1 00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:08,760 Speaker 1: Is this great game or what? And our special guest 2 00:00:09,119 --> 00:00:13,159 Speaker 1: is Jim Abbott, one of the most inspirational players in 3 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:17,239 Speaker 1: Major League history and a really good picture in his day. 4 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:20,480 Speaker 2: Jim, welcome to the show. This is my son Jeff. 5 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:24,320 Speaker 3: Hi, Jeff, Hey Tim. It's great to see you, guys. 6 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:26,720 Speaker 3: I'm really excited. I hope you'll forgive the noise. I'm 7 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:29,880 Speaker 3: in a rainstorm up here in my cabin in northern Michigan. 8 00:00:29,960 --> 00:00:33,680 Speaker 3: So if I blow away here and a little bit, 9 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:35,080 Speaker 3: you know what happened. 10 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:38,760 Speaker 1: Now, Jim, just keep in mind Jeff looks just like me. 11 00:00:38,920 --> 00:00:40,159 Speaker 2: He sounds just like me. 12 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:42,960 Speaker 1: He's as short as I am, so get used to 13 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:45,480 Speaker 1: not understanding who's the voice is coming from. 14 00:00:45,479 --> 00:00:46,960 Speaker 2: We sound a lot alike, right. 15 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:50,440 Speaker 3: Well, I think it's so cool that you two do 16 00:00:50,840 --> 00:00:53,080 Speaker 3: this together and as an honor to join you. 17 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:54,520 Speaker 1: Well, thank well, thank you, Jim. 18 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:56,240 Speaker 4: I mean, it's been a dream come true for me 19 00:00:56,320 --> 00:00:57,960 Speaker 4: to do this show with my dad, and you know, 20 00:00:58,000 --> 00:00:58,960 Speaker 4: it's so funny we do. 21 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:00,720 Speaker 2: We now do three. 22 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:04,080 Speaker 4: Episodes a week, right, Tuesdays and Thursdays are just my 23 00:01:04,200 --> 00:01:07,119 Speaker 4: dad and I chatting back and forth, talking about the game, 24 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:09,919 Speaker 4: doing different segments and on Wednesdays, we're joined by a guest. 25 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:13,240 Speaker 2: This week it's you. But last week. 26 00:01:13,319 --> 00:01:15,959 Speaker 4: We were texting back and forth because now we text 27 00:01:16,040 --> 00:01:18,160 Speaker 4: and are on the phone. I don't know, Dad, what 28 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:20,440 Speaker 4: do you think nine hours a day it seems like 29 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:23,200 Speaker 4: because we're father and son and we have a podcast together. 30 00:01:23,520 --> 00:01:25,160 Speaker 2: But he said, oh my gosh, it's. 31 00:01:24,959 --> 00:01:27,280 Speaker 4: The anniversary of a very big day of my friend 32 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:29,800 Speaker 4: Jim Abbott. We have to talk about that on Thursday. 33 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:31,840 Speaker 4: But he said, maybe we can get him on to 34 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:35,200 Speaker 4: come on Thursday. But then him and I both said no, no. 35 00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:37,199 Speaker 2: We have to have we have to have a. 36 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:39,720 Speaker 4: Full episode with Jim Abbott, not just talking about this 37 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:42,760 Speaker 4: big anniversary. So thank you for taking the time to 38 00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:44,480 Speaker 4: chat with us this long, and we were we were 39 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:46,840 Speaker 4: glad to play a portion of the interview back on 40 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:49,120 Speaker 4: this past Thursday, and I'll have you for a full 41 00:01:49,160 --> 00:01:49,960 Speaker 4: episode today. 42 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:54,800 Speaker 3: Well thanks for remembering that date, Tim, That's a that 43 00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:57,920 Speaker 3: was a while back, but you know, I tell you 44 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:01,760 Speaker 3: it's a really special date for me. I it was 45 00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:04,720 Speaker 3: a Saturday morning. I woke up, went to the ballpark 46 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:08,959 Speaker 3: Yankee Stadium. I hadn't had an incredible year that year 47 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:11,720 Speaker 3: with the Yankees. There was a little bit of frustration, 48 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:16,240 Speaker 3: I think on everybody's side. And that day changed my life. 49 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:19,760 Speaker 3: It really, it really did. And I you know that 50 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:23,240 Speaker 3: twenty seventh out, the connection with the Yankees organization, the 51 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:26,800 Speaker 3: connection with the city of New York, even, it just 52 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:30,560 Speaker 3: turned out to be a magical thing in my life. Jim. 53 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:33,720 Speaker 1: When Matt Noakes ran to the mound to hug you 54 00:02:33,919 --> 00:02:36,560 Speaker 1: that day, you you looked at him and I can't 55 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:38,000 Speaker 1: read your lips. What did you say? 56 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:38,880 Speaker 2: How about that? 57 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:41,680 Speaker 1: What do you remember what you said when Matt Noakes 58 00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:43,880 Speaker 1: ran to hug you on the mound? 59 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:48,040 Speaker 3: I do remember, only because I watched it recently with 60 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:51,960 Speaker 3: our with our friend Jeremy. Sure, but I said, how 61 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 3: about that? Baby? Yeah, something something along those lines. 62 00:02:55,480 --> 00:02:58,640 Speaker 1: It was so good speaking of Jeremy Schap, Jim, the 63 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:04,639 Speaker 1: documentary together on you was just unbelievably great. And Jeremy 64 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:07,040 Speaker 1: is like wicked smart and everything. 65 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:09,520 Speaker 2: What was it like hanging out with him to do 66 00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:10,239 Speaker 2: that piece? 67 00:03:11,919 --> 00:03:17,240 Speaker 3: You know, I knew Jeremy a little bit, and when 68 00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:20,440 Speaker 3: he came on board, it added a legitimacy immediately to 69 00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:23,480 Speaker 3: me that maybe the story could be told a little 70 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:28,160 Speaker 3: bit differently. Because I did interviews with Dick shap Right, 71 00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:30,400 Speaker 3: you know, when I was in high school. It goes back. 72 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:33,400 Speaker 3: There's actually a couple of snippets in the film of 73 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:36,280 Speaker 3: Dick shapp talking. If you listen carefully, you can hear it, 74 00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:40,640 Speaker 3: and I think Jeremy's kind of proud of that. But yeah, 75 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:44,160 Speaker 3: he was great to work with, you know. He and 76 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:46,960 Speaker 3: Mike Ferrell, the director, they came to me and they said, 77 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:49,960 Speaker 3: we think we can do something and tell this story 78 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:54,400 Speaker 3: in a little different way. And it was a I'd 79 00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:56,480 Speaker 3: really really enjoyed working with him. I'm a huge fan 80 00:03:56,520 --> 00:04:01,120 Speaker 3: of ESPN's documentary programs, whether they're thirty thirty or East sixty. 