Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:13):
Card King here right come. Hello, sports fans, sports collectors,
and all hobbyists. Welcome to The Car King Sports and
Variety Show. I am your host, the Catman, Brian Taatequit
aka the car King. We are live on ABC's Hey
M E T fourteen ninety a M dot com, your
number one spot right here for news and talk on
the West Coast. I thank everyone for tuning in this
(00:35):
morning on a telephone line. I welcome to the program.
A seven time Major League Baseball All Star who won
three World Series championships and is a true Cincinnati Reds
baseball legend. I welcome in Hall of Famer Tony Perez. Tony.
Great to have you, Thank.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
You, thank you.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Oh what an honor, Tony. This is special to me. Tony.
Let's begin. Now you have a long history. Let's begin
nineteen sixty signing with the Reds. Tell us, tell us
all how the Reds first heard about Tony Peretz.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Well, you know, I'm from a small town and Jo
de Avila and Trabio Letta is uh, Mike, We've made
sugar and that's what we leave on. And I we
have a team over there. We had a team with
all the all the factories are playing, you know a
(01:35):
little championship and I was playing one of them. But
they got a scouts, you know, not Cincinnati, but the
the three sugar Key. You could be a three player
when working with the Cincinnati Reds and and they got
to scout all over the island and one of the
(01:58):
scouts was me on Tody the Cubans, the team I was,
you know, I was very good, and they come out
to see me. They called me and sent me to
another league and Matanzas and now and then that's what
I hear they hear about me the year I signed
(02:21):
professional baseball nineteen.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Sixty Yeah, and you were about what seventeen eighteen years
old at that time.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Right, well, at that time I was I was sixteen
at that time, going to to seventeen, Yes, yes, I
was very.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Younger, seventeen all right. And then so they signed you
the Red Sieu and it was nineteen sixty four where
you immediately produced the Pacific Coast League. You were the
most valuable player. I mean you hit three on nine
with thirty four home runs and one hundred and seven RBIs.
(02:59):
Did you do you find the PCL league challenging when
you first got there.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Well, I was. Yes, my first year in nineteen sixty,
I didn't you know I was doing I was doing
better my first time I played a professional baseball and
and uh and and I hit a round to sifty.
But the next year in Geneva, New York in League.
I come back there because I played in nineteen city
(03:26):
and sixty one, I was MVP. Then I league too,
and that's when when I started real going, you know,
in my career. Uh that was and then sifty four
San Diego. I have another great year like one in
nineteen sixty one. Yes, and I were.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Talking with Tony Perez, Baseball Hall of Famer. He's with
us this morning on the telephone line, Tony Perez, Tony,
when you first got to the Reds professional baseball team,
I believe the managers were Fred Hutchinson and Dix's is
that right?
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Right? Right? That one? They called me off one time
and then and then they call me out of the Nagusa,
I think. And I was there for a little while,
and then uh, after that they sent me back Hutchison
die and sixty five, and I had to, you know,
I come back then and SI got the Bay managed
(04:24):
in nineteen sixty five. Wow.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
So so talk a little bit about those early you know,
those mid sixties Reds team. I mean you have Frank Robinson,
you had a young Pete Rose. How did those ball
players treat you? Did they you get along with them
right off the bat? How about Frank Robinson?
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Well, Frank, that was my irol at the time. I
mean my first two years nineteen sixty five and sixty six.
I didn't I didn't play on the redl of the basis.
I would playing I guess only left and they got
another first basement like Gary co moment and he was
playing against right Henderson and then I said, a lot
(05:04):
against And I'm watching from the dogout. I find was
that kind of player I want to be. And I
was watching him and I had the time to watch
what he do, how he played the game, and I learned.
I learned he he teached me how to play the
game and be good and played to win. That's what
That's what I got from Frank Robinson.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
All right, how about a young Pete Rose, because Pete
Rose was young back then.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Well, Pete Rose was, he was a leader young. I
was playing a Geneva nineteen sixty and uh, and I
was playing second base because at the short stop they
give it a hundred thousand dollars. I was playing. Sure,
I signed as a short stop and uh, but I
never played professional short stop because a guy, one guy
(05:53):
who was they give it a hundred thousand dollars to
sign the bonus and he they they asked me and
that guy had to play first and then you're going
you're going to play second. I said, okay, that's me
and I was playing second and they signed on the draft.
They signed pin Rose uh in the middle of the season,
(06:15):
and they sent him to our tea. He signed as
a catcher, but he never catch you professionally. He went
They put him and second base and moved me to
third base. And that was I meet pin Rose in
nineteen city and then we played my career the Cincinnati.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Most of them right, right, So now, Pete Rose, was
he your roommate when you traveled? You and him developed
a good friendship.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Right, yeah? With your friendship, well, we never was a team,
mean a room room now we never shared a room together.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
Now never share all right, So then now I want
to touch on your major league debut. If that correct?
There was a double headed July nineteen sixty four. You
debut that first base you hit against pitcher Joe Gibbon.
I don't know if that's if you remember that game
your first debut.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Yeah, I remember that game. We got we played over
her and we faced him and h and the first game.
