wins bring back memories?

A:

I didn't watch the whole thing because I was disappointed that he didn't continue to pitch. I was just hoping he'd go on and show how much he wanted it. I thought they would have given him a couple more innings, but he didn't finish his game and he turned it over to the bullpen.

Gaylord Perry on Hall of Fame Induction and Impactful Trades

Q:

How was your trip to Cooperstown for the Hall of Fame induction ceremony?

A:

It’s was a great experience as always.  The organization really does a first-class job hosting the induction ceremony and if anyone gets the chance they ought to attend one.   It sure is a lot different than 1991 when I was inducted.  The estimated attendance was over 75,000. 

Q:

Do members of the Hall of Fame have private time together?

A:

Yes, after we take a photograph with the new members we all have dinner together.  This year there were 53 members in attendance, plus Cal Ripken and Tony Gwinn.  It was probably the most members we’ll ever have at one meeting.  Anyway, we get to have dinner and visit with one another.  We sign autographs for each other and get to talk without the media present. 

Q:

I bet there are some interesting things said in that meeting?

A:

[Laugh] There sure are, but it’s all just good clean fun.

Q:

What stood out most about the speeches?

A:

Tony talked for 30 minutes, which was too long.  I was impressed by the way he went all the way back to Little League and thanked every coach he’s had.  He recalled them all and how each one made an impression on his life.  He talked about how they encouraged him to work harder and to take advantage of the athletic gifts he’d been given.   

Of course Cal’s brother (Billy) was there.  He talked about his father’s tremendous influence on his life and about growing up in the Baltimore Orioles organization.
Both Tony and Cal gave great speeches.  It’s just so hard to sum up your entire baseball career in one speech and no matter what, you always think of something or someone that you wanted to mention after making the speech.

Q:

Were there any trades that will have an impact on the remainder of this season?

A:

Yes there were.  Boston acquired Eric Gagne from the Texas Rangers and that’s going to have a big impact on the rest of the season.  It was important that the Yankees and the Detroit Tigers not benefit from the trade and I think most teams realized that and that’s why these two ball clubs were not in the mix more than usual.  But the best all-around trades were by the Atlanta Braves.  Picking up first baseman Mark Teixeira from the Texas Rangers and getting Kansas City reliever Octavio Dotel will put the Braves back into the playoff picture this year.

Q:

A lot of critics speculate that the Braves gave up too much to get Dotel and Teixeira, what do you think?

A:

Well, I had a chance to talk with John Schuerholz during the Hall of Fame ceremony.  We sat in the front porch rockers talking about his team.  I said that he had two great catchers and it’s really difficult to find a switch-hitting first baseman.  He said that his catcher [Brian McCann] just signed a six-year deal so I kind of figured something was in the works that would involve Salty [catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia].  But listen, Shuerholz is the smartest General Manager in the game and he’s got the best coach in Bobby Cox.  They may not have made the playoffs last year but they’re going to get back.  Did they give up a lot in future players?  Yes, but who am I to say that the team they have now cannot go all the way?

Q:

Did Shuerholz give you any other insight into the Braves’ future?

A:

He did indicate that trades aren’t over which means to me that he’s got his eye on some players and if he can make another trade work this year then he’ll go for it.  I don’t think he’s finished with this year’s team.

Q:

Which bubble team would you favor to be in the playoff mix?

A:

The Cubs have been on a winning streak and their pitching is coming back.  Also, the Rockies have a long stretch of home games upcoming and their players are well suited to hit in that ballpark.  The air is so thin that the baseball carries so far.  But, I’d have to say the Yankees are the bubble team that will go the distance.  You just cannot count them out.  They always make a move in late August or September to carry the team the last four or six weeks.  With their money you can just do things that other teams cannot.

Q:

How does the media affect a pitcher like Tom Glavine when he’s close to winning 300?  And how did it effect you when you were just shy of 300 wins?

A:

I was fortunate because in 1982, when I won my 300th game, it’d been 19 years since Early Winn had reached the 300 mark.  We were playing the Yankees and I’d just won my 298th game playing them so I knew how to pitch them.  There was a lot of media for that time, even the President (Reagan) called to say he and Nancy would be in bed by the time the game was over but they were pulling for me.  I just used this pressure as inspiration and went out to the mound and pitched the game like I’d always done.