81 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:03,920 Speaker 3: And you know, when it came out, I have to 82 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:07,480 Speaker 3: say it was an emotional It was an emotional event 83 00:04:07,560 --> 00:04:11,200 Speaker 3: for my family and for me, and I'm really honored 84 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:12,360 Speaker 3: to have participated in it. 85 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:15,240 Speaker 1: And Jim, what kind of feedback have you gotten since 86 00:04:15,360 --> 00:04:18,840 Speaker 1: everyone got to see that remarkable documentary. 87 00:04:20,839 --> 00:04:24,080 Speaker 3: It's been overwhelming a little bit, to tell you the truth, guys. 88 00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:28,159 Speaker 3: I you know, I've heard from some very very close 89 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:32,400 Speaker 3: family friends and from people all over you know who 90 00:04:32,480 --> 00:04:34,400 Speaker 3: I hadn't heard from in years. A lot of former 91 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:37,839 Speaker 3: teammates I was amazed Brian I heard from Brian Harvey 92 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:41,720 Speaker 3: the old relief picture for the Angels. Who I thought 93 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:43,560 Speaker 3: he just lived in the woods. I never I didn't 94 00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:48,080 Speaker 3: hear anything, let alone have a TV. But it was 95 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:54,240 Speaker 3: just so heartwarming, and you know, even for me, and 96 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:58,000 Speaker 3: I won't go on and on, but it just goes 97 00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:00,760 Speaker 3: to show you. You know, I played differently. I played 98 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 3: I'm missing my right hand, and I never wanted to 99 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:08,520 Speaker 3: make that the center point of my career. My playing days, 100 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:11,680 Speaker 3: I felt like, you know, I was I was selfish, 101 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:15,000 Speaker 3: you know, I wanted to be the best version of myself. 102 00:05:15,040 --> 00:05:19,080 Speaker 3: I could be the best picture I could be. And 103 00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:23,479 Speaker 3: all the while, there was this kind of alternate story 104 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:26,680 Speaker 3: that was going on behind the scenes, you know, in 105 00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:29,320 Speaker 3: ways even that maybe I had forgotten a little bit 106 00:05:29,320 --> 00:05:33,120 Speaker 3: about or didn't actually even know what was happening. These 107 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:35,839 Speaker 3: families and these kids and they're coming to the ballpark, 108 00:05:35,880 --> 00:05:40,120 Speaker 3: and it just it just shows you the impact of 109 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:43,560 Speaker 3: how we go about our daily lives. But yet people 110 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:47,400 Speaker 3: are watching and people connect and they love baseball. They 111 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:52,800 Speaker 3: love the stadiums, the players, the teams, and it's just 112 00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:53,800 Speaker 3: a cool experience. 113 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:58,040 Speaker 4: So Jim, I want to tell you about a We 114 00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:01,800 Speaker 4: called our listeners family members because we end every podcast 115 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:03,600 Speaker 4: with thanks for being a part of our family, because 116 00:06:03,640 --> 00:06:07,800 Speaker 4: this podcast is deeply personal to us. And we recently 117 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:12,120 Speaker 4: heard from a new member of the family, Andy Abbot, right, 118 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:16,200 Speaker 4: and him and his family, they're absolutely huge fans of 119 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:18,520 Speaker 4: the podcast. Now he shares it with his kids. His 120 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:22,000 Speaker 4: daughter is nine. Her name is McKinley Abbot. Oddly enough, 121 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:26,000 Speaker 4: McKinley is my two year old daughter's name, and McKinley 122 00:06:26,040 --> 00:06:31,280 Speaker 4: Abbot also has a arm differential. So she is just 123 00:06:31,320 --> 00:06:35,080 Speaker 4: starting softball this year, and she has been inspired by 124 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:37,480 Speaker 4: your story. And I know you've probably heard so many 125 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:40,520 Speaker 4: great stories from young athletes who learn your story and 126 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:42,400 Speaker 4: want to learn more about it. So I wanted to 127 00:06:42,480 --> 00:06:45,000 Speaker 4: just give her a big shout up because she's starting 128 00:06:45,040 --> 00:06:48,400 Speaker 4: softball this year at nine years old, and she's listening 129 00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:51,080 Speaker 4: to this podcast, and they messaged us this is just I. 130 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:52,520 Speaker 1: Might tear up a little bit. 131 00:06:52,680 --> 00:06:53,840 Speaker 2: They started messaging with. 132 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:56,400 Speaker 4: Us Dad, like the beginning of last week, Hi, I'm 133 00:06:56,440 --> 00:06:59,560 Speaker 4: Andy Abbott, that like love the show, whatever, we'd love 134 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:01,040 Speaker 4: more Abbot stories. 135 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:02,839 Speaker 2: And then we got to tell them. 136 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:05,360 Speaker 4: Well, we're gonna have Jim Abbott on the show next week. 137 00:07:05,520 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 2: So it's just really cool. 138 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:09,359 Speaker 4: I feel like, you know, God works in mysterious ways. 139 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:11,320 Speaker 4: And as a family podcast, it's pretty cool to have 140 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:14,560 Speaker 4: Andy and his daughter McKinley such a fan of yours 141 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:16,680 Speaker 4: and your story and what you've been able to do. 142 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:18,960 Speaker 2: So I just wanted to kind of introduce you to 143 00:07:19,000 --> 00:07:19,640 Speaker 2: them as well. 144 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:20,880 Speaker 3: And Jim, that's amazing. 145 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:24,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, Jim, what is your message to McKinley, Abbot and 146 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:28,520 Speaker 1: everyone else that has whatever will call this? How you 147 00:07:28,600 --> 00:07:33,440 Speaker 1: overcome something like this? What is the message? 