In the second game, we finished a big two right handed,
a black right handed left and the pitcher Bob Ville,
throw hard, very hard, and uh and I was playing
and uh, Lahoma City and Dave Bristol, the management to play,
(07:36):
called me and tell me what's going to the buildings
to Cincinnati, and then I fly all night long and
then when we got there late, they put me to play.
I mean I got there thinking, but that was almost
six o'clock in the morning. And then I played. We
(07:58):
played it over her during the afternoon, and then I well,
I went young, I was fired. Were not that bad.
And then I played it over her and I played
those two guys and I went off for eight and
I didn't looked too good and uh, but I still
playing it and then I got better and uh, and
(08:18):
then then they sent me back to three play and
then A city fire come back.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
You're right, Tony, and we're talking with the legendary Baseball
Hall of Famer Tony Perez's with us. You're right, you
did get better. By nineteen sixty five, Tony, you were
considered the reds number one clutch hitter. And I say
that because I'm looking at these statistics. Nineteen sixty five,
out of two hundred and eighty plus at bats, you
produced a winning run in eight different occasions. So you
(08:45):
were immediately sixty five considered the Reds number one clutch hitter.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
Major league pitching at that time, did you find it challenging? Oh?
Speaker 2 (08:56):
Yeah, he wasn't challenging. I wasn't a great great pitching,
but mostly things got too good pitchings. And because I
only only got sixteen things on the both league A
A and not like now that they got thirty. But
the only was a lot of good players playing the
minor leagues. And you have to be consistently to stay
(09:20):
in the buildings. And I remember my League one scout
the signed me, Tony Pacheco told me when I got
to the building. He said, Tony, it's not being here
is staying here. Stay in the buildings. That's why you
have to work. Only I never forget that, and I
was trying to do be very consistently. They cannot send
(09:43):
me back because I say what I got to the
bill league, they wouldn't. They're never gonna send me back.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
Yeah, and I want to try to do this consistently
with the year. So sixty four, your first major league
debut game sixty five, already you were considered the number
one clutch here on the Red team. By sixty seven,
I mean, your numbers are so impressive. Sixty seven one
hundred and two RBIs, twenty six home runs top of
the Reds. And then you hit that dramatic fifteen inning
(10:11):
All Star Game home run, which is a record the
longest All Star game in baseball history, fifteen innings. You
hit a home run of Catfish Hunter. I mean that
must have been so special with you, you know, for
you nineteen sixty seven All Star Game.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
Oh yeah, that was my presa and I think that
was my biggest biggest hit in the building, I mean personal,
it was my big hit being being like that and
the the the league, not the league, but the game
and most botable player. But you know, get into the
year I got the Dave Bristol was named. It was
(10:51):
my manager, my money manor league and three play what
name a manager of the Cincinnati Red and they give me.
He gave me the opportunity to be a regular playing
and every day and then I said I want and
then I got a great year. Yet like you say, uh,
(11:11):
from there, from that on, I know because watching watching
those two years, sitting on the bench and watching a
lot again, I learned about the pitching and the nationally
because I seen pitcher uh the last two years and
I was very uh knew what I had to do
to hit them, no doubt about it.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
And Tony you mentioned about pitching. I want to ask
you a question. The hardest pitcher you faced in your career?
Who would that be?
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Well? Buck Gason, I thank you, give me, give me
was the toughest picture because he was the guy who
who never make a mistake.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
He he was the sole control at his game and
make the good pictures. He never give you a good
pitch to hit him picked you up and the end,
like everybody think he was throwing out the hitter. Boy
know he was doing his job to give people out
and and and and give me it never messed. When
(12:12):
he threw a ladder, he threw alan away on the corners.
When he threw a fast ball, he was in on you,
and he was that good control, and I was there
was the toughest picture for me before a lot of
guys too on the league. I mean, he was he
when you had a one point every year, that's not
(12:32):
that's not bad.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
So so you would say Gibson was the most the
most difficult to hit. How about Sandy Kofax Well.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
Sandy, I I didn't faced Sunday Sunday March only when
I was playing against left hand uh City four, City five,
I see him man and but I never faced much
design a load ofers not and then he retired and
City Fire think that he retired something like that, and
he didn't pitch. I didn't face him for for a
(13:04):
long time. Now only we were and.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
Tony the easiest picture for you to hit. Who do
you think that? I have a guess. I think it
was Catfish Hunter because for a couple of reasons.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
But no, no, because it wasn't the American League. And
I didn't face the only and the Word series and
then on the All Attack Game World Series, but I
never I never faced him. But not easy. But Joe Nico,
(13:38):
Phil Nicol was the guy who him most home run
and uh and then uh uh. I don't know why,
but I was a good knackerboard reader, and I can
read him pretty good because I knew what he was
doing when he threw his knacker ball and uh and Nico, well,
(13:59):
he was throwing knocker board. He got his his glove opened,
you know, and and I can see it coming knocker board.
A knocker board was a pitch. Most of the time,
it's not a strike. And I want to do against
him and his brother Joe. They want to come out
later with the knocker board too. And that was because
he t sheets and hard pitch. I see the open up.