Gaylord Perry on Barry Bonds, the trade deadline and retirement

Q:

I understand that you are doing something fun this weekend, care to elaborate?

A:

We are driving to Cooperstown for the Hall of Fame induction ceremony where Tony Gwinn and Cal Ripkin, Jr. will be inducted on Sunday.  Right now we have about 120 miles left to go on our day and a half trip.  I’m beginning to get excited and I’m glad you called.  There sure is a lot of sports news right now.

Q:

There sure is, tell me what you think of the issues surrounding Michael Vick?

A:

It’s a shame those allegations about Michael Vick being mixed up with dog fighting came out.  Too many people love their animals and they will not tolerate a person doing something horrible like that. He’ll never recover to the fame and notoriety that he enjoyed at one time.

Q:

The trade deadline is just six days away, do you expect any surprises?

A:

I don’t think anything unusual will occur this year. Every team is in search of better pitching and if you got a good pitching rotation then you will protect it.  At this point in the season pitching is the only way a team will improve in the standings.  I may be a little biased, but anyone in baseball will tell you that pitching is the key from this point forward.

Q:

Let’s talk about your old team the Kansas City Royals. Dayton Moore has some very talented and young ballplayers: Octavio Dotel, Reggie Sanders and Mark Grudzielanek who’s hitting 300. Should the Royals bargain with these young players or are they better off working with the talent they already have?

A:

I hope Kansas keeps the team intact because they do have some excellent players who have a lot of great playing years ahead.  They are just now beginning to realize the potential of the top four or five players they’ve been drafting for the past decade or more.  Smart management realizes this and doesn’t squander talented ballplayers just as they are beginning to gain valuable experience.  Now there are some clubs who would like to get some of the Kansas players but the future will be very good for the Royals as long as they keep the club together and everyone stays healthy.

**A Fun Fact from Gaylord: The Royals started their season 21-38, but have won 22 of their 38 games since then, climbing into a tie with the White Sox at the bottom of the American League Central. Billy Butler has moved into the middle of their lineup and is doing what injuries prevented Mike Sweeney from doing the last few years, giving the Royals a steady run producer. The bullpen has improved dramatically, Gil Meche has earned every bit of his salary, and the lineup is deepening.**

Q:

How difficult is it for a player like Craig Biggio to announce his retirement?

A:

It’s a very hard decision to make because you want to play the game you love so much as long as you can, just like I did. You know some days are going to be OK and some won’t. But, it’s that good day that you keep playing for, that’s what keeps bringing you back. As a whole, Biggio is having a little off year but when you break his game down, he has had a number of clutch hits like the grand-slam last night.  Veterans like Biggio and Clemens keep playing because they know that they can deliver and it’s still fun for those guys. When you are ready to retire, you just learn to live with it. Biggio’s has had a great career, he’s been very lucky to stay with one club his whole career. So, boy I know yesterday was one that he’ll never forget. Hitting that grand-slam probably made him rethink his decision [chuckles].

**A Fun Fact from Gaylord: Craig Biggio, a 20-year veteran who reached 3,000 hits on June 28, connected off Rudy Seanez (6-2) for his fourth career slam and second this season.**

Q:

What was it like for you when you made the decision to retire?

A:

Well, I wanted to keep playing but my legs said go home. My arm was still fine, but you know a pitcher uses his legs so much, and mine had so much wear and tear on them.  I knew I wouldn’t have as many good days as I would like; I had a great career and decided it was time to go try something else.

Q:

Did you go back and forth on the decision?

A:

Well, I started thinking about it in 1978, and then I had a great year. I won the Cy Young in ’78, won 21 games, lost six, then I was only a few games away from 300. And I was saying to myself, ‘now I’ve got to really work hard, keep myself conditioned and try to get somebody to let me play so I can hit 300’.  That is a very special goal to achieve; something you really want to get because very few people have reached that many wins. A lot of pitchers probably played longer then they should have trying to win 300 games. And, the game is just so special to you. Achieving 300 wins and striking out over 3500 people, it’s just something very special. It’s the reason I’m driving to Cooperstown today, because I am in the Hall of Fame and not too many people are there.