148 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:38,080 Speaker 3: You know? McKinley, Hi there. I hope you're having fun 149 00:07:38,120 --> 00:07:41,040 Speaker 3: playing softball. I hope you love softball. I hope you 150 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:42,960 Speaker 3: whatever it is that you're doing is something that you 151 00:07:43,040 --> 00:07:48,720 Speaker 3: love because you know, I understand that it's the road 152 00:07:48,760 --> 00:07:53,480 Speaker 3: isn't always smooth. You know, there's some there's some bumps 153 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:56,240 Speaker 3: along the way when you I think they call limb 154 00:07:56,280 --> 00:08:02,000 Speaker 3: difference now and the experience, you know, we'll test to 155 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:05,640 Speaker 3: you a little bit. But having baseball to turn to 156 00:08:06,240 --> 00:08:12,040 Speaker 3: having sports, really, but baseball in particular, became an amazing outlet. 157 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 3: You know, some of those lonely times, maybe an awkward 158 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:21,280 Speaker 3: glance on a playground, you know, entering into a new 159 00:08:21,320 --> 00:08:25,080 Speaker 3: school year with new classmates and a new teacher, and 160 00:08:25,160 --> 00:08:27,800 Speaker 3: walking down a hall and feeling a little bit different. 161 00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:31,720 Speaker 3: I turned to that brick wall where I would throw 162 00:08:31,760 --> 00:08:33,680 Speaker 3: the baseball, and I would, you know, just kind of 163 00:08:33,679 --> 00:08:35,719 Speaker 3: be alone with my thoughts and throwing the ball. And 164 00:08:36,480 --> 00:08:39,080 Speaker 3: I wasn't trying to perfect the glove switch. I was 165 00:08:39,160 --> 00:08:42,920 Speaker 3: just out there sort of ventings and frustration and doing 166 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:47,160 Speaker 3: something that I love to do. So for McKinley and 167 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:51,120 Speaker 3: all the kids out there, I think it's important to 168 00:08:51,120 --> 00:08:55,120 Speaker 3: find what you love, find what you love and embrace 169 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:59,520 Speaker 3: it and use it and anything as possible. Anything really 170 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:03,559 Speaker 3: can can happen in this world. It might seem incredibly improbable, 171 00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:05,440 Speaker 3: but great things can happen. 172 00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:08,440 Speaker 1: Jim, When did you decide that great things are going 173 00:09:08,520 --> 00:09:09,439 Speaker 1: to happen for you? 174 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:10,680 Speaker 2: Was it age five? 175 00:09:10,920 --> 00:09:13,560 Speaker 1: Was at age ten? When did you say I'm going 176 00:09:13,679 --> 00:09:14,280 Speaker 1: to do this? 177 00:09:16,320 --> 00:09:18,400 Speaker 3: I think I was like every other kid, you know, 178 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:21,280 Speaker 3: I didn't have any visions. The Detroit Tigers were my team. 179 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:24,720 Speaker 3: You know. I grew up in Flint, Michigan, and you 180 00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:27,920 Speaker 3: know the Jack Morris's and the Alan Trammels and the 181 00:09:28,040 --> 00:09:31,319 Speaker 3: Low Whittakers, and I could go out, Mark Fidrich, all 182 00:09:31,320 --> 00:09:36,480 Speaker 3: the old Tigers. I just wanted to make the next team, 183 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:39,680 Speaker 3: you know, I wanted My friends were playing Little League, 184 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:41,800 Speaker 3: so I wanted to be on their team, and that 185 00:09:41,880 --> 00:09:44,840 Speaker 3: gave me a certain level of acceptance and coolness in 186 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:46,599 Speaker 3: their group. You know, all of a sudden, I was 187 00:09:46,679 --> 00:09:49,800 Speaker 3: kind of fitting in. And then the junior high school team, 188 00:09:50,040 --> 00:09:53,000 Speaker 3: you know, seemed magical to me and seemed so far off. 189 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:55,120 Speaker 3: And then then high school, and then there was a 190 00:09:55,160 --> 00:09:57,640 Speaker 3: great Connie Mac team in my hometown of Flint that 191 00:09:57,720 --> 00:10:01,400 Speaker 3: I really wanted to play for, and you know, I 192 00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:04,160 Speaker 3: guess I really didn't. And then I wanted to play 193 00:10:04,320 --> 00:10:06,880 Speaker 3: college at the University of Michigan, and then the USA team, 194 00:10:06,920 --> 00:10:09,000 Speaker 3: and then all these things happening. And when I was 195 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:13,040 Speaker 3: playing with the USA team with Robin Ventura and Tino 196 00:10:13,160 --> 00:10:19,120 Speaker 3: Martinez and Charles Nagy and Ben McDonald up and down, 197 00:10:19,320 --> 00:10:21,600 Speaker 3: you know, I knew they were going to get their chance. 198 00:10:22,280 --> 00:10:25,600 Speaker 3: They were first round draft picks, they were great prospects. 199 00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:28,160 Speaker 3: And when I was sort of a big part of 200 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:31,280 Speaker 3: that team, I started to feel like maybe I could 201 00:10:31,320 --> 00:10:33,920 Speaker 3: be at that level as well. Maybe maybe I could 202 00:10:33,960 --> 00:10:36,280 Speaker 3: go to professional and succeed. 203 00:10:36,559 --> 00:10:39,559 Speaker 1: Jim, you didn't even play minor league baseball. 204 00:10:40,440 --> 00:10:41,240 Speaker 3: Explain that. 205 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:44,760 Speaker 1: Explain the call that you got saying you're going to 206 00:10:44,760 --> 00:10:45,440 Speaker 1: the big leagues. 207 00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:51,840 Speaker 3: That the Angels used to do something incredible. We would 208 00:10:52,480 --> 00:10:55,600 Speaker 3: finish up the last two weeks of spring training in 209 00:10:55,640 --> 00:10:59,560 Speaker 3: Palm Springs, which may have led to the angels dismal 210 00:10:59,600 --> 00:11:05,080 Speaker 3: April starts every single year. But Marcel Latchman a hero 211 00:11:05,240 --> 00:11:08,200 Speaker 3: of mine and our pitching coach at that time. You know, 212 00:11:08,320 --> 00:11:10,520 Speaker 3: I was slated to go to Midland to play double 213 00:11:10,559 --> 00:11:14,520 Speaker 3: A ball. I pitched well, I did well in spring. 214 00:11:15,080 --> 00:11:19,439 Speaker 3: It was my first experience professional baseball. And Dan Petree 215 00:11:19,559 --> 00:11:22,160 Speaker 3: there was an injury within the lineup in our rotation 216 00:11:22,320 --> 00:11:25,440 Speaker 3: and Marcel pulled me aside. I'll never forget it. We 217 00:11:25,440 --> 00:11:28,840 Speaker 3: were at the Gene Autry Hotel there in Palm Springs 218 00:11:28,880 --> 00:11:31,000 Speaker 3: is where the team stayed, and he said, we're bringing 219 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:34,520 Speaker 3: you to Anaheim to fill the fifth spot of the rotation. 220 00:11:34,720 --> 00:11:38,320 Speaker 3: And I took my breath away. Really it just everything 221 00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:42,880 Speaker 3: was happening so fast. I had difficulty even wrapping my 222 00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:43,600 Speaker 3: head around it. 223 00:11:44,679 --> 00:11:47,040 Speaker 1: And when you got to the big leagues, Jim, did 224 00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:50,040 Speaker 1: you look back and say, oh, my goodness, I'm here. 225 00:11:50,679 --> 00:11:51,680 Speaker 2: Is that what happened? 226 00:11:53,400 --> 00:11:58,920 Speaker 3: Absolutely? I was twenty one. You know, my last baseball 227 00:11:58,960 --> 00:12:01,760 Speaker 3: experience had been in Soul, Korea with the USA team, 228 00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:05,520 Speaker 3: and then I'm looking at Ricky Henderson and Jose Canseco 229 00:12:05,679 --> 00:12:09,600 Speaker 3: and Wade Boggs and George Brett. It's just an entirely 230 00:12:09,640 --> 00:12:14,840 Speaker 3: different experience. And yeah, there was you know, that was 231 00:12:14,880 --> 00:12:18,920 Speaker 3: both good and bad. That had I had to come 232 00:12:18,960 --> 00:12:22,920 Speaker 3: to terms with belonging. You know, that was a real battle, 233 00:12:23,120 --> 00:12:24,959 Speaker 3: you know, because I think, because it happened so quickly, 234 00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:28,240 Speaker 3: maybe it's just who I am. But I had to 235 00:12:28,280 --> 00:12:31,240 Speaker 3: remember there was a reason why I was on that roster, 236 00:12:31,400 --> 00:12:33,960 Speaker 3: and there was a reason I was going up against 237 00:12:33,960 --> 00:12:37,120 Speaker 3: that level of player, and I couldn't keep giving them 238 00:12:37,160 --> 00:12:39,600 Speaker 3: all the credit, you know, I couldn't keep thinking about 239 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:41,360 Speaker 3: how good they were. I had to kind of bring 240 00:12:41,400 --> 00:12:44,240 Speaker 3: it back to to the fight and pitching, you know, 241 00:12:44,280 --> 00:12:45,200 Speaker 3: believing in myself. 