(14:21):
And then when he closed the door. The glove was
a fast boat or slider, and they don't have a
good one because they learned how to knocker board. Because
he got they lost those pitches. And then what I
say when I go when I don't have no strikes,
I just take those pitches. And he got behind me
(14:41):
on the count and then I know you're going to
be a fairst boat slider. And then and then I
hit it very.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
Well, very interesting.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
Six excuse me? He was one day one day and
the Cooperstown were where we was talk. He asked me,
why do you hear me so much? So good? I said,
I said, Phil, I know what's coming. What do you
mean you what's coming? I said, it's open knock a ball,
(15:15):
you close your door. The glow was lighter fairs ball
and you lost that. You don't have any under your
throw for astray and I was looking forward. I hear it.
He said, why did you call me?
Speaker 1 (15:25):
Uh? What?
Speaker 2 (15:26):
He was a Cincinnati UH and he was at the
hotel and I said, well, at that area, we don't
have no the hotels don't have phone. You're going to
the room. And then I tried to call you when
you can leave no message? And then I wasn't in
and I forget about it. He said, oh yeah, but
(15:49):
that's interesting.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
So Gibson the toughest for Tony Perez to hit and
Phil Nicro the easiest. I did not know that. It's interesting.
UH sixty nine, Toty. I'm looking at these statistics again.
Your statistics another outstanding year. Finished third in RBIs, fourth
and home runs that year sixty nine UH, and second
(16:13):
in total bases. You also played an outstanding third base UH,
leading the leading the League in assists, double plays and
total chances. You know, I didn't know this. I look
at your baseball cards. They have you as a first basement,
third basement outfield. I didn't know you played all those positions.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Yes, I did that on the minor league, and three
play in the Red. Reggio Teto, he was a guy
from Cuba, was a third base coach, and he was
a good first basement on his day and on his day,
and then they he learned. He teach me how to
play the first base and and I guess it's very good.
(16:56):
And I was. They moved me to first, but I
was sad and second base was you know, early in
my career was third base. I played in the BILEAF
for five years old.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
Yeah, I mean, like I said, sixty nine, you let
the National League third basements and assist double plays in
total chances, which is outstanding. Nineteen seventy this is amazing
to me as well. You hit four fifty five in
April with ten homers. I mean that was a National
League mark at the time. I mean, you were on
(17:29):
a pace in April that almost hit five hundred. What
were you doing differently in nineteen seventy and you got
to keep in mind this. You know, you're getting older
and you're still producing this type of average.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
Well, well, I wasn't the best time in my career,
my prime. It wasn't those years, those three or four years.
And then I was I produced very well. I was
hit in third early on in April May, and you
and I was hitting very well. And and Johnny was
(18:03):
hitting behind me, and then Levey believe me, and no
Foster and those guys, and we have a pretty good lineup.
And he wasn't easy to pitch to us because we
are we are the big red macheen and and we
just have you know, score a lot of runs. Uh.
But then after that, Johnny got a little slow, but
(18:27):
he wasn't hitting that well, and Spiky moved him to
Thur and I got me hitting four, and then Johnny
started hitting and started hitting, and we keep winning and
keep winning, and we was avb. I mean, he we
we want everything and he was MVP. And glad for
(18:47):
him because he was a great player and and help
us to win too.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
Yeah, and you know, I have five minutes left with you, Tony.
I want to get a couple of the World Series games.
In nineteen seventy Orioles versus Reds. The Reds lose that series.
How is your reaction losing that series? It must have
been painful.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
Well, we know we had we had trouble. We lose
a lot of pitching. We don't have the pitching. They
have fol guys. The Orios have fol guy who wins
twenty games. And uh they was they just beat us?
I mean, uh, pitching and hitting and everything.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
And then seventy two A's versus Reds another series you lose,
but you did spectacular that series. I believe you hit
four thirty five against the A's. Another series that the Reds.
You know you should have won. How is that loss?
How did the team take that loss?
Speaker 2 (19:46):
Well, the a is better player, good a better good season.
We don't hit like we did do the decision few
of the guys. I was the only one who got
a good, good series. And then they they we are
still going to play seven games, and then they beat
us in the last game because this left fielder the
(20:08):
time you make a great player number gray ball hitting
to the left field and I was in first base
and I had to go around back to first and
not too came the in. But they beat us, and
but they was a good series for us though.
Speaker 1 (20:24):
Yeah, and now I believe that seventy two series, didn't
you you break up a tie? Was it against Catfish?
It was against Catfish Hunter?
Speaker 2 (20:32):
Yeah, right right, Jef. I thank him too well. I
always hit him pretty good.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
I know. That's I mean, unbelievable. Now, seventy five A's
versus Red Sox, and I spoke with Bill Lee, the spaceman.
Now that game, that seventy five game, bill Lee, he
threw you that ephis pitch he threw and you hit
it over the green monster. The ball is still traveling. Uh,
(21:01):
that pitch was Take us back to that moment when
you saw that ethis pitch.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
Well, I can go back a little bit before that.
You know, I threw one too many. He threw many.
