The Lost Tony Oliva Interview

While at Target Field earlier this year, we got a bunch of interviews for my online pieces at Global Traveler magazine. One of our successes was Twins legend Tony Oliva. Unfortunately, the video of that interview was lost. That happens sometimes. My videographer (who shall remain nameless) is usually top-notch. One little slip doesn't change that. The important thing is that I remember several of the big points.
Oliva was quite lively. His eyes had a sparkle as he talked to us. The man is 72, but as he spoke, I could envision the much younger version of him playing with the Twins. Oliva talked about the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee. Supposedly it was haunted. Despite the rumored paranormal activity, Oliva still liked staying there, much better than the newer hotels. The Pfister, and hotels like it, have character and personality.
Oliva moved on to discuss Target Field. For a man like Oliva, Target Field is like a dream. It is worlds away from other baseball fields Oliva has encountered in his lifetime.
I love talking to men like Oliva. He clearly loves baseball. He isn't bitter about changes, but he respects the past, while embracing modern luxuries. I think Oliva would be just as happy with a simple field, but he knows things change. He just seems to be enjoying himself.
Oliva reminisced about playing in cities like Milwaukee and Seattle. He loved going to eat in Chicago and New York. He also liked finding Cuban restaurants in various cities.
The interview was fairly long (especially for us). To be honest, the details pale in comparison to the general feeling. I walked away from Oliva simply feeling good about things. I couldn't ask for anything more from a day at the ballpark.

Tony Oliva in the Twins dugout in Minneapolis, MN-August 2010.

On the Beat in Ron Gardenhire's Office

The Minnesota Twins were awesome when we were at Target Field for a game in July. They gave us unrestricted access, which basically allowed us to go everywhere in Target Field and we went everywhere, including Ron Gardenhire's office for his pre-game press conference.
Everyone has a job to do (or as my friend Chuck says, "We're all professionals"), but I really don't know how coaches and players deal with the media sometimes.
It was raining and batting practice was canceled. The first question asked was about the rain. Gardenhire points to his pc screen, where he had a weather site already cued up. Again, the reporter had to ask the question and therefore Gardenhire had to answer it, but it seems silly.
Gardy seems to have magical powers in the dugout sometimes, but meteorology probably isn't one of them. Yet, there he is, answering a question about the storm's path.
The next question is about J.J. Hardy, who missed most of June with an injury. By this day though, Hardy had already been back and played in 10 games, hitting .379 with 3 RBI's and 3 runs scored. What is there really to question about Hardy. He is back and appears to be doing just fine. Yet, the question was asked and Gardy had to answer it.
Several questions were asked about various injured Twins. Gardy patiently answered them. I didn't hear any questions about the Twins-Sox series. Maybe those are asked post-game, when Gardy has to go through this whole routine again.
Don't get me wrong. Gardy has a great job and I would love to do what he does (questions and all). The reporters have great jobs, too. It all just seems like a bit of overkill. On the other hand, there might be another blogger out there writing about how some knucklehead asking questions about travel (although I save those questions for one-on-one sessions).

On the Beat with Jim Thome

The Minnesota Twins were the unlikely first team to clinch a playoff spot this season.  Unfortunately, they were also the first team ousted.  One of the big reasons for their success has been ex-White Sox slugger Jim Thome.

The Chicago White Sox received Jim Thome in the trade for Aaron Rowand. Thome was loved on the south side, but fans still lament the loss of Rowand. Sox fans now lament the loss of Thome, too.

Thome is nearing 600 homers and is only 39.  He will certainly be back next season and maybe even a more.

My nephew Matt and I ran into Thome last season in the underbelly of the MetroDome.  We saw him tossing the medicine ball against a wall and catching it while twisting.  This was about 4 hours before the game.  We didn't go for an official interview, because we saw how hard he was working out.  He did greet us and we shared a quick greeting.

This season, my friend Chuck approached Thome in the dugout at Target Field.  Chuck landed a quick interview with Thome and ended by thanking him for his time in Chicago.

Matt, Chuck and I all walked away from Thome feeling that we just talked to a genuinely great guy.  One day he will be in the Hall of Fame and that will be a great moment.  In a world of egos and self-importance, Thome is everything you'd want in a ballplayer (and a person).

On the Beat with Rick Stelmaszek

As discussed many times before, I have known Minnesota Twins coach Rick Stelmaszek since his wife was my 3rd grade teacher. I have talked to him on many occasions, but earlier this summer, we officially interviewed him for the first time.

We asked Rick about the new stadium. Rick has praise for the new stadium. Of course, he liked it much better than the old Dome.
Then we asked him about being third on the all-time list of tenured coaches with one team. I thought he was behind Nick Altrock and Manny Mota. Rick's answer is pretty funny. I think it's cool that he knows where he ranks and talks about it a bit. He isn't bragging, just stating facts.
It was a bit surreal interviewing Rick in the Twins dugout, considering our history. Thirty some years ago, I was just hoping to get his card in the pack I bought at the corner store.

On the Beat with Michael Cuddyer

Michael Cuddyer of the Minnesota Twins is one of those players I really like. Cuddyer will never be a Hall of Famer, but he is nearing 1,000 hits for his 10 year career, all spent with the Twins.
When we saw Cuddyer, he was signing a few autographs before heading into the dugout to get ready for the game. Chuck managed to get his attention and squeeze in one question.