242 00:12:47,480 --> 00:12:51,160 Speaker 4: So, Jim, I have a question for you, because I 243 00:12:51,240 --> 00:12:55,720 Speaker 4: love the environments in which pitchers, especially have to pitch in. 244 00:12:56,440 --> 00:13:00,960 Speaker 4: You pitched at Yankee Stadium five times for becoming a 245 00:13:01,040 --> 00:13:04,360 Speaker 4: member of the Yankees, one of which, if I'm not mistaken, 246 00:13:04,520 --> 00:13:08,120 Speaker 4: you threw a shutout, So you know, it didn't seem 247 00:13:08,160 --> 00:13:12,000 Speaker 4: like Yankee Stadium was necessarily an intimidating place. You pitched 248 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:14,560 Speaker 4: a lot of seven plus inning games there before becoming 249 00:13:14,559 --> 00:13:17,040 Speaker 4: a Yankee. But what was the difference between pitching a 250 00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:20,480 Speaker 4: Yankee Stadium as a member of the enemy and pitching 251 00:13:20,480 --> 00:13:22,520 Speaker 4: at Yankee Stadium as a member of the team. 252 00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:26,559 Speaker 3: The fans are a lot nicer to you when you're 253 00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:32,439 Speaker 3: on the team. No, you know, the fans were always 254 00:13:32,440 --> 00:13:36,040 Speaker 3: great to me in New York, no matter what. I 255 00:13:36,040 --> 00:13:38,680 Speaker 3: loved pitching a Yankee stadium. I was a ground ball pitcher, 256 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:41,600 Speaker 3: you know. I wasn't a big strikeout pitcher. I pitched 257 00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:44,920 Speaker 3: a contact a lot of at the movement of my fastball, 258 00:13:44,920 --> 00:13:47,920 Speaker 3: you know, stay down on the zone. And Yankee Stadium, 259 00:13:48,080 --> 00:13:50,640 Speaker 3: the old one, at least, used to have a little 260 00:13:50,640 --> 00:13:54,920 Speaker 3: bit longer grass in the infield. The fly balls. I 261 00:13:54,960 --> 00:13:57,680 Speaker 3: wasn't too worried about home run balls, didn't. I didn't 262 00:13:57,960 --> 00:13:59,720 Speaker 3: feel like I gave up a lot of home runs, 263 00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:03,760 Speaker 3: you know. So I love the feel of it. I 264 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:05,840 Speaker 3: loved if you felt like you were on the crown. 265 00:14:05,920 --> 00:14:08,319 Speaker 3: You were like on this pinnacle. There was a long 266 00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:11,080 Speaker 3: way back to the old backstop there so you'd see 267 00:14:11,080 --> 00:14:13,319 Speaker 3: your catcher and it just it just felt great. I 268 00:14:13,480 --> 00:14:18,000 Speaker 3: I I always, I always loved Yankee Stadium. I love 269 00:14:18,040 --> 00:14:20,680 Speaker 3: pitching there. I love Fenway Park. You know, for this 270 00:14:20,760 --> 00:14:22,480 Speaker 3: a lot of some of the same reasons. I didn't 271 00:14:22,520 --> 00:14:25,520 Speaker 3: think a lot about the short confines. 272 00:14:25,480 --> 00:14:27,520 Speaker 1: Right, and Jim, let's go back to the no hitter 273 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:31,680 Speaker 1: for a minute. I think your previous start against the Indians, 274 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:34,840 Speaker 1: you got you got Clawbard, is that right, and then 275 00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:38,520 Speaker 1: you threw a no hitter against them? Explain the mindset 276 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:41,560 Speaker 1: between these guys. Crushed me the last time out, and 277 00:14:41,600 --> 00:14:43,120 Speaker 1: then you threw a no hitter. 278 00:14:45,400 --> 00:14:48,320 Speaker 3: That's why anything can happen to McKinley, you know, because 279 00:14:49,240 --> 00:14:51,280 Speaker 3: a lot of my teammates were not expecting a no 280 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:53,480 Speaker 3: hitter that next time out, and it was you know, 281 00:14:53,520 --> 00:14:55,600 Speaker 3: it was to him, it was. It was a low point. 282 00:14:56,080 --> 00:14:58,320 Speaker 3: I really struggled against the Indians. They were a good 283 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:00,720 Speaker 3: up and coming team, you know, up and down. That 284 00:15:00,760 --> 00:15:04,240 Speaker 3: lineup was very strong, and I pitched against them in 285 00:15:04,280 --> 00:15:08,800 Speaker 3: Cleveland and nothing went right. I didn't pitch well. Every 286 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:11,360 Speaker 3: ground ball seemed to find a hole, and all of 287 00:15:11,400 --> 00:15:13,680 Speaker 3: a sudden, I don't remember the statistics, but I don't 288 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:18,120 Speaker 3: didn't last long that day, and I was really frustrated. 289 00:15:18,320 --> 00:15:20,920 Speaker 3: I was really frustrated. I was down. I'd been traded 290 00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:24,240 Speaker 3: from the Angels, which was really kind of my baseball home. 291 00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:27,800 Speaker 3: I felt like I was letting the Yankee organization and 292 00:15:27,920 --> 00:15:31,520 Speaker 3: down a little bit, and I went running. I left 293 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:34,440 Speaker 3: the stadium, like you're not supposed to do that, and 294 00:15:34,520 --> 00:15:37,560 Speaker 3: I put on my running clothes and I left the 295 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:40,600 Speaker 3: stadium and we won the game. I came back and 296 00:15:40,680 --> 00:15:43,080 Speaker 3: Buck show Walter wasn't too happy with me for leaving 297 00:15:43,120 --> 00:15:50,840 Speaker 3: the stadium, and you know, the next outing there was 298 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:53,240 Speaker 3: you know, there was a lot of talk about how 299 00:15:53,360 --> 00:15:57,360 Speaker 3: poorly I had pitched in August, and you know what, 300 00:15:57,400 --> 00:15:58,880 Speaker 3: I was, I going to be able to hold my 301 00:15:58,920 --> 00:16:03,640 Speaker 3: place in the rotation even And so that day I 302 00:16:03,680 --> 00:16:08,880 Speaker 3: went to the stadium weirdly, a little bit looser, like 303 00:16:08,920 --> 00:16:12,680 Speaker 3: the worst had happened, like like I had. I felt 304 00:16:12,680 --> 00:16:15,120 Speaker 3: like it. I'm not going to say rock bottom, but 305 00:16:15,920 --> 00:16:17,840 Speaker 3: it felt like I had kind of bounced off the 306 00:16:17,840 --> 00:16:20,560 Speaker 3: bottom a little bit, and like, what what more could 307 00:16:20,680 --> 00:16:23,400 Speaker 3: go wrong? And I had Matt Noaks behind the plate 308 00:16:23,520 --> 00:16:25,000 Speaker 3: that day, and you have a great memory for that 309 00:16:25,480 --> 00:16:29,640 Speaker 3: He was enthusiastic, you know, positive guy, and we came 310 00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:33,360 Speaker 3: up with a great, great game plan and you know, 311 00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:35,880 Speaker 3: things just kind of went our way that day. Hard 312 00:16:35,960 --> 00:16:40,040 Speaker 3: hit balls were at somebody and that trust finally, you know, 313 00:16:40,120 --> 00:16:42,040 Speaker 3: started to come back and the ball came out of 314 00:16:42,040 --> 00:16:44,000 Speaker 3: my hand better as the game went on. And so 315 00:16:46,400 --> 00:16:48,920 Speaker 3: anything can have. You know, what happens in your last 316 00:16:48,920 --> 00:16:51,320 Speaker 3: outing does not dictate what happens the next time out. 317 00:16:51,640 --> 00:16:54,360 Speaker 1: Jim Buck is one of my favorite people of all time. 318 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:57,560 Speaker 1: He just called me last night, and of course, you 319 00:16:57,640 --> 00:16:58,560 Speaker 1: know how this works. 