When I first faced him, he threw me that blue
food pitch and hit the ground. I swing at him,
and it was a funny because I look at the
dog out on. My teammate was laughing, and that was
a very embarrassing about it because of the boy the grounds.
(21:30):
And then I said, well, he come back and that
pitch a seventh game and the and then he threw
me one, two, and but I didn't swing at him.
I just watch him watching what I was watching why
he did when he had made a step with the
with the right but with the right foot, and then
I say, I know, I knew what he does, and
(21:52):
therefore he threw it again. I no want to looking
for but I'm going to get right back here on
my mind and see. And he did it. He threw
me the last month that time. And I hear step
and he'd throw up. He hanged it and I hear
that out.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
Oh man, did you hit it? You hit it out?
I mean that was a rocket. And for those listening,
you got to check out that. You gotta check that
out on YouTube. The Bill Lee Heath this pitch to
Tony Perez, that was yeah. I mean, it's it's still traveling.
You hit it so far. I mean, that's insane, unbelievable.
Seventy six now against the Yankees special series. It was
(22:33):
the second time the Reds won two consecutive series since
I believe nineteen twenty one. So and you know, Tony
still to this day, seventy six when the Reds and
I want to ask you, when the Reds traded you?
That hurt the dynasty. I don't know why the Reds
traded you.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
Well they did. They ask for me after the seventy
six systems against the Yankees Ned War Seriens. They called
me in mister Housing bog Housen again and the manager
and he and he told me, I said, Tony, Uh,
they're a great player, but we get the right trade.
(23:13):
We're gonna trade you.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (23:15):
And I say oh, I say, well, uh yeah, but
please train me to a contented thing. And he says, uh,
for anything they will grab, you gonna be. You want
to make it a contender. And then I say, why
do you want to trade me? Then that's what I said,
and and then we finished doctor and that happened.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
Yeah, I mean they traded you for I believe the
Reds trade you for Woody Freeman and Dale Murray. All right,
I mean why would they do that? And it's not
only my opinion. I believe a lot of fans feel
that the dynasty was destroyed once they traded Tony Perez
to the expos.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
Well, you're asking me why I was eating older. I
was thirty seven years old, and uh then was a
good praasure. And he was sitting there for five years
behind me and uh, and I guess they said that
we got so many, so much a good thing. Uh,
and they can win without without my service, and that's
(24:18):
why they tyed me. Plus uh. Uh you know I
was making a bigger money and uh and drinking and
then they say money. That's that's why I think it
was wow.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
So I mean you go to Montreal. What was your
first like when you got to Montreal? How did it feel?
I mean, did you feel out of place? Well?
Speaker 2 (24:42):
I feel good. Well that was the last play thing
at the time. But they have a great, great prayer
like Andrew Darson and Gary gar reyy catch her Cromari
and some other guys. And uh, they got still Rogers
the pigeon, they got U. They don't have all the potential, yeah,
(25:02):
but they have potential to be a to bey, a
contentent thing. And uh. It took me three years to
do it. But the last year I played there and
seventy nine, we almost win it with we lost uh
run on the playoff on the on the last game
of the season, I stick a stick garden beat us. Uh,
(25:23):
and then we will us. That's just what it is.
And can the Saint Louis Cardinal with it.
Speaker 1 (25:31):
Man. And then so from the Expos you go to
the Red Sox. You played a long time in baseball.
I mean this is fascinating. Uh. You go to the
Red Sox, you played there from eighty to eighty two.
Did you like playing a fanway?
Speaker 2 (25:45):
Yeah, I would love to play a fangway. I mean
it's uh, I always hear about the green Mustard and
I and I always it was a challenge, you know,
because I say, let me see if I cannot trying
to hear home runs and here because you know, the
the left field world was too close and I had
to keep the way I hit, Who's using the old field?
(26:07):
And I did? I did my person in my first year. Well,
like I said before, that was thirty years thirty eight
years old. And uh I got that great year on
the first year and uh uh and that was amazing.
Speaker 1 (26:21):
An Tony, I have one minute left. My last question
to you. Uh, when you look back at your career, Uh,
what means more to you today? Uh? Winning those championship series,
being a World Series champion, or being a Baseball Hall
of Famer.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
Well, every every player want to be in the Hall
of Fame. I mean I I personal. I want to
be in the Hall of Fame. I think that's the
biggest thing any any player can can do. The only
few of paying there. But but but winning the two
(27:00):
War Series under the row from my tigre for the
city of Cincinnati. That's great too. That's I think. I
want to say, my who what my first I say
two the favorite two things was be a Red on
those days and a Via War Series time.
Speaker 1 (27:20):
I mean, yet, Tony, this means a lot to me.
I really appreciate your time. It was really an honor
to have you it really, it really was anytime. Thanks Tony,
take care of yourself and God blessed. Seven times All Star,
Thank you Tony. Seven time All Star, three time World
Series Champion, number twenty four, retired by the Reds and
(27:42):
a member of Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame. That was
the legendary Tony Perez. Until next week, Happy collecting to
all sent s compen comments
Card King here right come. Hello, sports fans, sports collectors,
and all hobbyists. Welcome to The Car King Sports and
Variety Show. I am your host, the Catman, Brian Taatequit
aka the car King. We are live on ABC's Hey
M E T fourteen ninety a M dot com, your
number one spot right here for news and talk on
the West Coast. I thank everyone for tuning in this
(00:35):
morning on a telephone line. I welcome to the program.
