Episode 2: Jamie Moyer

[00:00:12] Speaker A: I'm Danny Torres, and thanks for joining me on the talking 21 podcast, the official podcast dedicated to the extraordinary life and legacy of the legendary 21. From Roberto Clemente Walker, it's episode two. Our next guest was a former left handed pitcher who played ready for this 25 years in the big leagues, logged in over 4000 innings, won 269 games, appeared in the 2003 All Star Game, and he's even a 2008 World Series champion. He was also inducted into the Seattle Mariners hall of Fame in 2015. And here's a fact. At the right young age of 49 and 151 days, he became the oldest pitcher in major league baseball history to earn a win. The oldest starter ever to accomplish this unbelievable feat. By coincidence, this phenomenal man, who I met at City Field about five years ago in the media lounge, checks every box on why he was the recipient of the 2003 Roberto Clemente Award. He's a family man, a proud father of eight children, and always, always willing to give a helping hand. But it's a well deserved honor for a special human being who I can proudly call a dear friend. Well, Jamie Moya, welcome to the talking 21 podcast. [00:01:42] Speaker B: How are you, my friend? [00:01:44] Speaker C: I'm doing very well, Danny. I hope this day finds you well. And I love your background, where you are, I'm assuming in your home office. [00:01:57] Speaker A: That's correct. Yeah, I like that you want to call it a home office, Jamie. The collection, Grace, is my living room, and I'm just happy to have you on board with us for talking 21. Jamie, what can you tell your listeners about your hometown, Sellersville, Pennsylvania. [00:02:18] Speaker C: Well, Danny, the Sellersville Southerton area is a small town, what we used to call a bedroom community. Everybody kind of knew each other. Everybody went to everybody else's sporting events. It was just a small, simple, southeastern Pennsylvania hometown. The biggest thing is everybody supported everyone else. It's a suburb of Philadelphia. And when I was a kid, a lot of farms were kind of out in farm country. And every now and then you'd see a horse and bucky driving down the side of the kind of. [00:03:02] Speaker B: Hopefully that kind of gives you an. [00:03:04] Speaker C: Idea of what the area where I. [00:03:07] Speaker A: Grew up, someone introduced baseball to Jamie Moyer. So describe your upbringing and who did introduce Jamie Moyer to the great game of baseball. [00:03:16] Speaker C: Yeah, that's a great question. So, again, living in a small community, my dad was still into athletics when I was born, in my early childhood, and he played a lot of pickup basketball on Wednesdays and Saturdays with a group of guys, and a lot of that same group of guys played fast pitched softball and my dad played on a church league team, and he also played on an industrial league team. So I grew up before my little league years with a little baseball uniform that had our church's name on the. [00:03:52] Speaker B: Front of it, and I was the bat boy, right? [00:03:57] Speaker C: So for me, running out and picking up these big, heavy bats and dragging them back to the little makeshift dugout, their pregame involved batting practice and ground balls, just kind of like what you would see in a major league field. [00:04:11] Speaker B: But it was softball, and they played a lot of pepper. [00:04:13] Speaker C: So once I could start to play some catch and throw the ball decently, they allowed me to start playing pepper games, okay? And that was a lot of fun for me, just kind of being involved. I was just a little shaver, 5678. [00:04:28] Speaker B: Years old, and being allowed to be. [00:04:32] Speaker C: Involved with that made me feel like. [00:04:34] Speaker B: I was a big boy, right? [00:04:36] Speaker C: And so growing up with that, and then a lot of, on weekends, a lot of fast pitch softball tournaments. Fast pitch was really big in the area that I grew up in. And my dad would travel as far as, like, up to Allentown, Pennsylvania, and down sometimes closer to Philadelphia, and playing softball tournaments all weekend, where they would play three games a know, Saturday, Sunday. And usually it went into a lot of. [00:05:01] Speaker B: A lot of softball was then, you. [00:05:03] Speaker C: Know, when I became eight years old, I was able to start to play little League. There was none such thing as t. [00:05:10] Speaker B: Ball when I was eight years old. [00:05:13] Speaker C: You just jumped into Little League. And then my dad started coaching