320 00:16:58,600 --> 00:16:59,920 Speaker 2: He just starts off. 321 00:16:59,760 --> 00:17:02,720 Speaker 1: In a complete sentence like it's not even Tim, Hey, 322 00:17:02,760 --> 00:17:03,200 Speaker 1: it's Buck. 323 00:17:03,200 --> 00:17:04,119 Speaker 3: Can I talk to you from it? 324 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:06,960 Speaker 1: He just asked the question, Hey, did you ever notice 325 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:09,840 Speaker 1: that what was What was it like playing for Buck 326 00:17:10,000 --> 00:17:10,600 Speaker 1: in New York? 327 00:17:12,280 --> 00:17:17,720 Speaker 3: You know, Buck was great. I when I could understand 328 00:17:17,720 --> 00:17:23,760 Speaker 3: what he was saying, he would kind of sidle up 329 00:17:23,760 --> 00:17:25,680 Speaker 3: to you in the in the in the outfield and 330 00:17:25,720 --> 00:17:27,480 Speaker 3: he would kind of whisper out of the side of 331 00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:29,960 Speaker 3: his mouth and you have to listen really close, you know, 332 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:35,119 Speaker 3: with that accent. But I like you, Tim, I have 333 00:17:35,119 --> 00:17:37,679 Speaker 3: a great admiration for Buck and Geen Michael, and like 334 00:17:37,720 --> 00:17:39,800 Speaker 3: I said, I didn't pitch as well as I wanted to, 335 00:17:39,880 --> 00:17:44,560 Speaker 3: So I always felt a little not defensive. But you know, 336 00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:46,520 Speaker 3: you don't want to be the guy who's not holding 337 00:17:46,600 --> 00:17:51,280 Speaker 3: up his end of the bargain. But honestly, I don't 338 00:17:51,320 --> 00:17:55,439 Speaker 3: feel like Buck ever let that creep into our relationship. 339 00:17:56,200 --> 00:18:02,439 Speaker 3: And I admire the way they went about evaluating talent. 340 00:18:02,640 --> 00:18:05,199 Speaker 3: I remember the thing I remember about Buck. He had 341 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:09,200 Speaker 3: a great instinct for offensive lineups. I thought, we'd go pitch, 342 00:18:09,520 --> 00:18:11,720 Speaker 3: We'd go play a bunch of left handers against Randy 343 00:18:11,800 --> 00:18:14,399 Speaker 3: Johnson up in Seattle, and that would go what's he thinking? 344 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:17,000 Speaker 3: And it would work? Would you know? It was? But 345 00:18:17,240 --> 00:18:20,000 Speaker 3: Buck would come up to you in the outfield and 346 00:18:20,040 --> 00:18:22,680 Speaker 3: he'd ask you about guys that you had played with, 347 00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:25,920 Speaker 3: you know, as an amateur, guys that you played with 348 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:27,919 Speaker 3: as a pro. What do you think of him? And 349 00:18:28,480 --> 00:18:31,439 Speaker 3: he was really into that clubhouse dynamic and how you 350 00:18:31,600 --> 00:18:35,280 Speaker 3: build that culture. And of course they went on to 351 00:18:35,320 --> 00:18:37,480 Speaker 3: do the things that they did in the late nineties 352 00:18:37,560 --> 00:18:40,679 Speaker 3: with Joe Tory, but you know, Buck and Jean really 353 00:18:41,280 --> 00:18:44,760 Speaker 3: started that momentum going. I think it was his baseball acumen, 354 00:18:45,359 --> 00:18:47,880 Speaker 3: you know, that got that ball rolling Downhill. 355 00:18:48,240 --> 00:18:51,360 Speaker 1: And another manager that I covered that I really liked 356 00:18:51,760 --> 00:18:54,959 Speaker 1: was Doug Rader. What was it like playing for Doug Rader? 357 00:18:55,080 --> 00:18:58,880 Speaker 1: Jeff Doug Rader was a lunatic. He was brilliantly smart. 358 00:18:59,320 --> 00:19:02,000 Speaker 1: He's a big, strongest man. I was afraid of him 359 00:19:02,080 --> 00:19:04,760 Speaker 1: every single day, and yet I admired him so much. 360 00:19:04,800 --> 00:19:07,040 Speaker 1: He taught me so much about baseball. 361 00:19:07,280 --> 00:19:09,600 Speaker 2: What was it like playing for Doug Raider? 362 00:19:11,680 --> 00:19:15,639 Speaker 3: He was That was my very first experience. So I 363 00:19:15,720 --> 00:19:20,000 Speaker 3: was twenty one, right, and so I just thought everybody's 364 00:19:20,080 --> 00:19:23,920 Speaker 3: like this, you know, He's he was a big guy, 365 00:19:24,119 --> 00:19:30,080 Speaker 3: you know, and he he would carry a sophisticated novel 366 00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:32,640 Speaker 3: into his manager's office. But and we have a big 367 00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:35,399 Speaker 3: chew of Redman. He just didn't know where Doug was 368 00:19:35,440 --> 00:19:39,240 Speaker 3: coming from, you know. But I tell you what, with 369 00:19:39,320 --> 00:19:41,959 Speaker 3: Doug one of my favorite people ever. He was on 370 00:19:42,000 --> 00:19:47,359 Speaker 3: your side wholeheartedly. And he I was a rookie and 371 00:19:47,440 --> 00:19:49,600 Speaker 3: played for a couple of years with him. But I 372 00:19:49,680 --> 00:19:53,439 Speaker 3: played with guys like Burt Blylevin and Bob McClure and 373 00:19:53,520 --> 00:19:56,080 Speaker 3: guys who would hit me on the back of the 374 00:19:56,080 --> 00:19:58,080 Speaker 3: head and they'd say, kid, it's not always like this, 375 00:19:58,240 --> 00:20:00,680 Speaker 3: I promise you and I could tell his stories, but 376 00:20:00,720 --> 00:20:03,040 Speaker 3: I think you said this is a family podcast, Jeff, 377 00:20:03,080 --> 00:20:06,520 Speaker 3: so we're gonna we'll leave it there. But Doug was 378 00:20:07,520 --> 00:20:12,359 Speaker 3: what an interesting difference right between a Doug Raider a 379 00:20:12,400 --> 00:20:17,439 Speaker 3: book show Walter, but both again in baseball, that's what 380 00:20:17,480 --> 00:20:19,639 Speaker 3: I love about it. You can bring different abilities, different 381 00:20:19,680 --> 00:20:22,800 Speaker 3: skill sets and find success. And I can't think of 382 00:20:22,840 --> 00:20:24,920 Speaker 3: a more starker example than those two. 383 00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:34,119 Speaker 2: Jim, you played quarterback in high school? 384 00:20:34,160 --> 00:20:38,760 Speaker 1: Correct? Would you explain how you were able to play 385 00:20:38,840 --> 00:20:40,359 Speaker 1: quarterback in high school? 386 00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:46,800 Speaker 3: Well, it's one of my favorite stories because I am 387 00:20:46,960 --> 00:20:51,960 Speaker 3: very much the beneficiary of a great hometown. And I 388 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:54,320 Speaker 3: know you don't hear that about Flint, Michigan very often, 389 00:20:55,119 --> 00:21:00,919 Speaker 3: but great people who saw possibility, who were encouraging, who 390 00:21:01,520 --> 00:21:05,919 Speaker 3: were very generous in a tough environment, Flyinn, Jeff. If 391 00:21:05,920 --> 00:21:08,520 Speaker 3: you're talking about places where you play, and I never 392 00:21:08,520 --> 00:21:10,879 Speaker 3: played football before, you know, I played baseball. I was 393 00:21:10,920 --> 00:21:14,040 Speaker 3: a skinny kid. I could throw and they said get 394 00:21:14,080 --> 00:21:16,639 Speaker 3: down here, you're going to play football. And I said, well, 395 00:21:16,680 --> 00:21:19,760 Speaker 3: I've never played you know what. And I didn't know 396 00:21:19,760 --> 00:21:22,040 Speaker 3: how to put the helmet out on the pants anything. 