A seven time Major League Baseball All Star who won
three World Series championships and is a true Cincinnati Reds
baseball legend. I welcome in Hall of Famer Tony Perez. Tony.
Great to have you, Thank.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
You, thank you.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Oh what an honor, Tony. This is special to me. Tony.
Let's begin. Now you have a long history. Let's begin
nineteen sixty signing with the Reds. Tell us, tell us
all how the Reds first heard about Tony Peretz.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Well, you know, I'm from a small town and Jo
de Avila and Trabio Letta is uh, Mike, We've made
sugar and that's what we leave on. And I we
have a team over there. We had a team with
all the all the factories are playing, you know a
(01:35):
little championship and I was playing one of them. But
they got a scouts, you know, not Cincinnati, but the
the three sugar Key. You could be a three player
when working with the Cincinnati Reds and and they got
to scout all over the island and one of the
(01:58):
scouts was me on Tody the Cubans, the team I was,
you know, I was very good, and they come out
to see me. They called me and sent me to
another league and Matanzas and now and then that's what
I hear they hear about me the year I signed
(02:21):
professional baseball nineteen.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Sixty Yeah, and you were about what seventeen eighteen years
old at that time.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Right, well, at that time I was I was sixteen
at that time, going to to seventeen, Yes, yes, I
was very.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Younger, seventeen all right. And then so they signed you
the Red Sieu and it was nineteen sixty four where
you immediately produced the Pacific Coast League. You were the
most valuable player. I mean you hit three on nine
with thirty four home runs and one hundred and seven RBIs.
(02:59):
Did you do you find the PCL league challenging when
you first got there.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Well, I was. Yes, my first year in nineteen sixty,
I didn't you know I was doing I was doing
better my first time I played a professional baseball and
and uh and and I hit a round to sifty.
But the next year in Geneva, New York in League.
I come back there because I played in nineteen city
(03:26):
and sixty one, I was MVP. Then I league too,
and that's when when I started real going, you know,
in my career. Uh that was and then sifty four
San Diego. I have another great year like one in
nineteen sixty one. Yes, and I were.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Talking with Tony Perez, Baseball Hall of Famer. He's with
us this morning on the telephone line, Tony Perez, Tony,
when you first got to the Reds professional baseball team,
I believe the managers were Fred Hutchinson and Dix's is
that right?
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Right? Right? That one? They called me off one time
and then and then they call me out of the Nagusa,
I think. And I was there for a little while,
and then uh, after that they sent me back Hutchison
die and sixty five, and I had to, you know,
I come back then and SI got the Bay managed
(04:24):
in nineteen sixty five. Wow.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
So so talk a little bit about those early you know,
those mid sixties Reds team. I mean you have Frank Robinson,
you had a young Pete Rose. How did those ball
players treat you? Did they you get along with them
right off the bat? How about Frank Robinson?
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Well, Frank, that was my irol at the time. I
mean my first two years nineteen sixty five and sixty six.
I didn't I didn't play on the redl of the basis.
I would playing I guess only left and they got
another first basement like Gary co moment and he was
playing against right Henderson and then I said, a lot
(05:04):
against And I'm watching from the dogout. I find was
that kind of player I want to be. And I
was watching him and I had the time to watch
what he do, how he played the game, and I learned.
I learned he he teached me how to play the
game and be good and played to win. That's what
That's what I got from Frank Robinson.
Speaker 1 (05:27):
All right, how about a young Pete Rose, because Pete
Rose was young back then.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
Well, Pete Rose was, he was a leader young. I
was playing a Geneva nineteen sixty and uh, and I
was playing second base because at the short stop they
give it a hundred thousand dollars. I was playing. Sure,
I signed as a short stop and uh, but I
never played professional short stop because a guy, one guy
(05:53):
who was they give it a hundred thousand dollars to
sign the bonus and he they they asked me and
that guy had to play first and then you're going
you're going to play second. I said, okay, that's me
and I was playing second and they signed on the draft.
They signed pin Rose uh in the middle of the season,
(06:15):
and they sent him to our tea. He signed as
a catcher, but he never catch you professionally. He went
They put him and second base and moved me to
third base. And that was I meet pin Rose in
nineteen city and then we played my career the Cincinnati.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Most of them right, right, So now, Pete Rose, was
he your roommate when you traveled? You and him developed
a good friendship.
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Right, yeah? With your friendship, well, we never was a team,
mean a room room now we never shared a room together.
Speaker 1 (06:54):
Now never share all right, So then now I want
to touch on your major league debut. If that correct?
There was a double headed July nineteen sixty four. You
debut that first base you hit against pitcher Joe Gibbon.
I don't know if that's if you remember that game
your first debut.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Yeah, I remember that game. We got we played over
her and we faced him and h and the first game.