me. [00:05:17] Speaker B: And he coached me from eight through 18. [00:05:21] Speaker C: So that took me through American Legion baseball. So my younger years of baseball, again, was very community oriented. We didn't really go outside of the. [00:05:32] Speaker B: Community to play other than in Little League. [00:05:37] Speaker C: If you made the all star team, you would maybe travel to one town and play, or they would come. [00:05:43] Speaker B: In our town, we had about a half a dozen fields, but one field in our community had lights. So in little league, you were guaranteed. [00:05:53] Speaker C: One game under the lights. The all star game was played under the lights, and the championship game was played under the lights. So that was the big thing for us with little league baseball. [00:06:05] Speaker B: And like, you know, when I got. [00:06:07] Speaker C: Through American Legion baseball, went on to college, went on to St. Joe's University and played there three years, and got drafted by the Cubs in the 6th round in 1984. [00:06:19] Speaker A: Well, it's an interesting journey. So talk about that 84 draft. Where were you when you received the ultimate call? [00:06:27] Speaker C: Well, the previous summers, I had been fortunate enough to play in a league called the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League. I played for the Allentown Wings, which that team no longer exists. After my junior year, before the draft. [00:06:42] Speaker B: I went to the Shenandoah Valley League and played for the Harrisonburg Turks, and. [00:06:49] Speaker C: I was only there for about a week to ten days until the draft. But that's where I actually was when. [00:06:54] Speaker B: I got that phone call from Billy. [00:06:56] Speaker C: Blitzer, sharing that the Cubs had drafted me in the 6th round. He was going to be willing to meet with my parents and myself, and I needed to somehow find a way back home. I got back home and Billy walked in the door at my parents house, and Billy, always really low key, kind. [00:07:16] Speaker B: Of humble guy, but very good with what he did. And again, I don't know. [00:07:22] Speaker C: People know that Billy Blitzer signed Sean Dunstan out of the right. [00:07:27] Speaker D: Jamie. [00:07:27] Speaker C: Exactly. Exactly. [00:07:29] Speaker A: Should have said boogie down Bronx, though. [00:07:30] Speaker C: You should have said boogie down. I was going to get to the boogie down Bronx in a moment. But you beat know. We sat down and know shared about the Chicago Cubs organization, what baseball, what he kind of knew minor league baseball was, were there were no agents or. I didn't know what an agent was back then. We more or less, we'll call it a negotiation. And shortly thereafter I signed, and a couple of days later, I was on an airplane out to a mini spring. [00:08:03] Speaker B: Training out in Mesa, Arizona. [00:08:05] Speaker C: And from that point, I'm going to say we were there for about a week or ten days, and I was designated then to Geneva, New York, for. [00:08:15] Speaker B: My first short season team and obviously the New York Penn League and played out of Geneva. [00:08:24] Speaker C: And what a wonderful first year experience that was for me to play in the northeast. It was a commuter league. They considered it a commuter league. We didn't have too many overnight trips. [00:08:37] Speaker B: A lot of bus trips, short bus. [00:08:40] Speaker C: Trips, and it was actually a great way to cut my teeth in professional baseball. [00:08:46] Speaker A: Throughout your 25 year career, there were a number of other teams that you played for, but you had to have had some memorable moments with the Seattle Mariners. [00:08:55] Speaker C: Yeah, playing with in Seattle. First of all, my opportunity to get there, I was with the Boston Red Sox. And at the trading deadline in, I believe it was 1996, there was a lot of rumors that I was going to get traded, and I heard the trade was probably going to be back to the Texas Rangers. And then at the deadline, I got traded to the Seattle Mariners. And in know, I felt like I could contribute more. I was prepared to contribute more, but they didn't see it that way. [00:09:29] Speaker B: So I was preparing myself to continue. [00:09:32] Speaker C: Be a starting pitcher, even though I was in the bullpen. Mostly in, you know, upon getting traded to the Mariners, I walked in the door and Lupinello was a manager, and he said, you ready to pitch? [00:09:43] Speaker B: And I said, yes, I am. [00:09:44] Speaker C: And they handed me the ball