Q:

Speaking of special numbers, Barry Bonds is closing in on 756. With every hitting record that is accomplished, there’s a pitcher involved. Al Downing was the pitcher when Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s record and hit number 715. Tracy Stallard gave up hit number 61 to Roger Maris in 1961. Did you play a part in anyone reaching a significant milestone?

A:

Henry Aaron hit number 600 off of me. And then he also hit one in the All-Star game in 1972 in Atlanta. He only hit like four counting everything off of me and I pitched against him 10 years or more, so really, I had a pretty good record keeping him in the singles, but he got number 600 while I was on the mound. He had a good friend who got pitchers to sign a ball after every homerun.  I remember signing number 600. I’m sure I gave up some more but I don’t recall right now.

Q:

What’s going through a pitcher’s mind when Barry Bonds steps into the batter’s box these?  Does the “record” affect a pitcher?

A:

Well, it sure is because a pitcher doesn’t want to be remembered as the guy who gave up number 756 to Barry Bonds.

**A Fun Fact from Gaylord Perry:**

NOTEWORTHY HOME RUNS
• Following are some of baseball's biggest home runs and the pitchers who surrendered them:
DATE	HOME RUN	PITCHER
9/30/1927	Babe Ruth's 60th HR	Tom Zachary
5/25/1935	Babe Ruth's 714th career HR	Guy Bush
7/8/1941	Ted Williams wins All-Star Game	Claude Passeau
9/30/1945	Hank Greenberg's ninth-inning GS wins pennant	Nelson Potter
10/1/1950	Dick Sisler's 10th-inning HR wins pennant	Don Newcombe
10/3/1951	Bobby Thomson's pennant-winning HR	Ralph Branca
7/12/1955	Stan Musial's 12th-inning HR wins All-Star Game	Frank Sullivan
10/13/1960	Bill Mazeroski's WS-winning HR	Ralph Terry
10/1/1961	Roger Maris' 61st HR	Tracy Stallard
7/7/1964	Johnny Callson's HR wins All-Star Game	Dick Radatz
4/8/1974	Hank Aaron's 715th HR	Al Downing
10/21/1975	Carlton Fisk's WS Game 6 HR	Pat Darcy
7/20/1976	Hank Aaron's 755th career HR	Dick Drago
10/14/1976	Chris Chambliss' HR wins ALCS	Mark Littell
10/15/1988	Kirk Gibson's WS Game 1-winning HR	Dennis Eckersley
10/26/1991	Kirby Puckett's WS Game 6-winning HR	Charlie Leibrandt
10/23/1993	Joe Carter's WS-winning HR	Mitch Williams
9/8/1998	Mark McGwire's 62nd HR	Steve Trachsel
10/5/2001	Barry Bonds' 71st HR	Chan Ho Park
10/16/2003	Aaron Boone's HR wins ALCS	Tim Wakefield
5/28/2006	Barry Bonds' 715th career HR	Byung-Hyun Kim
10/14/2006	Magglio Ordonez's HR wins ALCS	Huston Street

Q:

Commissioner Bud Selig said he is going to follow Barry Bonds saying “I felt it was the right thing to do…”  It’s obvious that there is a conflict between the commissioner and Barry Bonds, does their relationship affect what people think of baseball overall?

A:

I don’t think so. Everybody understands the commissioner knows a great deal more than we do but there are some things he can’t say. But I’m glad to see that he will try to be there when the record is broken.

Q:

Do you think that the alleged steroid usage is going to be something that continues to plague Barry?

A:

I think it’ll stay with him for the rest of his life.

Gaylord Perry on the upcoming All-Star Game

Q:

Which All-Star team do you believe is the best?

Gaylord:

Whoo... You know I’m a National Leaguer because that’s where I started, but I think that the American League has got the edge again. They’ve had it for what? 10 years in a row now?

