Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:12):
Card kidding here right come.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Hello, sports fans, sports collectors, and all hobbyists. Welcome to
The Car King Sports and Variety Show. I am your host,
the Catman, Brian Catequit aka The car King. We are
live on ABC's k m e T fourteen ninety AM
dot com. You're number one spot right here for news
and talk on the West Coast. I thank everyone for
tuning in this morning on a telephone line. I welcome
(00:37):
to the program from the nineteen eighty one eighty three
California Angels infielder and currently specialist Assistant to the President
of Baseball Operations for the Cleveland Guardians. I welcome in
infielders Steve lou Braditche Steve.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Great to have you on.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Nice to be on, brings back memories thinking of Riverside.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Yeah, and you know you're a product of Riverside. So
I figure we begin nineteen seventy seven collegiate year at
U SEE Riverside, in which you put up impressive numbers,
hitting three forty four, setting a school mark most games played,
and of course winning the Division two NCAA championship. Take
us back, how important was that year for you? And
(01:20):
is that how the Angels finally first heard of Steve
Lou Braddage.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Well, I can't speak with the Angels hearing about me,
but you know, coming from Chabot College after the seventy
five season, seventy six was a little bit of a disappointment,
I think for all of us because we thought we
had a better team and we didn't really do that well.
And going into seventy seven, we knew we had an
exceptional team and we all clicked and lucky enough to
(01:48):
play for Jack smother and Doug Smith and Jeff Pellen
are hitting coach, and you know, we learned a lot,
you know, coming down to Riverside. It was a progressive situation.
It's the first time that where it was in a
weightlifting program with baseball where it was always like the
taboo thing. And we all got better while we were there.
In seventy seven. We started out hot. We had good pitching,
(02:12):
we we had good, good chemistry. I remember we went
to University Arizona, I think early in the year and
they were coming off the Pulic World Series championship and
we went there and beat them two out of three
and felt that we were maybe not you know, talent wise,
where they were whatever, but pretty darn close, and we
felt we had a heck of a team. So we
(02:34):
carried on from there and worked our way to the Springfield,
Illinois and won the championship, playing against some good players,
and it was one of the most exciting parts of
my baseball career at that point. And the draft happened.
I wasn't drafted, but right after the draft, the Angels
called me and I went to Ida Falls and started
(02:55):
my professional career.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
So it was seventy seven in which you signed with
the team with the Angels, you were about twenty two
years old at that time, Steve. Did you have any
doubts signing with a professional team or did you want
to pursue your college career.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
Oh? Well, you know, it was after my senior year
and I want baseball was my love, and I wanted
to be in baseball, you know somehow. And when the
Angels called, you know, they were the first to call
and the only to call, and I jumped on it.
And I went up to Idaho Falls and did quite
well against younger kids mainly it was a lot more
(03:37):
a lot of high school kids or whatever. And then
I got to go to the California League in Salina.
It's probably about three weeks later, and that was a
little tougher, but it was the good experience.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Yeah, And you know, I'm looking at your minor league
stats seventy seven, seventy eight, seventy nine. It interests me
because you moved up rather quickly from rookie ball to
Triple A play for Idaho Falls like you mentioned Selena,
and then El Paso, then onto Salt Lake City. Uh,
getting to the miners as a rookie player, how is
(04:10):
the competition much different than Division two n C Double A.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
Huh?
Speaker 3 (04:15):
Yes, yes, I think first eye opening was probably when
I went to the calleague and you're planning against guys
that have been playing pro ball for a couple of years,
and the pitching was was better and every day. You know,
in college sometimes you can go face a good pitcher
one day and maybe face a couple of guys that
aren't quite as good. Where you're facing good competition every day,
(04:36):
better defense against you, and it was a challenge. And
I was lucky enough when I went to Double A.
We were lucky to be in El Paso, which is
a great place to hit, and you know, I went
there and kind of a back up infielder going there,
and the guy got hurt. I got an opportunity, and
(04:57):
you know, by the end of the year I got
up to Salt Lake City and went the post leagu championship.