a. [00:09:46] Speaker B: Couple of days later. [00:09:48] Speaker C: And for me, the way I look at it, the rest is history. [00:09:51] Speaker B: It kind of began, if you will, the second half of my career. [00:09:57] Speaker C: And obviously we started in 1996. The Mariners were still in the kingdom. [00:10:05] Speaker B: A place that I really enjoyed playing. [00:10:08] Speaker C: A lot of people hated the kingdom. I enjoyed the kingdom. [00:10:11] Speaker B: I had a fair amount of success there. [00:10:13] Speaker C: But to go to a team with. [00:10:15] Speaker B: The likes of Dan Wilson, Ken Griffey. [00:10:19] Speaker C: Jr. Alex Rodriguez, Joey Cora, Russ Davis played third base, Jay Buhner's in right field, Edgar Martinez, I didn't know, but was a pretty special team as time went on. And then obviously having the opportunity to make the first start in what was then Safeco Field, now it's T Mobile park in Seattle. That was a memorable time for me. And then obviously, 2001, we had a magical season, winning 116 games, unfortunately not getting very deep into the playoffs, getting. [00:11:00] Speaker B: Beat by the Yankees. [00:11:04] Speaker C: And it's just not for me. [00:11:08] Speaker B: Those memories aren't just the games itself. [00:11:14] Speaker C: It's the relationships that are created, the players you meet, the players you play against. [00:11:19] Speaker B: But in Seattle, again, playing with the. [00:11:24] Speaker C: Ken Griffey Jr. Was a pretty phenomenal feat. Ichiro comes on the. [00:11:32] Speaker B: Mr. [00:11:33] Speaker C: Steady Eddie throughout his whole career, and now in Major League Baseball hall of Fame in know, playing with Alex Rodriguez as a young player, you see him. [00:11:48] Speaker B: Very talented, but very green, right? [00:11:51] Speaker C: And Alex obviously went on to play with the Rangers, and the. [00:11:57] Speaker B: Cora was. [00:11:58] Speaker C: Just a great teammate. [00:12:00] Speaker D: To have. [00:12:05] Speaker C: That, to me, is almost. [00:12:08] Speaker B: As important as the baseball experience, but probably more important. [00:12:13] Speaker C: It's that camaraderie you have playing with guys, playing with guys that are playing well, playing with guys that are struggling. [00:12:19] Speaker B: But it's a team game, and you got to figure out how to make all this work as a team. [00:12:25] Speaker C: And there are times when players can carry a team. A Randy Johnson is on a hot streak and he just goes out and dominates. Or Ken Griffith Jr. Is swinging the. [00:12:39] Speaker B: Bat well, or Edgar being the consistent. [00:12:42] Speaker C: Guy he was at one time, he was labeled Mr. [00:12:45] Speaker B: Double because the guy could roll out a double rolling out of, you know, to me, it's watching that, witnessing that. [00:12:56] Speaker C: Being a part of that joy, that part of excitement, that same common goal to win baseball games, because that's really what you're there for. [00:13:03] Speaker B: The ultimate goal in my mind and my perspective was, and still is even if I was still playing, your goal is to get to the World Series. [00:13:14] Speaker C: And win the World Series. [00:13:15] Speaker B: Now, for many players, that doesn't happen in a career. And for some, the very fortunate ones. [00:13:23] Speaker C: Get to a World Series several times and win many World Series. And there's a select few that has. [00:13:29] Speaker B: Happened to or with or for, and. [00:13:33] Speaker C: There'S many that never even get to a playoff. [00:13:37] Speaker B: You know, having the long career that. [00:13:39] Speaker C: I had, I was very fortunate to get to have some of those experiences. [00:13:44] Speaker B: In Seattle, but unfortunately, we never got to. [00:13:49] Speaker C: What I'll call the promised land was a World Series, but many great memories. [00:13:54] Speaker A: In know, Jamie, you really summed up your career there in Seattle, but I also want us to show a little love to those other teams. If maybe we could just throw a little tidbit, starting with the Cubs, your major league debut, what do you take away as a memorable moment? And we can go down the lines to the Rangers, the Cardinals, the Orioles, Red Sox, Phillies, and of course, Colorado. So if you could just briefly, because certainly our talking 21 listeners might want to say, hey, you got Jamie Morrie. I'd like to hear something about those other teams. [00:14:25] Speaker C: Yes, well, the Cubs was, again, I was not on the 40 man roster when I got called up, so I had to be put on the 40 