We just finished our last Spring Training Game. That's 17 games in 35 days this year. Early games can last FOREVER when each team pitches as many as six or seven pitchers. Those games are a scorekeeper's nightmare (that would be me - I keep score at every baseball game I attend in person). During the first week or so, the 'regular's, or people whose names you recognize, only play one or two innings. Therefore, a position on the field can have as many as three or four players at that position during these early games.
Early games in Arizona never involve rain, but the past two years there have been some early games that were just downright cold. Now, I'm NEVER cold, but we had one game this year that we left in the 2nd inning because we were both freezing to death. Our seats are in the shade (deliberately chosen) since the desert sun is so strong even in the winter. If it's overcast, windy, and the temperature in the 50's, it's miserable to watch the game. We did learn this year that long underwear on your legs makes the difference.
Another feature of Spring Training at the Surprise Field is the Fergie Jenkins Foundation. For those non-baseball people, Ferguson Jenkins is a Hall of Fame pitcher with a 19 year major league career. He has a foundation that raises money for youth programs in the Phoenix area. The way he raises money is during Spring Training, is he asks former big league ball players to sit with him behind a table under a tent and sign autographs. You can buy balls, pennants, and other merchandise for these people to sign, and they ask for donations for the foundation in exchange for the autographs if you bring your own stuff for them to sign.
Last week, during one game which was a runaway and therefore BORING, I drifted down the concourse after a bathroom break and noticed Jenkins, Gaylord Perry (another Hall of Fame pitcher who had a 22 year career), and Jon Warden (a not so famous pitcher) all sitting unoccupied under the tent. I've been looking for a blog topic, and I decided to interview these three. Here are my questions, and their answers:
"Do you think it's easier or harder to reach and stick in the major leagues now or when you came up?"
To a man they said it much, much easier now. There were only 16 teams when they came up, and now there are 30. This was pretty much the expected answer, but this evolved into a discussion of supplements and substances. They all agreed that the biggest pitfall for a young player is getting involved in taking supplements that, sometimes unbeknownst to the player, contain elements that are banned by Major League Baseball. Currently, the Texas Rangers are sweating out an 'investigation' of Nelson Cruz who was on the mailing list for a supplement known to include banned substances. If he's found guilty of using this supplement, he'll be banned for 50 games.
Thinking about the most common substance, 'chew' or 'snuff', the smokeless tobacco which has been part of baseball forever, I asked them how they felt about Major League Baseball discouraging the use of smokeless tobacco. Their answer surprised me: They were vociferously in favor of getting it out of the clubhouse, out of the dugout, off the field, and out of the game. They told me something I didn't know. All types of tobacco is banned completely in the minor leagues - you can't even bring it into the park if you are a minor league player. These guys laughed and talked about in their time, they estimated about 3 out of 4 players used some type of tobacco, and it wasn't uncommon for someone to 'light up' in the dug-out when they first came up. They weren't laughing however when they reeled off half a dozen names of players and even an umpire they personally know who have developed cancer and even died as a direct result of their smokeless tobacco use.
"What's the hardest thing about not playing Major League baseball?"
Another answer that surprised me: Neither Jenkins nor Perry talked about the accolades they both won, nor the thrill of winning, nor the excitement of pitching perfectly against famous hitters. All three of them agreed what they missed the most was the camaraderie of the team. They each confessed they loved being 'with the guys'. Apparently, it doesn't matter how many wins or losses a team possesses if the atmosphere is good. Of course, they all preferred being on winning teams, but it was the daily joy of being together with men they considered their closest friends that was the most important, and they miss.
"What is the most important characteristic for a major leaguer to posses?"
I stipulated that this was not about physical ability. Another surprising answer: Most important characteristic for a ballplayer is to be able to communicate with teammates while on the field. They felt games were won or lost based on understanding the 'signs' and being able to pass knowledge about opposing players around the diamond. As an offshoot answer, both Perry and Jenkins agreed the best catcher who ever caught them was Jim Sundberg, a longtime Ranger catcher, who currently works for the team. Perry talked about how he liked to have elaborate catcher signage (these are signs the catcher gives the pitcher to call what pitch is going to be thrown). He laughed, saying that his system was so elaborate that for weeks at time Sundberg was never really sure what was going to be thrown at him, but he always caught whatever it was.
"If you could regain your prime major league form today, what team would you want to join?"
Gaylord Perry's first response to this question was "OH, BABY!" I took that to mean that even at age 74, he still misses that prime physique of his athletic peak. Another unexpected answer from all three: They each claimed they would want to join the organization that initially brought them to the Show. Perry wanted to be a Giant, Warden a Tiger and Jenkins a Cub.
Perry is undoubtedly the most baseball famous of the three. He was wearing two large Major League baseball rings - one on each hand. Jenkins was still in credible physical shape. He competes on the golf course as well as bass tournament fishing in Texas and Oklahoma. Jenkins is also very articulate, and when I complimented him for that, he was visibly pleased. Warden in some ways was the most interesting. He is a guy who pitched exactly one season. He hurt his arm and never pitched again. Warden was a teacher at a Catholic high school for 10 years, and he calls himself a 'wild card'. I looked up some info on him, and it turns out that he's a big speaker on the banquet circuit, and he is compared to Joe Garagiola in terms of his interest in the history of the game. All three of these guys couldn't have been more gracious. I think they got a kick out of being interviewed.
I could have stood there and talked to them all afternoon, but I was displaced by a four year old little girl who wanted autographs. All three guys were happy to sign, and I didn't hear anyone ask for money either.