So it was it was an exciting year. It was
probably was the year that really a little bit of
a springboard for my career because it was kind of
checkered up until then.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Really, yeah, I mean seventy nine was really a good
year for you at Salt Lake. You bat it three
twenty two h sixty nine ribi's one hundred and twenty
five hits and one hundred and one games played. You
actually performed much better in Triple A than you did
in Double A for El Paso.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
Well, I would say for me, the higher up I went,
I think I felt more comfortable until I got to
the big leakes, a little more comfortable because the pitchers
were throwing more strikes and they're in the zone more
where you know, when you're down a little bit lower,
they're a little while they're a little comfortably comfortable in
the box type of stuff. So you know, I think
(05:50):
with the scouting I do now, I sort of looked
back at that, and then I watched hitters that you know,
your good hitters might not be that great and a ball,
but when they get to double and triple as take
step forward.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
Yeah, so eighty eighty one comes along.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
You returned to Salt Lake City in eighty one, and
then you make the trip to the California Angels that September.
Talk about your experience your major league debut.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
How was the feeling for you?
Speaker 3 (06:21):
Well, you know, because I had a good year in
eighty one in Salt Lake and I wasn't called up
on September first, which was a little bit of a disappointing,
but I understood and actually went home for three weeks
and was doing some stuff and planning on going to
play winter ball. In the middle of October, and the
Angels had a couple of injuries with infielders. I got
(06:41):
a call with about ten days ago left in the
season that they wanted me to come down. I'm so
obviously that was quite thrilling. My first time was Pincheran,
I think in the ninth inning, and then nothing really happened.
And then we went to Chicago Oldkamiski Park, and you know,
(07:02):
I think I had about twenty at pass got a
few hits, but I remember my first at bat. We
got a two zero count and I'm sitting on a
fastball hoping he thought they got him a slider, and
I saw the ball in the dirt and it wasn't pretty.
But I would have to say, I'm probably not many
people can say this, but their first major league game.
I made the first and third out and one inning,
so it was you yeah, you know. And then and
(07:26):
the next day we faced rich Dotson, who was a
twenty game winner, but I played with him in I
Oh Falls and I think he proved a fastball for
me and I got I got a double off on
my first at bat, So it was you know, it
was it was quite an experience. You know. It was quick,
but you know, I wouldn't trade it for anything. It
(07:46):
was fun.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Yeah, And you came in as a pitch runner. That
was a tight game against the Blue Jays.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
I think you won. You won that game by one run.
If I'm not mistaken, I can't remember.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
So yeah, so eighty one, you played in over a
half a dozen games that year, entering that major league
clubhouse for the first time.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
You had some great ballplayers. I mean, you had Rock
Carew on the team. Did you get a chance to
interact with the great Rock Carew?
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Yes, well, I think you know, I've been the Major
League spring training as a non roster guy, so I
knew those guys for the most part, and you know,
and it was fast. I didn't get to know him
all that well. I think I a call back inpout
eighty three after after the eighty two season. You know,
it was much more comfortable knowing them when they knew me. So,
(08:37):
you know, yeah, I got you know, in eighty three,
I batted behind Rod Wow, probably maybe half a dozen times.
And I always remember that, you know, obviously awesome hitter.
And if I was on first base, and he always
said watch me and if I hit my bat with
my cleats, that means I want you to go and
(08:58):
be hitting a run on the side.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
Is that right?
Speaker 3 (09:03):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (09:04):
Oh, what a tremendous hitter. One of the best left
handed hitters, right, I mean of all time?
Speaker 3 (09:10):
Right, Well, I was lucky, you know, we had an
eighty three We had Reggie Jackson on the team, and
growing up in the Bay area about five miles in
the Oakland Coliseum, you know, obviously I was a fan
of Reggie Jackson and or whatever, and you know, got
to know Bobby Gritch. I think Bob Boone was probably
the one guy that I stayed in contact with more
than anybody else on that eighty three team because we
(09:34):
were both out scouting and we had this son, Aaron,
who is now the manager of the Yankees, with was
in Cleveland. So you know, I go back with Aaron
because when I was playing with the Angels in spring training,
Aaron and Brett Boone used to be out on the
field at thirteen fourteen years old take ground balls with
us and stuff. So it was quite an experience. I
(09:55):
feel privileged that I got a chance to play with
such great baseball players, not that I played that well
the big leagues, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
Well, I mean, you know, it's a dream of a lifetime.