man roster. Wasn't expecting to get called up. [00:14:36] Speaker B: Got called up from Des Moines, Iowa. [00:14:38] Speaker C: With Dave Martinez, now the manager of the Washington Nationals. We got called up, know, so I had never been to a major league. [00:14:46] Speaker B: Spring training when I got called up. [00:14:48] Speaker C: So I really didn't know my new teammates in, you know, guys like Rick Sutcliffe, Scott Sanderson, really kind of took me under their wing, played with Manny trio. Lovely player, lovely teammate. Really enjoyed playing. I'm now aging myself, but I don't mind doing that. But Manny trio was a fun guy and a guy that really understood the game. Leon Durham, Ryan Sandberg, Sean Dunstan, Ron say, davey Lopes. [00:15:17] Speaker B: I mean, those are some of the. [00:15:19] Speaker C: Guys that I kind of cut my teeth with in the major leagues, and. [00:15:23] Speaker B: I really saw how the game was. [00:15:26] Speaker C: Played and how the game then was really played in a different manner. [00:15:32] Speaker B: Very hard nose type of play of baseball. [00:15:35] Speaker C: The fan base in Chicago, as we. [00:15:37] Speaker B: All know, is very loyal. Harry Carrey was still there. [00:15:41] Speaker C: Steve Stone was a broadcaster. So, I mean, there was a lot. [00:15:45] Speaker B: Of pizzazz around that. [00:15:47] Speaker C: But the two plus years I played in Chicago, great, great memories of baseball. Then got traded with Raphael Palmero and Drew hall to the Texas Rangers for Mitch Williams and a slew of guys and go to the Texas Rangers. Didn't know much about the American League, didn't know much about the Texas Rangers. [00:16:07] Speaker B: I was still a young green pitcher. One of my all time favorite teammates. [00:16:13] Speaker C: Happened to get signed as a free agent there. But a guy by name of. [00:16:19] Speaker B: Know, great experience, you know, playing with Nolan. [00:16:23] Speaker C: And the, you know, a lot of young prospects. [00:16:27] Speaker B: Bobby Witt, Jeff Conkel, Pete Inkvilla, Cecil Espi, Gary Pettis, Toby Hara was a coach. [00:16:37] Speaker C: Davy Lopez ended up retiring, coming over. [00:16:39] Speaker B: There as a coach. [00:16:41] Speaker C: One guy I forgot to mention with. [00:16:42] Speaker B: The Cubs was Andre Dawson. I don't know if you remember playing or Andre Dawson wanting to get out. [00:16:49] Speaker C: Of Montreal so bad and signing a blank contract. [00:16:52] Speaker A: Yes, I was aware of. I was aware of that. [00:16:54] Speaker C: Going out and becoming the MVP, I believe in the 88 season. What a phenomenal year to watch that man go out and play and his professionalism, how he treated his teammates, the things he did, just taught me so much about the game. [00:17:12] Speaker D: So I'm going to share my three. [00:17:15] Speaker B: Most favorite players, Andre Dawson, Nolan Ryan and Cal Ripkin. [00:17:19] Speaker C: And I think what they did on the field speaks for itself. [00:17:23] Speaker B: But what these gentlemen were off the field and how they treated me really. [00:17:29] Speaker C: Kind of helped mold me into the. [00:17:31] Speaker B: Player I became and the person I am today. Sure. [00:17:35] Speaker A: No, that's absolutely. I'm glad that you kind of included those three players because certainly besides being hall of Famers, they mentored you. They were there to basically help you grow. [00:17:48] Speaker C: A lot of that mentoring came by my eyes. Watching how they prepared themselves, watching how they went about their business and watching them on the days that not only. [00:18:00] Speaker B: It'S easy to be a good teammate. [00:18:04] Speaker C: On days when you're doing well, but watching them when they're not doing well and seeing how they never change their personalities, their character never changed. And that's something I really got to learn and understand playing with these three men about character. [00:18:22] Speaker A: It's amazing, Jamie, a lot of the players that you interacted with, look where they are right now. They have a bronze black in the hall of Fame. And it's amazing, Jamie, when you think about it here it is, what you had explained earlier with your mariners experiences, your ten plus years, but then you go back home, literally. Let's be honest, Jamie, would you even thought at that point in your career that you're going to listen, be part of a team where you're going to be raising a World Series trophy with the. That's, that's mind boggling. When you really think about all the ups and downs