The first time I played in an All-Star game, the league president came by and it was more than a pep talk, it was a threat. You are going to win this game! They took a great deal of pride in being the winner of the All-Star Game. The players did too. We’d talk about it, like, Hey, we need to beat these guys. The National league is the best.

As you know, the position of league president has been done away with.  This places the responsibility on the manager to motivate the team. 

Q:

Which team is the most underrated ball club?

Gaylord:

Well, at start of the season I think it was the Milwaukee Brewers. They have the talent.  It’s been a long time since they’ve had the talent to be competitive, but they did real well during the last off-season, and I think the players are gaining the confidence and believe they can win. It’s probably a long-shot, but they would be my dark horse - the Milwaukee Brewers.

Q:

Which of the All-Star selections probably surprised you the most?

Gaylord:

Wow. I haven’t really looked over it that close and in the last couple days there’ve been some replacements.  We’ll just have to wait and see who is physically able. But sometimes, especially for pitchers, if they pitched on Sunday, they really shouldn’t pitch Tuesday. Because if you go out there and pitch 6, 7, 8 innings, you are not ready to be on the mound throwing as hard as you can two days later.

When I made the All-Star team late in my career, you couldn’t be on the All-Star team if you pitched on Sandy.  They wanted sufficient rest for you.

It may be easier to say who I think is having a bad year, like Andruw Jones, the Braves centerfielder. He’s just now starting to come around and I expect he’ll have a much better second half and finish strong in September.  I kind of always expect him to make it because he is such a great centerfielder.

Q:

Speaking of Andruw Jones, how does a Major League Baseball player get out of a severe slump?

Gaylord:

Hard work and practice, and staying in the line-up. Bobby Cox and the batting coach [Terry Pendleton] have not let Jones take a week off. He’s got to work it out and I’ve heard no complaints about him playing. I think the other players know they’ve got to have him to win in the second half – they’re only two games out of first place! If he comes through it will take the pressure off of Chipper [Jones] and the other young guys and a healthy Andrew Jones, along with the other players, give the Braves just as good a chance of winning their Division as any other team.

Q:

What do you think about the All-Star winner having home field advantage in the World Series? Is that important?

Gaylord:

Oh, Definitely. [chuckles] If you can play at home, then you don’t have to travel before the first game. You have more time to rest and spend time at your personal home with your family and friends. It’s so important that you start at home in any sport really. You know how important it is for basketball, for football; it’s just as important for baseball.

I understand the commissioner and his people are trying to make the All-Star game much more competitive and meaningful. I was very disappointed when they couldn’t finish the All-Star Game in Milwaukee. If I’d been an infielder or outfielder I’d have volunteered to pitch just so the fans aren’t let down.  I would have wanted to find away to finish the game for the fans.

Q:

Is it better to have home field advantage alternate between the American League and the National League every other year?

Gaylord:

As I said earlier, they are trying to make the All-Star Game more competitive because of what happened in Milwaukee when they had the All-Star game there. Everybody was buddy, buddy. Saying, I’m only going to pitch a third of an inning, I’ll only pitch one inning.

I was in the bullpen during my first All-Star game.  Sandy Koufax started and we had Gibson.  I thought that I had a very slim chance of pitching.  I’m in the bullpen in the ninth inning, we’re tied up. I get the call to warm up to pitch the 9th.  I got to also pitch the 10th and we won.  But we wanted it so bad.  I don’t see that today.

Q:

Does home field advantage create a desire to win for the players?

Gaylord:

Yes, and I hear more fans talking about it - Well, who’s going to start the World Series? Where will we play?

It also helps pre-sell tickets. Let’s take Milwaukee who hasn’t been in the World Series in a long time and they got a chance this year. If I’m a season ticket holder, I’ve got a chance to attend the World Series. I’d like for it to start in my hometown that way I get a chance to see more games. If my team is in the World Series, I want them to start at home, so I can see two, maybe four games.   Now all of a sudden, the All-Star game outcome matters to me as a fan and season ticket holder.

Q:

Will you watch the homerun derby contest tonight?

Gaylord:

I sure will. I have friends from Boston and from North Carolina over, and we’re going to watch it from my hotel room.

Q:

What about tomorrow night?