You made it to the pros. Millions of I mean
millions of athletes can only wish for that dream. I
mean it came true for you.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
Yeah, And I you know, I think in scouting you
say there's a he's a four A player, it means
he's real good and trip awa but probably not quite
up the stuff in the big leagues, and I could
probably be one of the poster boys of being a
four A player, but I wouldn't trade anything.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
Well, let me ask you about the managers.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
I mean eighty one, the eighty one Angels, I believe
they had they had dual managers, right, it was Gene
Mark and for Grossy if I'm not mistaken.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
Yeah, Yeah, Gene Mark was there at the end and
really didn't get a whole lot of time to get
to know him. You know, I know him a little
bit from spring training and stuff. But that was you know,
like I said, that was a eight to ten day
window that at the end of the year of a
disappointing season for the Angel So it was kind of
(11:01):
playing out the string. And I got there and he
threw me in the lineup and that was that was
pretty much it.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
John McNamara in eighty three, who right, who? You know?
Obviously a manager that almost got the Red Sox championship
in eighty six. And I knew he's of the A's
when I was living in the Bay Area and growing up,
so I knew him, and you know, pleasant I think
I was probably closer to Preston Gomez, who was the
(11:33):
third base coach in Bobby Knapho's ringfield coach. You know,
those are the ones that I probably had the most
interaction with, more so than the manager John McMahon.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
And we're talking with former California Angels infielder Steve lou Bradditch,
who's with us this morning. Steve, eighty two season was
really a highlight year for you in the PCL League, right,
you let the league it hits batting average was three
thirty eight. You had a tremendous year that year. What
did you do differently in eighty two? Anything you remember
(12:09):
anything you recall?
Speaker 3 (12:10):
Oh? I think, you know, after two years of the
Triple A baseball and you get there and more experience,
and you know, Spokane playing in Salt Lake City for
a couple of years, then he go to Smokan. Spokan's
a Teller Paul Park. They end at the altitude or whatever.
It's more of a fair park. I think part of
it was I had Gary Pettis sitting in front of me,
(12:32):
and he got on a lot. He was a third
base a lot, and I saw a lot of fastballs
because when he's on first base, they didn't too many
breaking balls because he could steal. And I just think
it was just it was a good year, you know.
I first after the year, I was dude, I was
sitting in the high three hundreds, and then I started
to fade a little bit. And then in mid August,
(12:53):
you know, I actually had a chance to get two
hundred hits and I got hit by a pitch and
broke my arm, and and that was the end of
that season, which was a little bit of a disappointment,
but it is what it is.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
Yeah, I mean, like I said, three thirty eight batting average,
and I looked this up. You were playing for Spokane
at the time, and I believe, I believe Willie Davis
holds the record in average nineteen sixty he batted like
three forty six something like that. So you must be
up there, I mean, your name must be up there,
top five at least in Spokane history for batting average.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
Well, yeah, well that was the last year that's Spokane
at Triple A baseball. Now it's I think high eight
ball right now. And it was half season Northwest League
for a while, but that was the least because that
franchise after that season moved to Las Vegas and obviously
it was a smart move by the by the owner
Larry Kentuck. But you know, so after that our Triple
(13:52):
A with the Angels moved to Edmonton after that. But
it was a good year, and there's no doubt about
it was. It was a fun year. We had a
good team and like I said, offensively, it was good.
It was good. I had actually struggled. I was playing
second base almost all the time, and I struggled early
(14:14):
in the year defensively for some reason. Then got out
of that. But it was a good year, all right.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
So then you continued to play the minor leagues into
nineteen eighty six.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
I think the last year was with the Padres right
at Beaumont.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
Well, I was actually a player coach in Beaumont in
eighty five eighty six No. Six eighty six. I was
a player coach for the first half and then the
second half of the year I went to Las Vegas
and that was Larry Bowa's coach, strictly a coach in TRIAA.