of your career that they're already thinking to you being a coach. [00:19:08] Speaker C: Right. And I couldn't have scripted that any better at that part of my career. Actually, a little tidbit here. Right before I got traded, I was talking to my wife and said, you know what? [00:19:19] Speaker B: I'm going to retire at the end of the season. [00:19:23] Speaker C: This is miserable. Not winning baseball, people not caring, blah, blah, blah, blah. [00:19:27] Speaker B: And then a week later, I got. [00:19:29] Speaker C: Traded to the Phillies. And again, it rejuvenated me. [00:19:34] Speaker B: A youthful clubhouse, a hungry clubhouse. And then in eight, we win a World Series. [00:19:41] Speaker C: Nine, we go to the World Series and get beat by the Yankees. So I mean, pretty incredible. [00:19:46] Speaker B: And then in ten, things started falling apart. I had an elbow problem. [00:19:53] Speaker C: I ended up blowing out my elbow. [00:19:54] Speaker B: Having a Tommy john, and I missed. [00:19:57] Speaker C: The eleven season and came back in twelve with the Rockies. And it was more or less just proving that I could pitch and I didn't pitch well and we were not a good team. And by the end of May, I got released and then I kicked around. I pitched three games for Norfolk with the AA affiliate with the Orioles, and I got released. And then I pitched three games for the Vegas 51s, was AA affiliate for Toronto at the time. [00:20:28] Speaker B: And at that point, at the minor. [00:20:31] Speaker C: League all Star break, I decided it. [00:20:33] Speaker B: Was time to go home, hang up my cleats and move on in life. But for me, the way I left. [00:20:42] Speaker D: The game of baseball was, I don't. [00:20:47] Speaker B: Think I could have portrayed it any better or written it out any better. I left the game of baseball going. [00:20:54] Speaker C: Through the minor leagues the same way I came into the game of baseball, through the minor leagues. And those six starts that I had. [00:21:03] Speaker B: In AA really allowed me to reflect on my career and my life and my baseball experiences. [00:21:14] Speaker C: But I really enjoyed those six starts. [00:21:19] Speaker B: In AA because I was watching kids. [00:21:23] Speaker C: Who were hungry and trying to get to the big leagues, a place that. [00:21:27] Speaker B: I had just spent almost 25, my last 25 years, and it brought back so many great memories of my career. [00:21:38] Speaker A: And you were selected to receive the Roberto Clemente award. Talk about what sticks out about that moment when you received a different type of call, that you were being honored for everything you've done off the field. [00:21:51] Speaker C: I got involved with philanthropy and charity work and a lot of organizations that I played in, and I really saw there was a value there. You were giving. Obviously, a lot of the organizations I play in always are asking to give something back to the community, and I. [00:22:09] Speaker B: Saw value in that and never did. [00:22:12] Speaker C: I expect to be a nominee. Number one, of the Roberto Clemente award. And number two, never did I expect. [00:22:19] Speaker B: To receive that award because, again, what I thought what I was doing in. [00:22:25] Speaker C: The community was the right thing to do, and I felt like I was doing it for the right reasons and. [00:22:30] Speaker B: I wasn't doing it for the notoriety. [00:22:33] Speaker C: Or anything like that. [00:22:37] Speaker B: But when you're out there, when you. [00:22:38] Speaker C: Are giving back, you see that you can make a difference in somebody's life by just bringing a smile to somebody that's in a hardship situation or in a less fortunate situation. [00:22:51] Speaker B: So that had a lot of value for me, and it kind of became who I was as a player. And again, I knew I was a nominee, as I mentioned, but never really thought that that would come full circle. And it did. [00:23:09] Speaker C: And I was really taken back. Started to learn a lot more about. [00:23:14] Speaker B: Roberto Clemente and continue to learn, especially. [00:23:17] Speaker C: Through you and your experiences and being a person that's really helping to keep. [00:23:26] Speaker B: This legacy alive and major league baseball is really important. [00:23:32] Speaker C: And I commend you for doing that. [00:23:34] Speaker B: Danny, it's very honorable for you to do that. [00:23:40] Speaker C: And to me, to be a part. [00:23:42] Speaker B: Of that, a small part of that. [00:23:46] Speaker C: Was a huge honor. And