Cuddyer definitively named Chicago as his favorite city. I don't think he said it just because the Twins were playing the Sox. He had no way of knowing we were Chicago guys (nor would that matter in the least). Cuddyer was simply another player among the many who put Chicago at the top of their favorite cities to visit.

On the Beat with Matt Guerrier

On a recent trip to Target Field, we were able to get a few interviews for my online feature for Global Traveler magazine. We were just about to leave the field, when relief pitcher Matt Guerrier walked right up to us.
Guerrier was originally drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 1999, but has only pitched for the Minnesota Twins during his seven seasons in the majors. He has a 16-25 career record with 5 saves. He lead the AL in games in 2008 and 2009 and is among the leaders this season.
Guerrier mentioned Boston as his favorite city to visit and Gibson's in Chicago as one of his favorite restaurants. It's hard to argue with either of those choices.
I had to split the video for it to be uploaded here. I also wish the music at Target Field wasn't quite as loud. Once again though, I was on a major league field, interviewing a player and I really can't complain about anything!

On the Beat with Ron Gardenhire

Sometimes the rain works against us. Sometimes the rain works for us. At Target Field in Minneapolis a few weeks ago, it poured before the game, which caused batting practice to be canceled.
Ordinarily, this would put a major crimp into our interviews. However, this time, it presented an opportunity to talk to Manager Ron Gardenhire in the dugout before his pre-game press conference.
I have always liked Gardy. Even White Sox fans would have to admit that Gardenhire is an excellent manager. He's also a funny guy. As usual, in our interviews for Global Traveler magazine, we talked to Gardenhire about travel. His answers were interesting and amusing.

On the Beat With Jack Morris

We recently visited Target Field for an online piece for Global Traveler magazine. As usual, we attempted to talk to players and coaches about their thoughts on travel, hotels and restaurants
As we entered the pressbox to collect the official team notes, we ran into Jack Morris, a Twins broadcaster and former pitching great. Morris pitched for 18 seasons with the Detroit Tigers, Toronto Blue Jays and Minnesota Twins. He finished with a record of 254-186, in addition to his 7-4 record in the playoffs including 3 World Series Championships.
Morris mentioned Seattle, Chicago and Toronto as his favorite cities, based on the restaurants and the baseball park. His opinion on hotels was interesting, too.
Morris ended the quick interview by deflecting us to a Twins staffer. Hey, no problem with that. He gave us a few moments and we appreciated his time.
The debate rages on as to his Hall of Fame worthiness. Of course, in that same pressbox was another Hall of Fame-type pitcher, Bert Blyleven. That's a lot of success for one pressbox.

The Rick Stelmaszek Saga:Part 13

I have been going to AU Sports in Skokie (IL) for years. They have the largest supply of sports card singles in the country. The best part is that you are allowed behind the counter to find your own cards in the boxes on the wall of cards. I have spent many hours in AU Sports, looking for cards, meeting players or just talking to other collectors. I have also had many great chats with owner Steve Gold or his late mother Audrey (a dear woman).
For years I tried to get Steve to approach the former Chicago Cubs catcher about doing a signing. Well, that day finally occurred several years ago. Of course I had to check it out. Stelmaszek drew a pretty good crowd. He has several key accomplishments that a collector might value.
-Member of the Chicago Cubs
-World Series winner twice as a coach with the Minnesota Twins
-Local Chicagoan
-Longest current tenured coach with one team
Of course, there is also that near-miss with Nolan Ryan's no-hitters. Darn it.
It was fun to witness this. I still remember nervously (even though he was a neighbor) approaching him 30 years ago for his autograph. Wow...time does fly.

Rick Stelmaszek and me at AU Sports in Skokie, IL-early 00's.

Future Stars

As I wrote yesterday, at a recent game in Minnesota, pre-game activities hindered my interviewing. It was Twins' Kids Day, a day in which the families of the Twins organization have some fun on the field. While this limited my ability to get interviews, it did give me an opportunity to take some snapshots of potential future players (look for them again on Johngy's Beat in about 20 years).
Despite limiting my player access, it was cool to see the players and their families enjoying themselves on the field. Even in the middle of a pennant race, players can still just be regular people, too.

Twins Manager Ron Gardenhire pitches to the youngins.

Sons of Twins coaches (aka future major leaguers?) in Minneapolis, MN-July 2009.

The Rick Stelmaszek Saga:Part 11

After a decent 1977 season at AAA Tucson in the Texas Rangers organization, Rick Stelmaszek joined the Wisconsin Rapids Twins (the single A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins) as a player-manager. At the age of 29, Stelmaszek's playing career was near the end, but his coaching career was just beginning.
Stelmaszek had 55 at-bats in 23 games for the Twins. More importantly, he guided them to a 62-76 record.
The WR Twins did not have a lot of promise. In fact, only Mark Funderburk ever even made it to the majors (and only for 31 games in parts of 2 seasons).
Stelmaszek's 1978 TCMA card (courtesy of TwinsCards.com) shows just how much things have changed in 30 years. Black and white pictures are generally only used in 'throwback' type cards now. Not only is the picture colorless, the card itself appears to be a simple black + 1 color (green). It is hard to tell from the scan, but this card has a non-glossy front.
One last thing to note is the very boring cap. Any good marketer knows you won't be selling many souvenir caps with WR block letters.

Rick Stelmaszek's 1978 TCMA Wisconsin Rapids Twins card.