(14:54):
So that was my first totally away from playing experience,
and then the next year full time into coaching and
managing for the Podress.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
All right, So talk about the transition from a player
to a coach A big difference.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
Yes, But I think I was ready for it. I knew,
you know, I didn't feel that it probably get another
chance at major league level. So you know, I always
wanted to be in baseball my whole life, and I've
been lucky. This is my forty ninth year in professional baseball,
so I've been real lucky. And I think one of
(15:31):
my strengths was knowing the game and how to play
the game and how to teach the game. So it
was a pretty easy transition. And like I said, I
was ready for it mentally, and some guys aren't ready
for it mentally. But I felt that that was my
way to the future, was to get into going from
(15:52):
an old Triple A player to a young coach. That
was pretty much how I looked at it.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
I mean, how do you keep all these players' egos
and check That must be a difficult task, you know,
some of these players have so many, so much big egos.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
Well, you get to know the player and you know
one thing about baseball. You try to be totally honest
with them, and you know you can get on each
other and you see you've got to have thick skin
when you play the game of baseball. And I think
sometime an ego is good because maybe you think you're
better than you are and you actually prove it. And
(16:28):
I think one of my downfalls when you got to
the big leagues, I wasn't sure if I really deserved
to be there, and you know, where some people might be,
it was about time I'm here, you know, I was
kind of the other way. And but you know, I've
known a lot of you know, I was close with
Tony Gwinn during my time with the Potters, and there
(16:49):
wasn't a whole lot of ego there. So you take
the good with the bad. There's you run into all
kinds of people in baseball, and for the most part,
ninety five ninety nine percent of them are real good
people who who worked hard. And you don't get to
the big leagues by being, you know, not working hard,
no matter how good you are.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
Yeah, and you know, Steves, we're on the topic of ego.
Like you mentioned Reggie Jackson. It was your last year
in eighty three, Reggie's first year with the California Angels.
Speaker 1 (17:17):
Did you notice a big ego in Reggie Jackson? You
know he's known for that.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
Oh no, not really was he was. He was nice
to me, and you know, obviously, you know, away from
the ballpark, I wasn't like hanging around with Reggie Jackson.
You know, you're pretty much with yourself for the guys
you knew on the team that were he came up with.
But you know, very professional. Obviously, he had a heck
of a career. He's a Hall of Famer, and you know,
(17:43):
it was an honor to be, you know, in the
same locker room and on the same field. Good.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
All right, So then you managed Single A Riverside. I'm
looking at your bio here. You managed a Single A
Riverside eighty nine, then Wichita ninety ninety one, and by
ninety seven you went to the Tigers organization. How did right?
How was it working? I mean, these are two different organizations.
How was your time with the Detroit.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
Yeah, I would say eighty eight was my first year manager.
Actually my first year manager was in Spokane. Back to
Spokane and we won the Northwest Championship. Riverside of the
year was so so. And then two years in Wichita
and then after that ninety two season, Joe mcelvain who
was the general manager of the party at that time,
(18:31):
gave me a call and Bruce Bochi was managing in
Riverside and a team called and wanted him to be
their Double A manager, and Jim Riegelman was in Triple A.