In the second game, we finished a big two right handed,
a black right handed left and the pitcher Bob Ville,
throw hard, very hard, and uh and I was playing
and uh, Lahoma City and Dave Bristol, the management to play,
(07:36):
called me and tell me what's going to the buildings
to Cincinnati, and then I fly all night long and
then when we got there late, they put me to play.
I mean I got there thinking, but that was almost
six o'clock in the morning. And then I played. We
(07:58):
played it over her during the afternoon, and then I well,
I went young, I was fired. Were not that bad.
And then I played it over her and I played
those two guys and I went off for eight and
I didn't looked too good and uh, but I still
playing it and then I got better and uh, and
(08:18):
then then they sent me back to three play and
then A city fire come back.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
You're right, Tony, and we're talking with the legendary Baseball
Hall of Famer Tony Perez's with us. You're right, you
did get better. By nineteen sixty five, Tony, you were
considered the reds number one clutch hitter. And I say
that because I'm looking at these statistics. Nineteen sixty five,
out of two hundred and eighty plus at bats, you
produced a winning run in eight different occasions. So you
(08:45):
were immediately sixty five considered the Reds number one clutch hitter.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
Major league pitching at that time, did you find it challenging? Oh?
Speaker 2 (08:56):
Yeah, he wasn't challenging. I wasn't a great great pitching,
but mostly things got too good pitchings. And because I
only only got sixteen things on the both league A
A and not like now that they got thirty. But
the only was a lot of good players playing the
minor leagues. And you have to be consistently to stay
(09:20):
in the buildings. And I remember my League one scout
the signed me, Tony Pacheco told me when I got
to the building. He said, Tony, it's not being here
is staying here. Stay in the buildings. That's why you
have to work. Only I never forget that, and I
was trying to do be very consistently. They cannot send
(09:43):
me back because I say what I got to the
bill league, they wouldn't. They're never gonna send me back.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
Yeah, and I want to try to do this consistently
with the year. So sixty four, your first major league
debut game sixty five, already you were considered the number
one clutch here on the Red team. By sixty seven,
I mean, your numbers are so impressive. Sixty seven one
hundred and two RBIs, twenty six home runs top of
the Reds. And then you hit that dramatic fifteen inning
(10:11):
All Star Game home run, which is a record the
longest All Star game in baseball history, fifteen innings. You
hit a home run of Catfish Hunter. I mean that
must have been so special with you, you know, for
you nineteen sixty seven All Star Game.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
Oh yeah, that was my presa and I think that
was my biggest biggest hit in the building, I mean personal,
it was my big hit being being like that and
the the the league, not the league, but the game
and most botable player. But you know, get into the
year I got the Dave Bristol was named. It was
(10:51):
my manager, my money manor league and three play what
name a manager of the Cincinnati Red and they give me.
He gave me the opportunity to be a regular playing
and every day and then I said I want and
then I got a great year. Yet like you say, uh,
(11:11):
from there, from that on, I know because watching watching
those two years, sitting on the bench and watching a
lot again, I learned about the pitching and the nationally
because I seen pitcher uh the last two years and
I was very uh knew what I had to do
to hit them, no doubt about it.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
And Tony you mentioned about pitching. I want to ask
you a question. The hardest pitcher you faced in your career?
Who would that be?
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Well? Buck Gason, I thank you, give me, give me
was the toughest picture because he was the guy who
who never make a mistake.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
He he was the sole control at his game and
make the good pictures. He never give you a good
pitch to hit him picked you up and the end,
like everybody think he was throwing out the hitter. Boy
know he was doing his job to give people out
and and and and give me it never messed. When
(12:12):
he threw a ladder, he threw alan away on the corners.
When he threw a fast ball, he was in on you,
and he was that good control, and I was there
was the toughest picture for me before a lot of
guys too on the league. I mean, he was he
when you had a one point every year, that's not
(12:32):
that's not bad.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
So so you would say Gibson was the most the
most difficult to hit. How about Sandy Kofax Well.
Speaker 2 (12:43):
Sandy, I I didn't faced Sunday Sunday March only when
I was playing against left hand uh City four, City five,
I see him man and but I never faced much
design a load ofers not and then he retired and
City Fire think that he retired something like that, and
he didn't pitch. I didn't face him for for a
(13:04):
long time. Now only we were and.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
Tony the easiest picture for you to hit. Who do
you think that? I have a guess. I think it
was Catfish Hunter because for a couple of reasons.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
But no, no, because it wasn't the American League. And
I didn't face the only and the Word series and
then on the All Attack Game World Series, but I
never I never faced him. But not easy. But Joe Nico,
(13:38):
Phil Nicol was the guy who him most home run
and uh and then uh uh. I don't know why,
but I was a good knackerboard reader, and I can
read him pretty good because I knew what he was
doing when he threw his knacker ball and uh and Nico, well,
(13:59):
he was throwing knocker board. He got his his glove opened,
you know, and and I can see it coming knocker board.
A knocker board was a pitch. Most of the time,
it's not a strike. And I want to do against
him and his brother Joe. They want to come out
later with the knocker board too. And that was because
he t sheets and hard pitch. I see the open up.
