Remembering 1983
December 9, 2008
1983. It was the end of an era for me. This would be Carl Yastrzemski's last season. I can remember nothing else that is important to me from that year. I know there HAD to be other things going on in my life but I'm drawing a blank.
What got me going on this was a recent baseball memorabellia acquisition that arrived in yesterday's mail. I found it on-line and thought well, that would be cool to have as it was from 1983, Yaz's last year. Nothing spectacular-and I'm sure many of you have it. But to me-it warmed my heart-brought memories flooding back of how baseball used to be, played by a man who has been my hero since childhood. Some thoughts from a man from a different era when it was about the GAME OF BASEBALL . The following interview is from the "1983 Official Red Sox Yearbook". Its title- "YAZ REMEMBERS"-its author -Ned Martin who covered Red Sox games on radio and TV for 23 years (as long as Yaz had been with the Red Sox). It took place in the little ballpark in Winterhaven, FLA before Yaz would begin his final season with the Red Sox. So step back in time with me -back to a different era. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. Disclaimer:(I apologize beforehand for all typos-I'm not the greatest typist and not much better at proofreading.
Martin: Suppose you have a terrific season in '83, with great production at the plate. Would there be a chance you'd think about trying one more?
Yaz: I've pretty much made up my mind that this is it. Personally, I know I can or could play two or three more years, but this is a choice I'm making by myslelf. I don't want to get in a situation when there's one last year and the club is carrying me. I couldn't sit around and just pinch hit. That would kill me. I'm at the point now that I've kind of had enough.
Martin: You have mentioned before the mental fatigue of the game, the constant grind of a player over a number of summers.
Yaz: Twenty-three years is a long time. After going to the plate so many times under so much pressure, it's difficult to concentrate. That's where I've had most of my problems the last couple of years-coming back to the bench after a time at bat, for example, and wondering why I'd swung at that pitch.
Martin: Which was the better team of the two that reached the World Series?
Yaz: Probably the '75 club had more talent, but the '67 club was so unbelievable, so impossible. Players coming off the bench to do a tremendous job-Jose Tartabull, when Tony Conigliaro got hurt. Jerry Adair, Dalton Jones. That's why I had those fantasic six weeks at the end, hitting somehwere around .500. They couldn't pitch around me, Adair, and Jones were hitting in front of me and every time I looked up they were on base. If they hadn't got hot those six weeks, I wouldn't have got hot.
Martin: Do you have an individual moment that stands out in your career, or would that six week period be it?
Yaz: I think that five or six week period was the highlight of my career.
Martin: Why, other than winning the pennant?
Yaz: It killed me to finish last or near last my first six years. Being 25 games out by the All-Star break or losing 100 games a year depresses you. So when we won in '67 and I was able to sustain what I did in the last weeks of the season, I have to consider that my best.
Martin: About the New England fans-your relations with them were a bit strained at first, then alterantely good and poor and good. When did you and the fans get it all together?
Yaz: Well, they were on me for awhile. Then I won the batting title in '63 and after that they were on me again. Of course, '67 was great. But they got on me in 1968 even though I won another title. They seemed to come over to me for good about halfway through 1969. I don't know why. I didn't have a great year. (Ed. note: In that not so great year 40 homers and 111 RBI)
Martin: You've been a private man with selected and varied personal friends over the years. It's an interesting range, from clubhouse man Don Fitzpatrick through Joe Foy, Reggie Smith, Dwight Evans and others. Foy and Smith come to mind first.
Yaz: They both lockered next to me. Those two and the other friends were people who liked to do the same things I did. Reggie loved to fish. In Spring training, we'd leave here at 4:15 in the morning, drive to Sarasota, fish for an hour, then drive back in time for the 10 o'clock workout.
Martin: Who were some of the others?
Yaz: Charlie Schilling, my roommate the first three years. Vinnie Orlando, Fitizie Foy, Dwight Evans. Fishing was what we had in common, for the most part. Relaxing. Makes time go a little faster.
Martin: What about your managers? You played under a gang of them.
Yaz: Mike Higgins helped me when I was struggling at first. He just said: "You're my left fielder. Don't worry about it". Ralph Houk is fantastic. He treats players as individuals and allows time for each one. That keeps this team close. He doesn't allow things to get out of control. I thought Ed Kaskow was good. He had some mediocre teams but almost won a division title in 1972. But Houk brought together a team that was in turmoil in '81. I'm glad he's my manger now. If he wasn't , I don' t think I'd be here today.
Martin: Was there ever a chance you would wind up your career with some other team?
Yaz: I could have gone to a couple other places for more money than I was making here. But I love New England and the fans, and I've had a long friendship with Haywood Sullivan. And Mr. and Mrs. Yawkey-what they did for my Mother druing her illness can't be put in terms of money. Oh, I thought about going elsewhere for a couple of hours-you get a little ego sometimes-but it only lasted a couple of hours. You just don't turn your back on friendship. Mr. Yawkey made the ball park seem like home to me. I used to look forward to coming into the clubhouse early just to talk to him.
Martin: Is there one nice memory, one warm moment exclusive of the action on the field, that you could recall?
Yaz: I guess it would be the ceremony for me after I got my 3,000th hit. The hit was in a night game, and the next day at noon thousands of people were at Faneuill Hall, hanging from lamposts and sitting on rooftops. I was really surprised.
Martin: Your relationship with the media is good now. How was it in the beginning?
Yaz: In Scottsdale I was 20 years old and uncomfortable. I was a kid form a little town and a little school, yet I was being compared to Ted Williams. All that exposure almost broke me the first two months. But I got it back together about midseason and nothing ever bothered me again. I appreciated the job the press had to do in '67. That's why, after the '78 playoff loss, I stood up there and talked with them justt as I di when we won.
Martin: Was that '78 loss your worst experience?
Yaz: Yes. That one tore me up inside, because I didn't know if we'd ever have another shot while I was playing. I want one more shot-I hope this year is it.
Martin: Who is the best hitter you ever saw?
Yaz: I saw him in batting practice in 1960, and in a few exhibition games. He was 43 years old. Ted Williams. I couldn't believe how easily and effortlessly he swung, and how that ball jumped off his bat. The main thing I learned from Ted was that you have to maintain the intensity and desire, every day.
Martin: Do you consider youself a naturally talented player?
Yaz: I don't know how much talent I had, but whatever I had I've gotten the most out of it. I didn't have anywhere near the talent a lot of guys had. But I'd throw eight Yastrzemskis out here against eight anybody elses and see what happened. I'd find some way to win it.
Martin: Who are the pitchers that have given you the most grief?
Yaz: Frank Lary of Detroit. He was the first pitcher I saw who knew how to throw the sharp little slider. And Whitey Ford. You'd go back to the dugout wondering how he got you out. Another was left-hander Steve Mingori of the Royals. He threw about 50 miles an hour, but gave me fits. Luis Arroyo's screwball was tough for me in the early 60's.
Martin: The best hitters since Williams?
Yaz: Mickey Mantle. Power, awesome power. Speed, even when hurt. Later on George Brett.
Martin: Your thoughts on the Hall of Fame, down the line.
Yaz: I hope I make it. It's what I've worked for.
Martin: Voters sometimes look for numbers more than longevity.
Yaz: Yes, but don't forget the durability factor. To be able to sustain good figures for fifteen to twenty years, that's what it's all about.
-CoCoPuff
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