He wouldn't go anywhere, so Joe said, I'm not going
to lose Bruce Bochie to another organization. So from that
he offered me a professional scouting job, you know, at
(18:52):
major league level. So I thought about it. I could
have gone to other places to continue to be in
the field in uniform, but I think at that point
my life so I had met my wife now at
that point, and I didn't want to like just go
off and go to some city and wherever for seven
months and there's a major league scout. You can live
(19:14):
in a place and you're gone quite a bit, but
it's more of a real life. And I fell in
love with scouting at that point and carried that into
ninety After three years of that, I was this named
assistant general manager with the Podres and Randy Smith was
(19:34):
our general manager and then he left to go to
Detroit for the ninety sixties, and then men night I
went with Randy there and Kevin Towers, who was our
scouting director to go to go over as a general
manager of the Podras at that point. So now I
went to Detroit. Obviously, going from San Diego Detroit, people say,
oh boy, But actually my wife and I really liked
(19:57):
living in Troy with Dunton Suburbs. Is beautiful place. We
still have friends that are there. And the team didn't
perform very well over the six years that I was
assistant general manager, but I got to know a lot
of people and it was a good experience for me.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
Yeah, I mean a lot of history in the Tiger uniform.
And you know, being an assistant GM for a Major
League Baseball you must have so much pressure, Steve from
the people above you did you feel did you feel
a lot of pressure from your GM or your owners
at that time.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
Mister Elis was the owner. And when we got there,
you know, the you know that we need to rebuild,
you know, from I think the Tigers stepoint had like
one of the top salaries and all of a sudden
we had to tear it down to one of the
lowest souaries and try to rebuild. And you know, it
didn't It didn't go quite as well as what we hoped.
We had some ups and downs, mostly downs, but you know, heck,
(20:57):
you know, yeah, there's pressure. And I was also farm
director during that time, so I had, you know, so
much of my time was trying to developed players and
go that way. So you hate losing to bigig level.
But you were, you know, you were spread out pretty
thin with a lot of work. You know, if I
look back, I got you know, I got to know
Al Kline to getting the call from out Kline in
(21:21):
October asking me if I wanted to go play Oakland
Hills golf course where they play US Open and stuff
where he belongs, go play without Kline. It's like it
doesn't get much better than that.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
That's amazing. Wow, the great Alt Kline.
Speaker 3 (21:36):
Oh yeah, he's one of the one of my favorites
that I met in the game of baseball.
Speaker 1 (21:41):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:41):
They say he's such a great guy, very genuine person.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
Oh yeah, you know, he passed away right your COVID.
He didn't pass away because of COVID, but he passed away.
But he was, you know, understated, a very professional, honest
man and just one you know. O. See, you got
the big leagues and I think you get I think
I might have won a Battle championship at nineteen, but
(22:06):
he was just a true nice person. I enjoyed my
time with him, and you know, one of the highlights
of my time in Detroit.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
And I have a few minutes left with you, Steve,
I want to ask you. So you so you then
moved on to the Cleveland Guardians.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
Right, Well, so what are you currently doing now?
Speaker 3 (22:31):
Well, I'm a special assistant to Chris Antonetti. Might turn
up at the heads of our organization. I've been here
I think December first of two thousand and one when
I got here, and you know, this will be the
last place I worked in professional baseball. And you know,
I'm at seventy now. I'm probably gonna work another full
time for another year and then fail back into some
(22:53):
part time so I can get back to playing Tomrore golf,
but mainly scouting. Right now, I'm in out in the
suburb of Cleveland watching our high eight ball team in
Lake County, and uh, you know, write reports on our guys,
evaluating the whole situation. And that's on Monday, I'm going
to move into downtown Cleveland and be with our big
(23:14):
lead team for a week. So it's it's a heck
of a job. You know, there's a lot of you know,
you go go watch college players, so high school players,
some other pro teams, and you write a lot of reports,
you know, my priority players, and it's it's a it's
a good job that I would trade for him.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
Now, Steve, are you disappointed the way the Guardians are
playing this year? We were speaking about the Tigers there
first in your division.
Speaker 3 (23:40):
Yeah, uh yeah, well I would. I would say, you know,
last year was the heck of the year. You know,
we lost the Yankees in the Americle you know, Championship Series.
But we knew it was gonna be a little bit
tougher this year, and you know, when we lost one
of our better starters and then plus they are closer
(24:03):
to the gambling situation, which I don't have any feel
for or like that. But we knew it's going to
be hard to whatever number one game over five hundred,
and I think most people would say we probably overachieved
a little bit.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
Yeah, I mean, you have some good talent on the Guardians.