Gaylord:

We’ll go to my favorite restaurant, DiMaggio’s Chop House. It’s the very best restaurant in San Francisco.  I’ve already eaten there twice. With a lot of friends in town, we’ll watch the game from our hotel.  It’ll be exciting.  I’m really looking forward to it.

Gaylord Perry on: Bonds HR Chase; HOF in Sosa’s future?; The Future for Jason Schmidt

LR:

What are your thoughts on Barry Bonds and the inevitable fact that he’ll break Hank Aaron’s homerun record?

G:

Well, I think he’s going to break it but it might take a little longer than he would hope because the pitchers are really pitching him tough now. And if the first base is open they’ll probably walk him.

He had a pretty good swing earlier in April, in May it kind of left him a little bit but I think he’s getting it back. You know, he could hit three or four homeruns in a week and reach the record pretty quick.

LR:

What about the media hype Bonds vs. Aaron?

G:

If somebody is breaking your record that you’ve had for years, I don’t believe you want to go and shake his hand and tell him congratulations. It’s a record that you’ve worked hard for and you want it to remain.  There is controversy about how Barry’s going to get the record but every time he’s been tested he’s been innocent so you have to believe he really is innocent.

I’m pulling for Barry; I played with his daddy. His dad was one of my best friends. I knew Barry when he was a kid growing up in San Francisco.

LR:

What kind of guy is Barry?

G:

Some days he’s real moody and he wouldn’t even shake your hand, but the next day he’ll give you a hug around the neck. Earlier this year I was out there and he gave me the old dead fish handshake – he probably had something on his mind – and the next month I was out there and he gave me a big hug like I was a long-lost cousin. He’s been a decent guy to me, so I’ve got no complaints. I’m sure he’s being pulled in many ways with being asked to do so many things. I think he just wants to play ball and get it over with and be with his friends and family afterwards.

LR:

Do you think Hank Aaron holds any grudge? Does Bonds breaking his record make him irrelevant?

G:

When anybody’s going for a record that has been up there so long, like Rose going for DiMaggio’s 56th consecutive hit streak [Rose reached 44 games with a consecutive hit] everybody didn’t like Rose because they loved DiMaggio.  So when Roger Maris hit 61 homeruns and broke Babe Ruth’s record [60, set in 1927], everybody hated Roger.  However, Roger is one of the nicest, family men that you’ll ever find. He was just doing a job and trying to do it to the best of his ability. And when Aaron broke Ruth’s record of 715, so many people didn’t like him because he was breaking a record.  Barry is just getting some of the same stuff that Aaron got, that Roger Maris got, that Rose got. Fans just don’t want records to be broken.

LR:

It’s like you are going against history.

G:

Yeah, exactly. But Barry’s been a very pleasant guy to me and like I said, his dad was one of my best friends, he played right field with me, and so I’ve known Barry since he was a kid.  He comes from a great athletic family. His mother was a great athlete, and his dad was and he’s got some brothers who are also very good athletes. And if things go as people have talked about, and I think they’re right, Alex Rodriguez will probably break Bond’s record. And you know they don’t like Rodriguez right now [chuckles] and that’s because he is doing so well and people sometimes are a little jealous of him. Rodriguez hasn’t done anything to anybody but play ball hard. He might just be one of the guys that wants to stay to himself.

LR:

Is Sammy Sosa a Hall of Fame Baseball Player?

G:

Oh yeah, I would say so. 600 homeruns. He used a corked bat and that’s always going to follow him. I know a lot of people who used corked bats.  I know that I would hand them to teammates when I was pitching.  I’d say here, this one will hit it further. 

LR:

So you believe that Sosa’s playing ability is worthy of the Hall of Fame?

G:

Yeah, he’s hit 6 plus homeruns a season several times, so yeah. He might not get in on the first, second or third ballot, but he’ll get there. You take McGuire. Now, McGuire only has a little over 1,000 hits. He doesn’t have the numbers to get in there now. I think Sosa probably has over 2000 hits, and when you talk about Hall of Farmers, you look at the numbers. You have to look at the wins for a pitcher; you know, you can get some pitchers in there who’ve only has 200/250 win but they did it in 10 years. But you have some of us who played 20 years or better who got 300. It goes by the numbers. You take Gibson, he didn’t win 300, but boy he had some pretty good years there, didn’t he? Don’t forget Jim Bunning who won 100 games in each league.  It took a long time for him to get in there. But you got some guys who are just waiting in line and as soon as they retire, in five years, that’s it, they’ll be in.

