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.
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