then, obviously, to meet his family at the award presentation that particular year that I received that award in Miami during the World Series, and to meet. [00:24:01] Speaker B: His family, his wife, his sons, and. [00:24:05] Speaker C: Just, you almost felt like you were. [00:24:08] Speaker B: Meeting Roberto in a way, and you saw their passion for who he was. [00:24:16] Speaker C: And for what he stood for. And I see it in you, and. [00:24:20] Speaker B: I've also seen it in a lot of latin players that I've played with throughout my career. [00:24:25] Speaker C: I see Edgar Martinez, I'm going to share was a guy, Joey Cora, again, guys that would talk about Roberto and. [00:24:38] Speaker B: Respect and honor him. [00:24:41] Speaker C: It's just phenomenal. [00:24:42] Speaker B: And I think major league Baseball is. [00:24:45] Speaker C: Doing the right thing. You're doing the right thing, educating people. Just this year, Roberto Clemente Day was. [00:24:53] Speaker B: Just not too long ago. And how cool was it to watch the Pittsburgh Pirates, everybody in uniform have his number on their back to honor him? [00:25:04] Speaker C: I mean, what a special way to do it. Somewhere here, maybe in the near future. [00:25:11] Speaker B: We'Ll see it on everybody's back on that special day. [00:25:16] Speaker C: Not just the Pirates. Maybe we'll see it on all 30. [00:25:19] Speaker B: Major league teams backs again. [00:25:22] Speaker C: What a great way to honor a great human being. [00:25:26] Speaker A: Anything in particular, Jamie, that would you say sticks out in your mind? You knew you were going to receive the award, but that maybe even Jamie said, you know what, let me read up a little bit more. About this. Know, there's something that maybe you heard or read a story that was shared, something specifically about Roberto. You said, wow, this guy really was special. [00:25:48] Speaker C: One of the things that strikes me is that he was helping a country that he necessarily didn't live in. It was the country of Nicaragua that had gone through a great tragedy and talk about a humanitarian, somebody who was. [00:26:07] Speaker B: Willing to help anybody. [00:26:09] Speaker C: And that's really what we're talking about here. [00:26:12] Speaker B: This is somebody that went above in. [00:26:14] Speaker C: What we would think. He didn't have to go to Nicaragua, but he went above and beyond because he saw people in need. It didn't matter what country it was, obviously, it didn't matter the language they spoke, it didn't matter a skin color, nothing mattered. [00:26:32] Speaker B: He just saw a need, and he thought, well, here's how I can help. [00:26:39] Speaker C: And this is what I'm going to do. [00:26:40] Speaker B: And he did it. And I think it's talked about that. [00:26:45] Speaker C: He went to Nicaragua, but it's really not talked about. [00:26:52] Speaker B: This is a country that really didn't. [00:26:56] Speaker C: Have an effect in his life. Maybe he played some baseball there at. [00:27:00] Speaker B: Some point in time, but it's more of the human, the way I see. [00:27:05] Speaker C: It'S more of the human aspect of. [00:27:07] Speaker B: He went to another country where he. [00:27:12] Speaker C: Probably, if he knew people, it wasn't many. [00:27:15] Speaker B: And the people that he was helping. [00:27:17] Speaker C: Were all complete strangers. [00:27:19] Speaker B: So it really didn't matter. Right. It's just such a noble way of helping. There wasn't like he was asking questions, who am I helping? [00:27:35] Speaker C: It didn't matter. [00:27:36] Speaker D: He was just helping. Right. [00:27:38] Speaker B: And I think that's a part that maybe missed or not talked about enough. [00:27:45] Speaker C: I mean, it really showed you the person he was. Baseball wasn't the most important thing in his life. [00:27:53] Speaker A: Not at all. Not at all. [00:27:55] Speaker B: And it really puts the game in perspective, I think. [00:28:00] Speaker C: And to me, that's what really hit home. And even sitting here talking about it today, I go back and recollect hearing that story. And you go, no, really, he didn't. [00:28:11] Speaker D: Have to do that. [00:28:13] Speaker B: But he chose to do that. Right. [00:28:17] Speaker A: On New Year's Eve. On New Year's Eve. [00:28:20] Speaker C: But then you think the impact that. [00:28:23] Speaker B: That had, how many years ago was that? [00:28:26] Speaker A: 1972, when he perished? [00:28:28] Speaker B: 48 years ago. And look and think about that impact that it's still