LR:

Jason Schmidt with the Dodgers. I believe he signed as a free agent, $47 million on a three year contract, and now he has a season-ending shoulder surgery. What does that do to his mind? I mean, if he’s going to come back does he have a long fight ahead?

G:

Well, back when I played you were very, very concerned about it because you didn’t have a guaranteed contract. They could release you and that was it. Sometimes, you could negotiate and hope you get paid through the season, but you didn’t have a contract for the next year.

When I went for my 300th win, O’Brien [Seattle general manager] said come on down to Spring Break training and see if you make the club.  I got there, made the club opening day pitcher, but my contract got renewed every thirty days. And this was in ’82. Schmidt has a guaranteed contract, he’s going to get his money - that’s the risk you take. But I think he’ll work hard enough, he’ll be back in by the middle of next year, and maybe he’s able to overcome this surgery and go on to have a great career.  As a pitcher, that’s what I hope for him. It’s a big risk!

LR:

So, back in 1982, when got the 300th win, you were basically a month-to-month pitcher?

G:

That’s right. And the next year, they gave me a guaranteed contract.

Q&A WITH GAYLORD PERRY

LR:

Jake Peavy has a 1.68 ERA in 12 starts and is second in the major leagues in strikeouts with 92.  Teams are hitting .202 against him with a low slugging percentage of .247.  What is the key to Peavy’s success this season?

G:

He’s got control and it looks like he has studied the opposing hitters and knows what they can and cannot hit and what the best possibility is for getting them out. His breaking balls and off-speed pitches are in good locations and that is so important. I saw Riviera pitch the other night against Boston and the catcher was demanding him to throw the ball at certain spots and he hit like nine out of 10 of them and he got a save, so it looks like he was getting back on track.  Peavy is doing the same thing; he is hitting the right targets at the right time.

LR:

Do you believe Peavy’s control is unusual for his age?

G:

Control is what they try to teach you – even in the minor leagues. And he’s just caught onto that much faster than most people. It looks like to me he has worked at it a great deal. I know when I was pitching I used to work on control in the bull pen before I got to the mound and I am sure he is constantly working at improving himself.

LR:

Bud Black [San Diego Padres Manager] compares Peavy to Don Drysdale with his three quarter motion and the horizon from which he is able to throw the ball. Do you see that similarity?

G:

I think Drysdale was a little meaner and little more aggressive but you could be more aggressive back when Drysdale pitched. I know I came up once against Drysdale and I was a big fan of his and I learned a great deal by watching him and Gibson pitch. I am sure Peavy’s got a lot of capabilities that Drysdale has and that is why he is doing so well.

LR:

You mentioned something interesting about Drysdale’s pitching and how pitchers were able to be more aggressive during Drysdale’s time. How has the game changed in that sense?

G:

Teams have so much more money invested in a player that you cannot afford to have some mean guy from the other team hitting him in the wrist and breaking it or hitting him in the head. Tony Conigliaro from Boston was hit in the eye and his career ended. The rule committee has been forced to provide more protection to hitters.  I remember when we didn’t have helmets.  When we got an ear flaps everyone really thought that was a sissy thing to do. Of course, as time when by we all realized these were good steps.  A player can get hurt in so many different ways. The other night the Yankee first baseman Doug Mientkiewicz  got run over and the initial report was that he’ll probably be out the rest of the year.

Safety measures are there to protect a teams investment and I can understand why but they also have to realize that a pitcher’s ERA is not going to be 2 or less like Gibson --- mine was under 2 one year – but it’s going to be 4 or above. An ERA of 3.50 is going to be a real good one now.

LR:

As more and more safety measures are put into place, what adjustments does this force a pitcher to make?