I mean, Jose Ramirez is unbelievable.
Speaker 3 (24:23):
Well, you know, I'm sitting here in Lake County. I
remember the first time I saw him. You know, Francisco
Lindor was playing short. Francisco Lindor was playing short and
Jose re Mirrors was playing second, and you know, a
pretty good combo. And I remember seeing Jose and I
didn't even know the kid. You know, he was didn't
sign for much money, and it's just like getting a
chance to play and you watch him play and you,
(24:45):
holy cow, this guy's good. I wish he was a
little bit bigger, but this guy's really good. And Jose's
a good leader of a team because he plays hard,
he's instinctual, plays the game the right way and by example,
and it's been a huge reason why we've had success.
Speaker 1 (25:05):
Oh absolutely. And you'r d H. Kyle Manzarto another great talent.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
Yeah. You know, we traded a pitcher two years ago
at the deadline to get him, and i'd seen him
in a ball a year before that, and you know,
we talked a lot about him when he's come out
of Washington State in the draft and we got a chance,
and we got some more guys coming behind him. But
(25:31):
you know, for his first full season the big leagues,
he's you know, he's got a chance. He had thirty
home runs, which is probably quite good. And he's the
working progress defensively at first base. But he's getting better.
Speaker 2 (25:42):
Yeah, and so and so is Bo Naylor you catch her.
I mean he's impressive as well. He looks really good.
Speaker 3 (25:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
Bo.
Speaker 3 (25:51):
Well, we know he had his brother, joshuas and we
traded Josh because he's going to be afraiding that this year.
And we got some good pitch back for him. But
you know, we'll be drafted Bow I think twenty eighteen
outside of Toronto, and he said it's up and down
(26:11):
with the bat, but he's gotten better behind the plate.
He's still young, and you know we're looking for Bo
to keep on getting better as he goes.
Speaker 1 (26:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
So listen, I really appreciated Steve. A great job by you,
and you know I wish you the.
Speaker 1 (26:26):
Best of luck.
Speaker 3 (26:28):
Well, no problem. You know I saw when it was
km ET. I remember in college that was our go
to station when it was classic rock.
Speaker 1 (26:35):
So yeah, k ets in the Hall of Fame for
prog rock. So it's you know, letters are very important.
Speaker 3 (26:42):
That was our station back in the late seventies when I.
Speaker 2 (26:46):
Was a Riverside Well, you know, we were happy to
have you have you really appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (26:52):
All right, Brian, I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (26:53):
Thanks, take care of yourself.
Speaker 2 (26:55):
Steve lou Braditch nineteen eighty one eighty three California Angels
Until next week, happy collecting tools
Card kidding here right come.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Hello, sports fans, sports collectors, and all hobbyists. Welcome to
The Car King Sports and Variety Show. I am your host,
the Catman, Brian Catequit aka The car King. We are
live on ABC's k m e T fourteen ninety AM
dot com. You're number one spot right here for news
and talk on the West Coast. I thank everyone for
tuning in this morning on a telephone line. I welcome
(00:37):
to the program from the nineteen eighty one eighty three
California Angels infielder and currently specialist Assistant to the President
of Baseball Operations for the Cleveland Guardians. I welcome in
infielders Steve lou Braditche Steve.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
Great to have you on.
Speaker 3 (00:53):
Nice to be on, brings back memories thinking of Riverside.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Yeah, and you know you're a product of Riverside. So
I figure we begin nineteen seventy seven collegiate year at
U SEE Riverside, in which you put up impressive numbers,
hitting three forty four, setting a school mark most games played,
and of course winning the Division two NCAA championship. Take
us back, how important was that year for you? And
(01:20):
is that how the Angels finally first heard of Steve
Lou Braddage.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Well, I can't speak with the Angels hearing about me,
but you know, coming from Chabot College after the seventy
five season, seventy six was a little bit of a disappointment,
I think for all of us because we thought we
had a better team and we didn't really do that well.