having. [00:28:37] Speaker D: Pretty special. [00:28:38] Speaker C: Absolutely special. [00:28:39] Speaker A: Jamie, if you were someone who had access to the current commissioner of major league baseball, they were actually discussing the retirement of that number alongside Jackie Robinson. Is there something specifically that you would like to, as the recipient of the Roberto Clemente award to why Roberto Clemente Walker's number should be retired. [00:29:02] Speaker C: Well, I think the whys, I think it's very easy because we stress giving back. We stress helping others. [00:29:15] Speaker B: Right. [00:29:16] Speaker C: Those in need. Major league baseball does a good job of that. But I think if we look at ourselves individually and if we look at major league baseball, and again, I'm not trying to turn it into an issue, but we could always do something more. And then how can we do more? [00:29:33] Speaker B: Well, let's bring this story more to the forefront, right? There's an award, awesome reward. [00:29:42] Speaker C: Somebody gets recognized every year. Outstanding. [00:29:45] Speaker B: Right. [00:29:45] Speaker C: But what more can we bring to the table? How can we create more awareness? [00:29:51] Speaker B: Right. [00:29:52] Speaker C: To me, that would be my question. How do we create more awareness? How do we create it individually in. [00:29:58] Speaker B: Each organization and not only at the major league level, but at the minor league level. Right. [00:30:04] Speaker C: Maybe there could be an award for. [00:30:05] Speaker B: Somebody at the minor league level, too. [00:30:08] Speaker A: Never thought of that. Never thought of that. [00:30:09] Speaker D: Right. Why not? [00:30:11] Speaker B: Right. But then how about something nationally? Maybe there's an award that's given nationally. [00:30:18] Speaker C: By the president of the United States. How about if there's an award in. [00:30:23] Speaker B: Puerto Rico for somebody who has gone. [00:30:28] Speaker C: Above and beyond or somebody that represents what Roberto Clemente was about throughout Latin America. Yeah, throughout Latin America. There you go. Or you could do it in each latin american country. [00:30:42] Speaker D: Right. [00:30:43] Speaker B: I mean, to me, that grows this and brings more awareness, brings more knowledge. [00:30:52] Speaker C: More education. [00:30:54] Speaker B: And maybe it helps our society as a whole. [00:30:59] Speaker A: And certainly our society needs just that. 49 and 151 days when you did something historic, right? 49 years, 151. [00:31:09] Speaker D: Could you kind of just at least. [00:31:11] Speaker A: Share for our listeners what that moment was? When you're on the pitches mound, knowing there's a possibility you're going to win a ball game at the age of 49 years of age. [00:31:22] Speaker C: Honestly, Danny, at the time, I didn't know it was a record or it was going to be a record. I didn't play to make records or break records. I played because I enjoyed the game and I had passion for the game. To me, the challenge was to go out and compete. It doesn't matter what age you are when you're eight years old, 15 years old, 22 years old, 35 years old, 49 years old. [00:31:46] Speaker B: To me, it was all about the competition, being prepared, trying to be on top of my game. [00:31:52] Speaker C: So having this opportunity, a blessed opportunity, to be back in the game at the age of 49 after a Tommy. [00:31:59] Speaker B: John surgery and able to pitch, I. [00:32:03] Speaker C: Felt this was a huge blessing. But the opportunity also to go out. [00:32:07] Speaker B: And compete was really what it was all about for me. [00:32:10] Speaker C: And after winning, I won two games. [00:32:13] Speaker B: With the Rockies, but realizing that I. [00:32:17] Speaker C: Was 49 years, 151 days, as you. [00:32:20] Speaker B: Mentioned, the age and the record is pretty cool. Looking back on it now is pretty cool. But as I said, being able to. [00:32:32] Speaker C: Compete against, I was 49 years old, competing against 22 to 25 to 30 year old men, to me, that was the challenge. [00:32:42] Speaker D: Right. [00:32:43] Speaker A: Jamie, you mentioned how important the minor leagues have been, literally throughout your 25 years. Eventually, every player starts in the minor leagues. But this year, before COVID hit, there were already the discussion about teams, minor league teams being contracted, a word being used. We want to streamline the minor leagues. I'd like to know your thoughts, Jamie, on that because certainly the