G:

Well, he can’t afford to make mistakes throwing the ball down the middle. A pitcher who throws the ball down the middle 95 miles an hour and if it’s straight, the hitter is going to hit it. But if you got one going 88 to 92 and it’s moving and on the corner, you got a pretty good chance of having a great game. This is what most of the pitchers are learning now that they need control, they need a catcher who will work with them and provide a target, and don’t let them make a mistake. I’ve seen a lot of mistakes this year – with no balls and two strikes. You know Boston got beat the other day when Rodriguez hit an 0 and 2 pitch out of the ball park. A coach talks to these young pitchers and tells them not to make these mistakes because they’ve seen the situation before and know what the consequences are. Coaches try to teach pitchers early and, in Peavy’s case, someone got to him and has done a great job teaching him control.

LR: Chicago Cubs manager Lou Pinella was ejected and received a four game suspension. Bobby Cox is getting a lot of attention this year for tying the record for being tossed out during a game. Is the media exposure that these types of incidents generate good or bad for baseball or does it really matter?

G: Yeah, Lou went a little nuts! [chuckles]

That’s OK. Lou got a little excited and his club is not doing well.  I‘ve watched Lou manage championship clubs when he was in Seattle and he threw a lot of fits while managing down there in Tampa Bay because they weren’t playing good. He expects the Cubs to do a lot better this year, all the fans and the front office expect better as well and they are not getting it done; and Lou is coming in on the hot seat so he’s trying to do some things to shake his players up to get them to do better because they’re just not catching the ball, they’re not running the bases like they should. They’re not doing the regular baseball things that Lou Pinella knew when he was a kid. They’re just not doing it yet. But it’s not over for Lou yet.  He’ll get that club to perform on the field.

LR:

What about the call that Pinella was tossed over?

G: Well, you know when I was playing in the 60s and 70s, and even up to ‘83 when I retired, you could argue with the umpire and if you didn’t talk about his mother or his family you didn’t get thrown out. A manager could argue his point. But now they don’t give you a chance. Umpires are quick to eject in today’s game and sometimes a manager needs to get out of there to persuade the umpire – say ‘hey we were looking and we think you are missing these plays’ – and sometimes if you have a player who thinks the umpire is sticking it to him, you got to take up for him and if you don’t you will lose the player’s confidence. So a manager is in a tough situation. Bobby Cox - I’ve never seen him throw fits like Lou Pinella. I played for Bobby one year and he’s a great manager; if you can’t play for Bobby Cox you can’t play for anybody. He’s a great guy so he takes up for his players and sometimes he gets thrown out when his team is not doing well.  He tries to provide a spark for his team.

Welcome

I am very excited to announce our newest partner, National Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Gaylord Perry, will be updating his very own blog at www.landresource.com, offering commentary on the past, present and future of baseball.

Born in Williamston, North Carolina, Gaylord began his Major League career with the San Francisco Giants in 1962 and accumulated Hall of Fame statistics for eight major league teams.

Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991, Gaylord achieved two of pitching's most magical milestones with 314 wins and 3,534 strikeouts. Distracting and frustrating hitters through an array of rituals on the mound, he was a 20-game winner five times and posted a 3.10 lifetime ERA. An outstanding competitor, he won Cy Young awards in 1972 with Cleveland and with San Diego in 1978, becoming the first pitcher to win the award in both leagues. He was also a member of the All-Star team five times, in 1966, 1970, 1972, 1974 and 1979.

In recent Gaylord news, he has already kicked off our Braves monthly sweepstakes, where Braves fans have six opportunities to win a weekend stay at a Dream Home in either our Grey Rock or Cumberland Harbour communities. Until September, fans can register to win the stay and Gaylord will recognize the winners at a pre-game ceremony at the Braves Stadium home plate. He has also joined us at several of our communities’ Priority Selection Events around the Southeast. We look forward to sharing an exclusive look at America’s favorite pastime through this one-of-a-kind relationship with baseball’s one-of-a-kind Hall of Fame pitcher.

With his 21-year career in baseball, unique views and wit, Gaylord’s blog will prove to be an exciting look into the original insight and thoughts from a Hall of Fame baseball player about the game he loves.

Thank you.

Mike Flaskey