(14:21):
And then when he closed the door. The glove was
a fast boat or slider, and they don't have a
good one because they learned how to knocker board. Because
he got they lost those pitches. And then what I
say when I go when I don't have no strikes,
I just take those pitches. And he got behind me
(14:41):
on the count and then I know you're going to
be a fairst boat slider. And then and then I
hit it very.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
Well, very interesting.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
Six excuse me? He was one day one day and
the Cooperstown were where we was talk. He asked me,
why do you hear me so much? So good? I said,
I said, Phil, I know what's coming. What do you
mean you what's coming? I said, it's open knock a ball,
(15:15):
you close your door. The glow was lighter fairs ball
and you lost that. You don't have any under your
throw for astray and I was looking forward. I hear it.
He said, why did you call me?
Speaker 1 (15:25):
Uh? What?
Speaker 2 (15:26):
He was a Cincinnati UH and he was at the
hotel and I said, well, at that area, we don't
have no the hotels don't have phone. You're going to
the room. And then I tried to call you when
you can leave no message? And then I wasn't in
and I forget about it. He said, oh yeah, but
(15:49):
that's interesting.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
So Gibson the toughest for Tony Perez to hit and
Phil Nicro the easiest. I did not know that. It's interesting.
UH sixty nine, Toty. I'm looking at these statistics again.
Your statistics another outstanding year. Finished third in RBIs, fourth
and home runs that year sixty nine UH, and second
(16:13):
in total bases. You also played an outstanding third base UH,
leading the leading the League in assists, double plays and
total chances. You know, I didn't know this. I look
at your baseball cards. They have you as a first basement,
third basement outfield. I didn't know you played all those positions.
Speaker 2 (16:33):
Yes, I did that on the minor league, and three
play in the Red. Reggio Teto, he was a guy
from Cuba, was a third base coach, and he was
a good first basement on his day and on his day,
and then they he learned. He teach me how to
play the first base and and I guess it's very good.
(16:56):
And I was. They moved me to first, but I
was sad and second base was you know, early in
my career was third base. I played in the BILEAF
for five years old.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
Yeah, I mean, like I said, sixty nine, you let
the National League third basements and assist double plays in
total chances, which is outstanding. Nineteen seventy this is amazing
to me as well. You hit four fifty five in
April with ten homers. I mean that was a National
League mark at the time. I mean, you were on
(17:29):
a pace in April that almost hit five hundred. What
were you doing differently in nineteen seventy and you got
to keep in mind this. You know, you're getting older
and you're still producing this type of average.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
Well, well, I wasn't the best time in my career,
my prime. It wasn't those years, those three or four years.
And then I was I produced very well. I was
hit in third early on in April May, and you
and I was hitting very well. And and Johnny was
(18:03):
hitting behind me, and then Levey believe me, and no
Foster and those guys, and we have a pretty good lineup.
And he wasn't easy to pitch to us because we
are we are the big red macheen and and we
just have you know, score a lot of runs. Uh.
But then after that, Johnny got a little slow, but
(18:27):
he wasn't hitting that well, and Spiky moved him to
Thur and I got me hitting four, and then Johnny
started hitting and started hitting, and we keep winning and
keep winning, and we was avb. I mean, he we
we want everything and he was MVP. And glad for
(18:47):
him because he was a great player and and help
us to win too.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
Yeah, and you know, I have five minutes left with you, Tony.
I want to get a couple of the World Series games.
In nineteen seventy Orioles versus Reds. The Reds lose that series.
How is your reaction losing that series? It must have
been painful.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
Well, we know we had we had trouble. We lose
a lot of pitching. We don't have the pitching. They
have fol guys. The Orios have fol guy who wins
twenty games. And uh they was they just beat us?
I mean, uh, pitching and hitting and everything.
Speaker 1 (19:26):
And then seventy two A's versus Reds another series you lose,
but you did spectacular that series. I believe you hit
four thirty five against the A's. Another series that the Reds.
You know you should have won. How is that loss?
How did the team take that loss?
Speaker 2 (19:46):
Well, the a is better player, good a better good season.
We don't hit like we did do the decision few
of the guys. I was the only one who got
a good, good series. And then they they we are
still going to play seven games, and then they beat
us in the last game because this left fielder the
(20:08):
time you make a great player number gray ball hitting
to the left field and I was in first base
and I had to go around back to first and
not too came the in. But they beat us, and
but they was a good series for us though.
Speaker 1 (20:24):
Yeah, and now I believe that seventy two series, didn't
you you break up a tie? Was it against Catfish?
It was against Catfish Hunter?
Speaker 2 (20:32):
Yeah, right right, Jef. I thank him too well. I
always hit him pretty good.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
I know. That's I mean, unbelievable. Now, seventy five A's
versus Red Sox, and I spoke with Bill Lee, the spaceman.
Now that game, that seventy five game, bill Lee, he
threw you that ephis pitch he threw and you hit
it over the green monster. The ball is still traveling. Uh,
(21:01):
that pitch was Take us back to that moment when
you saw that ethis pitch.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
Well, I can go back a little bit before that.
You know, I threw one too many. He threw many.