397 00:21:22,240 --> 00:21:24,879 Speaker 3: I was a complete mess. And we had a very 398 00:21:24,920 --> 00:21:27,520 Speaker 3: good team. We were state championship caliber team in Michigan 399 00:21:27,520 --> 00:21:31,280 Speaker 3: back then, and those coaches, you know, they took the 400 00:21:31,359 --> 00:21:34,280 Speaker 3: time to figure out how I could take the snap. 401 00:21:34,440 --> 00:21:37,000 Speaker 3: You know, I would had to use my right forearm 402 00:21:37,040 --> 00:21:39,560 Speaker 3: almost as a hand and get a little bit lower, 403 00:21:39,640 --> 00:21:42,520 Speaker 3: drop my right shoulder, and then drop my right knee 404 00:21:42,520 --> 00:21:44,560 Speaker 3: so I could get a little bit lower, and then 405 00:21:44,720 --> 00:21:46,760 Speaker 3: you know, the handoff to the running back to this 406 00:21:46,920 --> 00:21:49,720 Speaker 3: side to my left side. I couldn't do it the 407 00:21:49,800 --> 00:21:53,000 Speaker 3: orthodox way, so we had to maneuver the football just 408 00:21:53,040 --> 00:21:57,800 Speaker 3: a little bit to make that transition. But they were 409 00:21:57,800 --> 00:22:00,560 Speaker 3: going to find an answer. You know, they were bound 410 00:22:00,600 --> 00:22:03,280 Speaker 3: and determined that that wasn't going to stand in the 411 00:22:03,320 --> 00:22:05,840 Speaker 3: way of me being a quarterback on the high school 412 00:22:05,880 --> 00:22:06,879 Speaker 3: football team. 413 00:22:07,280 --> 00:22:09,440 Speaker 4: How important do you think And we've had so many 414 00:22:09,440 --> 00:22:14,360 Speaker 4: guests talk about this for players, baseball, players, basketball, play football, 415 00:22:14,480 --> 00:22:17,160 Speaker 4: play multiple sports. We see so much in our kids 416 00:22:17,160 --> 00:22:20,440 Speaker 4: these days. It's not you know, they're pitching at twelve 417 00:22:20,520 --> 00:22:22,719 Speaker 4: years old and taking off days, which I think is 418 00:22:22,800 --> 00:22:24,480 Speaker 4: just kind of ridiculous. 419 00:22:24,520 --> 00:22:28,560 Speaker 3: If you ask me, yeah, I you know, I agree, 420 00:22:28,800 --> 00:22:31,040 Speaker 3: I agree, I think what I think Cal Ripkins said 421 00:22:31,040 --> 00:22:32,680 Speaker 3: it best. And you have to put the glove down 422 00:22:32,680 --> 00:22:35,320 Speaker 3: for a little while and then go do something else. 423 00:22:36,960 --> 00:22:40,679 Speaker 3: And it's just it's all about experiences, you know. I 424 00:22:40,680 --> 00:22:45,680 Speaker 3: mean playing football for me, that was a completely different culture. 425 00:22:45,880 --> 00:22:49,280 Speaker 3: I mean that. I mean you had some big, tough guys, 426 00:22:49,400 --> 00:22:53,800 Speaker 3: rough and tumble, Friday night lights. You know, this crescendo 427 00:22:53,920 --> 00:22:56,399 Speaker 3: that you work up to for this game, and the 428 00:22:57,560 --> 00:23:01,040 Speaker 3: music in the locker rooms and the intensity of the competition. 429 00:23:02,040 --> 00:23:04,560 Speaker 3: I'm so glad to have gone through that, not just 430 00:23:04,680 --> 00:23:08,119 Speaker 3: because maybe it benefits you physically. It's just great to 431 00:23:08,160 --> 00:23:11,640 Speaker 3: have those life experiences that aren't the same thing day 432 00:23:11,680 --> 00:23:14,919 Speaker 3: in and day out. So I'm a big believer in it, 433 00:23:16,440 --> 00:23:18,520 Speaker 3: especially out in California or other most of the time, 434 00:23:18,560 --> 00:23:20,919 Speaker 3: where you can play all year long and kids do. 435 00:23:21,280 --> 00:23:25,080 Speaker 1: It's great. So Jim, I saw Jim in spring training 436 00:23:25,119 --> 00:23:28,440 Speaker 1: this year at a function and I went up to him. 437 00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:31,120 Speaker 1: I hadn't seen him in a little while, but I said, Jim, 438 00:23:31,160 --> 00:23:33,199 Speaker 1: how about that triple you hit in the spring training 439 00:23:33,240 --> 00:23:35,520 Speaker 1: that year? And he looks at me, Jeff, and he 440 00:23:35,560 --> 00:23:37,800 Speaker 1: goes Rick Rushell sinker down. 441 00:23:37,960 --> 00:23:41,440 Speaker 2: So it was over the well, over thirty years ago. 442 00:23:41,960 --> 00:23:45,920 Speaker 1: And he's given me the picture and the location and 443 00:23:46,320 --> 00:23:46,879 Speaker 1: the pitch. 444 00:23:47,160 --> 00:23:49,720 Speaker 2: Jim, just give us the entire at bat. 445 00:23:49,880 --> 00:23:54,280 Speaker 1: Okay, with one hand, it's impossible to get hit a 446 00:23:54,280 --> 00:23:57,960 Speaker 1: baseball with two. You hit a triple off a major 447 00:23:58,040 --> 00:23:58,719 Speaker 1: league pitcher. 448 00:23:59,160 --> 00:24:00,720 Speaker 2: Explain how you did that. 449 00:24:01,920 --> 00:24:05,679 Speaker 3: I can't. I can't. I don't. You know. I always 450 00:24:05,720 --> 00:24:09,000 Speaker 3: tried to incorporate both both hands as best I could. 451 00:24:09,080 --> 00:24:12,760 Speaker 3: I have a partial use of my right hand. I'm 452 00:24:12,800 --> 00:24:14,800 Speaker 3: just missing fingers, so I always you know, even with 453 00:24:14,840 --> 00:24:16,800 Speaker 3: the golf club now, I hold it with two hands. 454 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:19,320 Speaker 3: Where I held a bat like that, I trapped it 455 00:24:19,320 --> 00:24:21,239 Speaker 3: in between my two hands and I would swing. And 456 00:24:22,560 --> 00:24:24,280 Speaker 3: I told a lot of people I was a good hitter. 457 00:24:24,320 --> 00:24:29,160 Speaker 3: I don't know that they believe me so. But Rick Russell, Yeah, 458 00:24:29,160 --> 00:24:34,119 Speaker 3: we faced him in spring training in Arizona, and you know, 459 00:24:34,200 --> 00:24:36,360 Speaker 3: I think it might have been the first time I'd 460 00:24:36,359 --> 00:24:40,359 Speaker 3: been to bat in a long time. And I just 461 00:24:40,480 --> 00:24:42,359 Speaker 3: kind of dropped the head of the bat through the 462 00:24:42,440 --> 00:24:45,320 Speaker 3: zone and I was as surprised as anybody. And I 463 00:24:45,359 --> 00:24:48,119 Speaker 3: think Willie McGee was in center field, went over his 464 00:24:48,240 --> 00:24:50,200 Speaker 3: head and I just kept running. You know, I look 465 00:24:50,320 --> 00:24:53,280 Speaker 3: like I looked like Bill Buckner running around, you know, 466 00:24:54,160 --> 00:24:59,159 Speaker 3: running over. I made it to third base and I 467 00:24:59,200 --> 00:25:01,879 Speaker 3: say that Bill Buckle, you're jokingly because he hit an 468 00:25:01,880 --> 00:25:05,600 Speaker 3: inside the home against Kirk mccask. 469 00:25:06,240 --> 00:25:09,800 Speaker 2: Now Washington was in the outfield right, Oh. 470 00:25:10,240 --> 00:25:13,760 Speaker 3: I mean watching that in Funway Park because you're sitting 471 00:25:13,760 --> 00:25:16,560 Speaker 3: in that low dugout and you see it so clearly. 472 00:25:16,600 --> 00:25:19,199 Speaker 3: And Bill Buckner just kept looking over his shoulder like 473 00:25:20,080 --> 00:25:24,320 Speaker 3: could I stop running yet? Claude l disappeared and my 474 00:25:24,359 --> 00:25:26,320 Speaker 3: friend Kirk mccask was on the mouth with his hands 475 00:25:26,359 --> 00:25:29,080 Speaker 3: on his hips, like what is You know? This is crazy? 476 00:25:29,119 --> 00:25:33,920 Speaker 3: But yeah, that triple was was fun and I liked hitting. 477 00:25:33,920 --> 00:25:36,520 Speaker 3: It was hard to do, you know hitting. I had 478 00:25:36,560 --> 00:25:38,760 Speaker 3: about twenty some at bats in the big leagues. Got 479 00:25:38,760 --> 00:25:42,000 Speaker 3: a couple of hits, both off the same picture John Leeber. 480 00:25:42,359 --> 00:25:49,320 Speaker 3: Really one was in commissuh Wrigley, and but it gave 481 00:25:49,400 --> 00:25:53,320 Speaker 3: me a real respect. Even what most people might consider 482 00:25:53,400 --> 00:26:00,480 Speaker 3: to be an average starting major league pitcher is enormously talented. 483 00:26:00,680 --> 00:26:04,199 Speaker 3: The speed of the movement, it's just it's very intimidating. 484 00:26:04,320 --> 00:26:05,359 Speaker 3: You're not used to doing that. 485 00:26:05,480 --> 00:26:07,159 Speaker 2: How good a hitter were you in high school? 486 00:26:08,960 --> 00:26:10,840 Speaker 3: I was okay in high school. I get hit. Yeah, 487 00:26:10,960 --> 00:26:14,440 Speaker 3: we have luminum bats, of course, and you know, I. 488 00:26:14,440 --> 00:26:16,600 Speaker 2: Hit four hundred. Did you hit home runs? 489 00:26:16,960 --> 00:26:20,000 Speaker 3: I did? Yeah, I did all that stuff. But then 490 00:26:20,040 --> 00:26:22,800 Speaker 3: they started throwing curveballs and then they told me to 491 00:26:22,800 --> 00:26:26,359 Speaker 3: go work on my pitching. So it was fun. I 492 00:26:26,440 --> 00:26:28,840 Speaker 3: loved being part of the game. You know, pitcher, you'll 493 00:26:28,880 --> 00:26:31,280 Speaker 3: hear pitchers say that that instead of just going to 494 00:26:31,320 --> 00:26:34,680 Speaker 3: sit in the dugout or sit in the tunnel, you're participating. 495 00:26:34,720 --> 00:26:36,920 Speaker 3: You're watching what's going on. You're waiting for your time 496 00:26:36,920 --> 00:26:37,440 Speaker 3: to come up. 497 00:26:39,160 --> 00:26:44,879 Speaker 4: Jim nineteen eighty eight, you played on the USA Olympic 498 00:26:45,119 --> 00:26:47,439 Speaker 4: team in Seoul? 499 00:26:48,000 --> 00:26:49,280 Speaker 2: What was that experience? 500 00:26:49,480 --> 00:26:49,600 Speaker 1: Like? 501 00:26:49,640 --> 00:26:52,080 Speaker 4: I just did a quick once over of the lineup there. 