significance of the minor league system is so important to the player. It was important for you. So please, Jamie, hearing that news, I'm sure you're not happy, but I'd like. [00:33:23] Speaker B: To just hear your thoughts. Yeah. [00:33:30] Speaker C: My initial response is it's unfortunate that they're going to shrink this in some fashion. I think. As you said, danny, the minor leagues are very integral to players getting to the major leagues. [00:33:48] Speaker B: And you think about the current where in the past, rookie ball, short season, a ball, a ball, aa, these are. [00:33:59] Speaker C: All stepping stones, and these are all places where young baseball players are gaining their experiences and gaining their knowledge about this great game of baseball. And those of us who have had those experiences will all probably reflect and. [00:34:15] Speaker B: Say without those experiences in the minor leagues, we wouldn't have been the major league player we became. [00:34:22] Speaker C: And if things are going to get cut down, obviously that's going to cut. [00:34:26] Speaker B: Down on jobs availability for players, which. [00:34:31] Speaker C: Is very unfortunate to my knowledge. I thought major league Baseball was trying. [00:34:37] Speaker B: To expand around the world, but then on the other side, it looks like. [00:34:43] Speaker C: We'Re going to be cutting out minor league teams. So I'm not sure how that's going. [00:34:48] Speaker B: To look or how that's going to work. [00:34:50] Speaker C: But you think about all these college baseball programs that are out there and not only division one, it's division two, division three, it's NAIA, it's junior college, it's community college. [00:35:02] Speaker B: There's a lot of kids out there. [00:35:06] Speaker C: That have this dream to become a major league baseball player, and I just. [00:35:10] Speaker B: Think it just kind of makes it. [00:35:12] Speaker C: A little narrower and a little more difficult to follow these steps. And the game is changing right before. [00:35:19] Speaker B: Our eyes, and I don't want to be the guy that has his blinders on and doesn't see the whys and. [00:35:30] Speaker C: The hows to why they're making these decisions. It would be really interesting to understand and learn what their rationale is behind this. [00:35:39] Speaker B: But for right now, nothing has been. [00:35:42] Speaker C: Etched in stone to how they're going to do it. [00:35:44] Speaker B: And I think as we saw this season, everything's kind of trial and error. I think that's probably what's going to happen. But I think by minimizing minor league. [00:35:55] Speaker C: Teams, it's going to change the whole scenery of major league Baseball. [00:36:05] Speaker B: In an unfortunate know, Jamie, first I. [00:36:09] Speaker A: Have to just say thank you so very much because you just said something right now. You were on top of your game every time you were on the field. But my friend, you've been on top of your game with everything you've done off that field. And I can't thank you enough for being a part of the talking 21 podcast. [00:36:28] Speaker B: Well, thank you, Danny, for allowing me to be on. [00:36:31] Speaker C: I wish you nothing but success with talking 21 and all of your future ventures with Roberto Clemente. [00:36:40] Speaker B: Your writing, your school teaching in the boogie down Bronx. That's right. You know what? [00:36:46] Speaker C: Our friendship has been very special and I always enjoy spending time with you. [00:36:52] Speaker B: Whether it's texting, whether it's on a. [00:36:55] Speaker C: Phone call, and occasionally we get together for a meal. [00:36:58] Speaker A: So, Jamie, thank you so very much. [00:37:00] Speaker B: All right. Thank you for having me on, Danny. [00:37:03] Speaker A: All right, my friend, thank you very much. Jamie Moyer, the 2003 Roberto Clemente Award winner for joining us on the talking 21 podcast. This was truly a fun conversation. Please be sure to follow us on Twitter and Instagram at talking 21 podcast for all the latest information about our episode drops. And if you are truly enjoying the show, please be sure to subscribe and rate us on apple and Spotify and wherever you get your podcasts. A special, special thank you to our executive producer Ross Guevara and our producer Jerry. Tune in next time for our continued conversation on the great one. Roberto Clemente Walker, as always, this is your host, Danny Torres. And and you can also follow me on Twitter at Danny T 21. Until next time, have a great one. Our.