When I first faced him, he threw me that blue
food pitch and hit the ground. I swing at him,
and it was a funny because I look at the
dog out on. My teammate was laughing, and that was
a very embarrassing about it because of the boy the grounds.
(21:30):
And then I said, well, he come back and that
pitch a seventh game and the and then he threw
me one, two, and but I didn't swing at him.
I just watch him watching what I was watching why
he did when he had made a step with the
with the right but with the right foot, and then
I say, I know, I knew what he does, and
(21:52):
therefore he threw it again. I no want to looking
for but I'm going to get right back here on
my mind and see. And he did it. He threw
me the last month that time. And I hear step
and he'd throw up. He hanged it and I hear
that out.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
Oh man, did you hit it? You hit it out?
I mean that was a rocket. And for those listening,
you got to check out that. You gotta check that
out on YouTube. The Bill Lee Heath this pitch to
Tony Perez, that was yeah. I mean, it's it's still traveling.
You hit it so far. I mean, that's insane, unbelievable.
Seventy six now against the Yankees special series. It was
(22:33):
the second time the Reds won two consecutive series since
I believe nineteen twenty one. So and you know, Tony
still to this day, seventy six when the Reds and
I want to ask you, when the Reds traded you?
That hurt the dynasty. I don't know why the Reds
traded you.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
Well they did. They ask for me after the seventy
six systems against the Yankees Ned War Seriens. They called
me in mister Housing bog Housen again and the manager
and he and he told me, I said, Tony, Uh,
they're a great player, but we get the right trade.
(23:13):
We're gonna trade you.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
Uh.
Speaker 2 (23:15):
And I say oh, I say, well, uh yeah, but
please train me to a contented thing. And he says, uh,
for anything they will grab, you gonna be. You want
to make it a contender. And then I say, why
do you want to trade me? Then that's what I said,
and and then we finished doctor and that happened.
Speaker 1 (23:38):
Yeah, I mean they traded you for I believe the
Reds trade you for Woody Freeman and Dale Murray. All right,
I mean why would they do that? And it's not
only my opinion. I believe a lot of fans feel
that the dynasty was destroyed once they traded Tony Perez
to the expos.
Speaker 2 (23:56):
Well, you're asking me why I was eating older. I
was thirty seven years old, and uh then was a
good praasure. And he was sitting there for five years
behind me and uh, and I guess they said that
we got so many, so much a good thing. Uh,
and they can win without without my service, and that's
(24:18):
why they tyed me. Plus uh. Uh you know I
was making a bigger money and uh and drinking and
then they say money. That's that's why I think it
was wow.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
So I mean you go to Montreal. What was your
first like when you got to Montreal? How did it feel?
I mean, did you feel out of place? Well?
Speaker 2 (24:42):
I feel good. Well that was the last play thing
at the time. But they have a great, great prayer
like Andrew Darson and Gary gar reyy catch her Cromari
and some other guys. And uh, they got still Rogers
the pigeon, they got U. They don't have all the potential, yeah,
(25:02):
but they have potential to be a to bey, a
contentent thing. And uh. It took me three years to
do it. But the last year I played there and
seventy nine, we almost win it with we lost uh
run on the playoff on the on the last game
of the season, I stick a stick garden beat us. Uh,
(25:23):
and then we will us. That's just what it is.
And can the Saint Louis Cardinal with it.
Speaker 1 (25:31):
Man. And then so from the Expos you go to
the Red Sox. You played a long time in baseball.
I mean this is fascinating. Uh. You go to the
Red Sox, you played there from eighty to eighty two.
Did you like playing a fanway?
Speaker 2 (25:45):
Yeah, I would love to play a fangway. I mean
it's uh, I always hear about the green Mustard and
I and I always it was a challenge, you know,
because I say, let me see if I cannot trying
to hear home runs and here because you know, the
the left field world was too close and I had
to keep the way I hit, Who's using the old field?
(26:07):
And I did? I did my person in my first year. Well,
like I said before, that was thirty years thirty eight
years old. And uh I got that great year on
the first year and uh uh and that was amazing.
Speaker 1 (26:21):
An Tony, I have one minute left. My last question
to you. Uh, when you look back at your career, Uh,
what means more to you today? Uh? Winning those championship series,
being a World Series champion, or being a Baseball Hall
of Famer.
Speaker 2 (26:40):
Well, every every player want to be in the Hall
of Fame. I mean I I personal. I want to
be in the Hall of Fame. I think that's the
biggest thing any any player can can do. The only
few of paying there. But but but winning the two
(27:00):
War Series under the row from my tigre for the
city of Cincinnati. That's great too. That's I think. I
want to say, my who what my first I say
two the favorite two things was be a Red on
those days and a Via War Series time.
Speaker 1 (27:20):
I mean, yet, Tony, this means a lot to me.
I really appreciate your time. It was really an honor
to have you it really, it really was anytime. Thanks Tony,
take care of yourself and God blessed. Seven times All Star,
Thank you Tony. Seven time All Star, three time World
Series Champion, number twenty four, retired by the Reds and
(27:42):
a member of Cooperstown Baseball Hall of Fame. That was
the legendary Tony Perez. Until next week, Happy collecting to
all sent s compen comments
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