If your brother’s a Cub fan and you’re a Sox fan, I don’t think you should try to strangle him.
I would love to have a Chicago World Series where the Cubs and Sox get together. They’re very proud of their heritage over there, and rightfully so. At one time, I thought they had the better players over there with Banks, Beckert, Santo, Billy Williams, Ferguson Jenkins. Being a kid from Chicago, it was big getting to know those guys. I got to play with Jenkins in Texas.
Last year? The picture in both Chicago papers of the White Sox winning in Houston. We won. First time in 88 years. I grew up on the South Side. That’s a boy’s dream, to see his team come through and win.
I didn’t think it would take that long, but I was glad I was here to see it. It took me a kidney transplant to do it. I was vomiting an average of three times a day and couldn’t keep a body temperature. I knew why. I just didn’t want to go in. I had polycystic kidney disease–multiple cysts on the kidneys that actually take over the kidney. It was genetic. I saw my mother die before my eyes of polycystic kidney disease.
If it wasn’t for my brother Tom giving me one of his kidneys in 1991, we wouldn’t be here doing this interview. I have no medical treatments now.
I signed a contract in a hospital room. Jerry Krause signed me, and I found out years later what she told Jerry Krause when I was inducted into the Chicago Sports Hall of Fame. She pulled him over and she goes: “Take care of my son. I’m not going to be around.”
My mom died when I was 17. I was in the big leagues the next spring with the Cleveland Indians.
I grew up as a White Sox fan. My mom brought us here. And I would go over to Wrigley Field to see Koufax pitch. I loved Sandy Koufax. He was my idol, and he never disappointed me whenever he pitched. My mother had a soft spot in her heart for Koufax because he stood up for what he believed in (1).
I pitched a no-hitter one year (2) and struck out 18. We played seven innings, so there were only 21 guys. She said, “What did those three guys do?” I said, “One guy tried to bunt; I threw him out. One guy popped out to the third baseman. Another guy grounded to second.” She said, “That’s three hits.” I said, “Mom, that’s not how it works.” She said, “When you strike them all out, then you have a Sandy Koufax no-hitter.”
I got to know Koufax a little, and Sandy showed me how to throw a curveball his way.
I made my debut in Yankee Stadium. I walked three and hit two. I don’t remember throwing a strike.
I had a bone spur and a torn labrum repaired in 1976.
I was involved in an accident after my arm was repaired. A man hit me on my bike. I didn’t have any money to pay for an automobile. It knocked out all my front teeth on the top, pulled off all the skin on my face.
I went to throw for a scout two days later. I needed a job. I wanted to go back and play baseball.
I used to practice my play-by-play when I was taking my daughter on one of her acting casting calls. I’d sit there for three or four hours, and I’d go in the car and re-create a game in my mind and get a cadence count and get the game moving into a certain rhythm so the listener would enjoy that.
Some people just want to hear out, run, inning. I can do that, but I’m also going to tell you a story.
Ernie Harwell said: “Don’t change. You may have to refine around the edges. But don’t change. You have something to tell the fans. They will listen.” Chris (3) has something to tell the fans. It’s my job to make sure he comes out and tells them.
I thank John Rooney for helping me.
The biggest compliment I get is from people who are sight-impaired, and they come up to me and say: “We love what you’re doing. The game is right there for us.”
I’m proudest of my daugher Shanda. And my wife Barbara saying yes when I asked her to marry me.
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1 – When he sat out a World Series game to observe a Jewish holiday.
2 – In high school.
3 – Chris Singleton, Farmer’s new broadcast partner.