502 00:26:52,119 --> 00:26:54,199 Speaker 4: What a team you guys had, first of all, but 503 00:26:54,760 --> 00:26:58,320 Speaker 4: how cool was that the final game you defeat Japan 504 00:26:58,800 --> 00:27:02,920 Speaker 4: and this is the year after you win the Golden Spikes, right, yeah, 505 00:27:03,000 --> 00:27:06,080 Speaker 4: like a couple of very big gears for Jim Abbott. 506 00:27:06,080 --> 00:27:07,200 Speaker 4: What was that experience? 507 00:27:07,359 --> 00:27:14,240 Speaker 3: Like, Jeff, it was great and I you know, that 508 00:27:14,280 --> 00:27:19,040 Speaker 3: team was an all college team, so only amateur players 509 00:27:19,080 --> 00:27:21,399 Speaker 3: were allowed in the Olympics back in those days, and 510 00:27:21,760 --> 00:27:28,960 Speaker 3: so we were drafted, but you couldn't accept your signing 511 00:27:29,000 --> 00:27:31,199 Speaker 3: bonus and you had to put off going off to 512 00:27:31,320 --> 00:27:34,640 Speaker 3: pro you know, your pro careers, So that was sort 513 00:27:34,680 --> 00:27:37,399 Speaker 3: of the backdrop. And then and you can imagine you 514 00:27:37,400 --> 00:27:39,760 Speaker 3: had the best college players in the country, Like I said, 515 00:27:39,840 --> 00:27:43,600 Speaker 3: Robin Venture of Oklahoma State, and you know Ben McDonald 516 00:27:43,680 --> 00:27:47,000 Speaker 3: from LSU. Skip Bertman from LSU was our pitching coach, 517 00:27:47,119 --> 00:27:53,760 Speaker 3: you know Mark Marcus from Stanford, and the closeness of 518 00:27:53,840 --> 00:27:56,639 Speaker 3: that group of guys because it was not glamorous, I'm 519 00:27:56,640 --> 00:27:58,960 Speaker 3: going to be honest. We traveled, we had we had 520 00:27:58,960 --> 00:28:01,440 Speaker 3: to finish at least inside place in the Pan Am 521 00:28:01,480 --> 00:28:03,760 Speaker 3: Games the year before, so we had a lot of 522 00:28:03,760 --> 00:28:06,480 Speaker 3: guys who played together for one summer. And forgive me 523 00:28:06,520 --> 00:28:08,040 Speaker 3: for going on and on, it's one of my favorite 524 00:28:08,080 --> 00:28:11,359 Speaker 3: baseball memories. But the next year we all came back 525 00:28:11,480 --> 00:28:16,480 Speaker 3: training Barracks and Millington, Tennessee. We stayed on a military base. 526 00:28:16,600 --> 00:28:18,280 Speaker 3: We trained for a couple of weeks, and then we 527 00:28:18,320 --> 00:28:21,879 Speaker 3: set off around the world and you know, Japan and 528 00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:24,840 Speaker 3: Cuba and Italy. We played in the World Championships. We 529 00:28:24,920 --> 00:28:28,320 Speaker 3: played the Cubans, and our two teams would travel together 530 00:28:28,520 --> 00:28:30,200 Speaker 3: so we would kind of get to know each other. 531 00:28:30,320 --> 00:28:34,800 Speaker 3: We ate at community potlocks. We carried our entire summer 532 00:28:34,880 --> 00:28:37,920 Speaker 3: worth of clothes and equipment with us everywhere we went. 533 00:28:38,640 --> 00:28:43,880 Speaker 3: And so to get to Seoul, Korea, to be in 534 00:28:43,920 --> 00:28:47,440 Speaker 3: that atmosphere, you know, to be on that bound for 535 00:28:47,520 --> 00:28:51,800 Speaker 3: that last game after all of that was just such 536 00:28:51,800 --> 00:28:53,920 Speaker 3: an honor. And to win and be out there for 537 00:28:53,960 --> 00:28:56,280 Speaker 3: the last out, you know, being at the bottom of 538 00:28:56,320 --> 00:28:58,240 Speaker 3: that pile was one of the happiest moments of my 539 00:28:58,360 --> 00:29:01,560 Speaker 3: life in just twenty five years. Best friends just screaming 540 00:29:01,600 --> 00:29:02,800 Speaker 3: and yelling for joy. 541 00:29:02,840 --> 00:29:05,440 Speaker 1: Jim when they put the gold medal around your neck. 542 00:29:06,120 --> 00:29:07,680 Speaker 1: What was going through your mind? 543 00:29:10,760 --> 00:29:14,160 Speaker 3: A couple things, Tim, I felt like one, I was 544 00:29:14,200 --> 00:29:16,680 Speaker 3: a long way from home, and I wish to my family. 545 00:29:16,760 --> 00:29:19,360 Speaker 3: You know, soul was not in the cards for travel 546 00:29:20,240 --> 00:29:24,560 Speaker 3: for a lot of families. Some people did, but not many. 547 00:29:24,600 --> 00:29:27,640 Speaker 3: But and I watched the Olympics, and I get emotional 548 00:29:27,840 --> 00:29:29,840 Speaker 3: when I see people up on the podium and I 549 00:29:30,560 --> 00:29:34,840 Speaker 3: see the individual accomplishment and that must be something. But 550 00:29:35,200 --> 00:29:37,920 Speaker 3: our whole team was on the podium. But twenty five, 551 00:29:38,240 --> 00:29:41,200 Speaker 3: you know, twenty two guy, whatever our roster was, and 552 00:29:41,240 --> 00:29:43,600 Speaker 3: we all got that together. We all they put it 553 00:29:43,720 --> 00:29:46,440 Speaker 3: or put that over our next together and they played 554 00:29:46,480 --> 00:29:50,080 Speaker 3: the anthem, and I get chills right now thinking about that. 555 00:29:50,200 --> 00:29:52,880 Speaker 3: It was so shared. You know, it really was a team. 556 00:29:53,080 --> 00:29:55,200 Speaker 3: I was lucky enough to be the starting pitcher that day, 557 00:29:55,200 --> 00:29:56,760 Speaker 3: but it could have been a lot of different people, 558 00:29:57,360 --> 00:30:00,800 Speaker 3: and we shared deeply that experience. 559 00:30:01,160 --> 00:30:06,880 Speaker 1: Jim, you traveled the world with Ben McDonald. He's one 560 00:30:06,880 --> 00:30:08,360 Speaker 1: of my favorite people ever. 561 00:30:08,520 --> 00:30:09,560 Speaker 2: What was that like? 562 00:30:10,160 --> 00:30:12,320 Speaker 1: You must have had some dinners with bed where he 563 00:30:12,400 --> 00:30:14,800 Speaker 1: explained alligator wrestling and everything else. 564 00:30:15,160 --> 00:30:17,280 Speaker 2: Was traveling everywhere with him. 565 00:30:17,880 --> 00:30:20,680 Speaker 3: He was well, he was one year younger than us, 566 00:30:20,880 --> 00:30:24,200 Speaker 3: so he was a sophomore and destined to be the 567 00:30:24,320 --> 00:30:26,120 Speaker 3: number one pick in the draft. And he had it 568 00:30:26,160 --> 00:30:30,640 Speaker 3: all right, the size that he was just enormously talented. 569 00:30:30,680 --> 00:30:36,880 Speaker 3: So first that's what I remember, and he well, we 570 00:30:36,960 --> 00:30:39,080 Speaker 3: gave him a lot of We teased him a lot 571 00:30:39,200 --> 00:30:43,080 Speaker 3: one because he was a little younger. And to Skip Bertman, 572 00:30:43,240 --> 00:30:45,120 Speaker 3: his coach. I don't know if you guys know Skip. 573 00:30:45,560 --> 00:30:50,840 Speaker 3: Skip's a character. Skip was Ben's college coach of course 574 00:30:50,880 --> 00:30:55,480 Speaker 3: at LSU. And you know we and I would say 575 00:30:55,560 --> 00:30:58,880 Speaker 3: favored son too. Let's not let's not put a put 576 00:30:58,880 --> 00:31:01,680 Speaker 3: a coat on it. So we always were teasing Ben 577 00:31:01,720 --> 00:31:05,520 Speaker 3: about preferential treatment and how Skip was always looking out 578 00:31:05,560 --> 00:31:10,760 Speaker 3: for him, But great guy. He's the same exact person 579 00:31:11,920 --> 00:31:15,400 Speaker 3: at twenty years old that I see him on the broadcast. Now. 580 00:31:15,440 --> 00:31:19,000 Speaker 3: He talks the same, he acts the same, He's never changed. 581 00:31:19,680 --> 00:31:21,120 Speaker 1: It's just wonderful. 582 00:31:21,520 --> 00:31:23,480 Speaker 2: Jim. You talked about your golf game. Are you a 583 00:31:23,520 --> 00:31:24,400 Speaker 2: pretty good player? 584 00:31:25,840 --> 00:31:27,040 Speaker 3: I'm okay, you can. 585 00:31:26,960 --> 00:31:29,520 Speaker 2: Say yes, Jim, It's okay. 586 00:31:30,200 --> 00:31:33,040 Speaker 3: I think it's all relative. Right, I'm a single digit 587 00:31:33,120 --> 00:31:37,480 Speaker 3: handship in the high but saying that, I thought i'd 588 00:31:37,520 --> 00:31:40,280 Speaker 3: be better, saying than I am. It's always a mystery 589 00:31:40,280 --> 00:31:42,120 Speaker 3: where the ball is going to go and I can 590 00:31:42,120 --> 00:31:45,280 Speaker 3: get around the course. Okay. I really love it. And 591 00:31:45,320 --> 00:31:48,480 Speaker 3: as you know, so many former players are out there 592 00:31:48,480 --> 00:31:51,000 Speaker 3: doing it, and it gives you a chance to just 593 00:31:51,240 --> 00:31:52,040 Speaker 3: stay connected. 594 00:31:52,400 --> 00:31:54,720 Speaker 1: So good, Jim. 595 00:31:54,960 --> 00:31:57,320 Speaker 4: I want to know, and I love asking former players 596 00:31:57,440 --> 00:32:00,440 Speaker 4: this question. When you made it to the big leagues 597 00:32:00,520 --> 00:32:03,080 Speaker 4: or even maybe a couple of years in, was there 598 00:32:03,200 --> 00:32:06,200 Speaker 4: ever somebody And we've asked Hall of Famous this question 599 00:32:06,320 --> 00:32:08,080 Speaker 4: to guys who just had a cup of tea, right, 600 00:32:08,200 --> 00:32:10,720 Speaker 4: or guys like you that had good, healthy, long careers. 601 00:32:10,840 --> 00:32:12,600 Speaker 2: Right, was there a guy when you got to the. 602 00:32:12,560 --> 00:32:15,479 Speaker 4: Big leagues you said, oh my gosh, he is he 603 00:32:15,600 --> 00:32:18,680 Speaker 4: is playing a different game. You know, he I don't 604 00:32:18,720 --> 00:32:21,000 Speaker 4: even know how he does what he does, whether it's 605 00:32:21,560 --> 00:32:24,880 Speaker 4: a batter or a pitcher that you played with or against. 606 00:32:27,680 --> 00:32:32,000 Speaker 3: That's god. There's a few. I mean, we all know 607 00:32:32,320 --> 00:32:34,960 Speaker 3: a little bit of the stigma of the Open A's 608 00:32:35,640 --> 00:32:39,280 Speaker 3: in the late eighties and early nineties. That didn't make 609 00:32:39,320 --> 00:32:43,200 Speaker 3: them any easier to face. They were in. I mean, 610 00:32:43,280 --> 00:32:48,320 Speaker 3: jose Consego was a force. It's hard. I think it 611 00:32:48,400 --> 00:32:50,120 Speaker 3: might be hard for a lot of people to remember 612 00:32:50,920 --> 00:32:55,640 Speaker 3: sort of the dynamics around him and his you know, 613 00:32:55,800 --> 00:32:59,120 Speaker 3: the way he traveled, and you know, he was really good. 614 00:32:59,280 --> 00:33:01,760 Speaker 3: You know. I always thought Robbie Alamar was one of 615 00:33:01,800 --> 00:33:04,360 Speaker 3: the most talented. The game just seemed to come easy 616 00:33:05,000 --> 00:33:09,440 Speaker 3: to Robbie Alamar. I thought Mike Mussina when he first 617 00:33:09,440 --> 00:33:13,560 Speaker 3: got brought up, pitched like he was born to it. 618 00:33:13,720 --> 00:33:15,840 Speaker 3: You know, he just he just had it, you know, 619 00:33:15,880 --> 00:33:18,160 Speaker 3: and he never struggled. He's like Tom sever you know, 620 00:33:18,320 --> 00:33:21,360 Speaker 3: just they win twenty games and retire. I don't know 621 00:33:21,400 --> 00:33:24,480 Speaker 3: how you do that. You know, it's not supposed to 622 00:33:24,520 --> 00:33:27,400 Speaker 3: go like that. So there are there are guys who 623 00:33:27,800 --> 00:33:31,880 Speaker 3: Ricky Henderson, you know, who'd play at levels that you know, 624 00:33:32,000 --> 00:33:33,800 Speaker 3: are better than the best, that's for sure. 625 00:33:34,600 --> 00:33:36,400 Speaker 1: Jim, tell us what you're doing, now, what are you 626 00:33:36,480 --> 00:33:38,520 Speaker 1: doing these days? And I know what you're doing, but 627 00:33:38,560 --> 00:33:41,360 Speaker 1: tell us what you're doing well. 628 00:33:41,480 --> 00:33:44,080 Speaker 3: I you know, I just got done with that documentary, 629 00:33:44,120 --> 00:33:48,600 Speaker 3: which was incredible, did a lot of did a lot 630 00:33:48,600 --> 00:33:53,920 Speaker 3: of thought provoking promotion for it in New York City. 631 00:33:54,040 --> 00:33:55,960 Speaker 3: Got to go back to New York City. The Yankees 632 00:33:56,000 --> 00:33:59,760 Speaker 3: were incredibly kind. They got to throw out the first 633 00:33:59,800 --> 00:34:01,800 Speaker 3: pitch to Yankee Stadium, which I think they've moved the 634 00:34:01,880 --> 00:34:04,719 Speaker 3: mound back a few feet since I last time I 635 00:34:04,880 --> 00:34:09,399 Speaker 3: was there. But and I do some speaking to him, 636 00:34:09,400 --> 00:34:16,480 Speaker 3: as you know, I get a chance to tell my story, 637 00:34:16,520 --> 00:34:18,920 Speaker 3: you know, through the lens of a few years. But 638 00:34:19,480 --> 00:34:23,319 Speaker 3: I do get to tell my story. And I'm just 639 00:34:23,480 --> 00:34:27,360 Speaker 3: so touched that the phone still rings, people still invite 640 00:34:27,360 --> 00:34:31,680 Speaker 3: me and and they connect. You know, the stories really 641 00:34:31,880 --> 00:34:36,640 Speaker 3: are timeless. The players, the teams, you know, they remember 642 00:34:36,719 --> 00:34:39,280 Speaker 3: and they care. And it doesn't matter if you're in 643 00:34:39,520 --> 00:34:46,239 Speaker 3: Iowa or Maine or New Mexico, who places a long 644 00:34:46,320 --> 00:34:50,719 Speaker 3: way away from where Major League Baseball is played, they 645 00:34:50,760 --> 00:34:54,680 Speaker 3: still know. They connect, they remember, they bring baseball cards. 646 00:34:54,719 --> 00:34:58,440 Speaker 3: They you know, they want to hear about the experience, 647 00:34:58,520 --> 00:35:02,160 Speaker 3: and so post baseball is not easy. 648 00:35:02,200 --> 00:35:02,400 Speaker 4: You know. 649 00:35:02,440 --> 00:35:04,399 Speaker 3: You try to find a nitch, you try to find 650 00:35:04,440 --> 00:35:06,640 Speaker 3: a role, You try to find something that makes you 651 00:35:06,640 --> 00:35:09,919 Speaker 3: feel good about yourself. And that for me has turned 652 00:35:09,960 --> 00:35:13,400 Speaker 3: out to be a real God said so, Jim, when. 653 00:35:13,239 --> 00:35:15,799 Speaker 1: You make a speech and a kid comes up to 654 00:35:15,840 --> 00:35:19,280 Speaker 1: you who's missing his right hand, sure it's happened. 655 00:35:19,960 --> 00:35:22,879 Speaker 2: You look at that kid, and what do you tell him? 656 00:35:25,160 --> 00:35:28,680 Speaker 3: I tell him what my parents told me. You are 657 00:35:28,760 --> 00:35:32,880 Speaker 3: up to this challenge. You were up to this challenge. 658 00:35:33,200 --> 00:35:37,759 Speaker 3: And my dad used to tell me when I was 659 00:35:37,800 --> 00:35:41,480 Speaker 3: a kid, Jim, what's been taken away once will be 660 00:35:41,480 --> 00:35:45,879 Speaker 3: given back twice. You have to focus on what's been 661 00:35:45,920 --> 00:35:48,560 Speaker 3: given and more has been given to you than was 662 00:35:48,560 --> 00:35:52,520 Speaker 3: ever taken away. And that's where the focus has to stay. 663 00:35:53,400 --> 00:35:57,879 Speaker 3: And if you dwell on something, if this becomes your 664 00:35:57,920 --> 00:36:01,120 Speaker 3: identity and who you are, you know it's going to 665 00:36:01,120 --> 00:36:05,080 Speaker 3: be very difficult to get over those limitations. But in 666 00:36:05,160 --> 00:36:07,400 Speaker 3: my experience, and I've met so many kids, and you 667 00:36:07,440 --> 00:36:10,160 Speaker 3: should see the things they're doing now. You know, mma 668 00:36:10,200 --> 00:36:14,080 Speaker 3: fighters and football players and basketball and doctors and moms, 669 00:36:14,120 --> 00:36:18,480 Speaker 3: and they are up to it. They are up to it. 670 00:36:18,640 --> 00:36:20,839 Speaker 3: Their families are up to it. They are up to it. 671 00:36:21,400 --> 00:36:25,319 Speaker 3: Mckimley's up to it out there. You know, I've just 672 00:36:25,360 --> 00:36:27,600 Speaker 3: seen it happen too many times not to believe in 673 00:36:27,640 --> 00:36:28,400 Speaker 3: it wholeheartedly. 674 00:36:29,560 --> 00:36:31,799 Speaker 1: All Right, you're gonna make me cry, jim, I think 675 00:36:31,800 --> 00:36:35,640 Speaker 1: we better let you go here. This was absolutely beautiful, 676 00:36:36,160 --> 00:36:40,719 Speaker 1: inspiring and tremendous. So thank you so much for joining us. 677 00:36:40,920 --> 00:36:43,680 Speaker 1: This is what our show is all about, is connecting 678 00:36:44,400 --> 00:36:46,919 Speaker 1: between people. That's what we need a little bit more 679 00:36:46,960 --> 00:36:48,920 Speaker 1: of in sports and in the world. 680 00:36:49,000 --> 00:36:53,240 Speaker 3: Agreed, Thank you so much. I agree one hundred percent 681 00:36:53,360 --> 00:36:55,680 Speaker 3: that connection. When I get up to speak, that's what 682 00:36:55,719 --> 00:36:58,920 Speaker 3: I say to myself. That's my mantra. Connect Connect, you know, 683 00:36:59,040 --> 00:37:01,600 Speaker 3: be in the moment. And I sure love talking to 684 00:37:01,640 --> 00:37:04,440 Speaker 3: you guys. Good luck with the podcast and Tim, I 685 00:37:04,480 --> 00:37:06,799 Speaker 3: really have been a fan for a long time. While 686 00:37:06,840 --> 00:37:08,239 Speaker 3: I was in the game and while i've been out 687 00:37:08,239 --> 00:37:11,120 Speaker 3: of it, I've always loved seeing your work and keep 688 00:37:11,120 --> 00:37:11,400 Speaker 3: it up. 689 00:37:11,640 --> 00:37:14,560 Speaker 1: Wow, Thank you, Rick Russell Sinker. 690 00:37:16,520 --> 00:37:18,920 Speaker 3: One more time, one more time. I'd love to do that.