And going into seventy seven, we knew we had an
exceptional team and we all clicked and lucky enough to
(01:48):
play for Jack smother and Doug Smith and Jeff Pellen
are hitting coach, and you know, we learned a lot,
you know, coming down to Riverside. It was a progressive situation.
It's the first time that where it was in a
weightlifting program with baseball where it was always like the
taboo thing. And we all got better while we were there.
In seventy seven. We started out hot. We had good pitching,
(02:12):
we we had good, good chemistry. I remember we went
to University Arizona, I think early in the year and
they were coming off the Pulic World Series championship and
we went there and beat them two out of three
and felt that we were maybe not you know, talent wise,
where they were whatever, but pretty darn close, and we
felt we had a heck of a team. So we
(02:34):
carried on from there and worked our way to the Springfield,
Illinois and won the championship, playing against some good players,
and it was one of the most exciting parts of
my baseball career at that point. And the draft happened.
I wasn't drafted, but right after the draft, the Angels
called me and I went to Ida Falls and started
(02:55):
my professional career.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
So it was seventy seven in which you signed with
the team with the Angels, you were about twenty two
years old at that time, Steve. Did you have any
doubts signing with a professional team or did you want
to pursue your college career.
Speaker 3 (03:14):
Oh? Well, you know, it was after my senior year
and I want baseball was my love, and I wanted
to be in baseball, you know somehow. And when the
Angels called, you know, they were the first to call
and the only to call, and I jumped on it.
And I went up to Idaho Falls and did quite
well against younger kids mainly it was a lot more
(03:37):
a lot of high school kids or whatever. And then
I got to go to the California League in Salina.
It's probably about three weeks later, and that was a
little tougher, but it was the good experience.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Yeah, And you know, I'm looking at your minor league
stats seventy seven, seventy eight, seventy nine. It interests me
because you moved up rather quickly from rookie ball to
Triple A play for Idaho Falls like you mentioned Selena,
and then El Paso, then onto Salt Lake City. Uh,
getting to the miners as a rookie player, how is
(04:10):
the competition much different than Division two n C Double A.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
Huh?
Speaker 3 (04:15):
Yes, yes, I think first eye opening was probably when
I went to the calleague and you're planning against guys
that have been playing pro ball for a couple of years,
and the pitching was was better and every day. You know,
in college sometimes you can go face a good pitcher
one day and maybe face a couple of guys that
aren't quite as good. Where you're facing good competition every day,
(04:36):
better defense against you, and it was a challenge. And
I was lucky enough when I went to Double A.
We were lucky to be in El Paso, which is
a great place to hit, and you know, I went
there and kind of a back up infielder going there,
and the guy got hurt. I got an opportunity, and
(04:57):
you know, by the end of the year I got
up to Salt Lake City and went the post leagu championship.
So it was it was an exciting year. It was
probably was the year that really a little bit of
a springboard for my career because it was kind of
checkered up until then.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Really, yeah, I mean seventy nine was really a good
year for you at Salt Lake. You bat it three
twenty two h sixty nine ribi's one hundred and twenty
five hits and one hundred and one games played. You
actually performed much better in Triple A than you did
in Double A for El Paso.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
Well, I would say for me, the higher up I went,
I think I felt more comfortable until I got to
the big leakes, a little more comfortable because the pitchers
were throwing more strikes and they're in the zone more
where you know, when you're down a little bit lower,
they're a little while they're a little comfortably comfortable in
the box type of stuff. So you know, I think
(05:50):
with the scouting I do now, I sort of looked
back at that, and then I watched hitters that you know,
your good hitters might not be that great and a ball,
but when they get to double and triple as take
step forward.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
Yeah, so eighty eighty one comes along.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
You returned to Salt Lake City in eighty one, and
then you make the trip to the California Angels that September.
Talk about your experience your major league debut.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
How was the feeling for you?
Speaker 3 (06:21):
Well, you know, because I had a good year in
eighty one in Salt Lake and I wasn't called up
on September first, which was a little bit of a disappointing,
but I understood and actually went home for three weeks
and was doing some stuff and planning on going to
play winter ball. In the middle of October, and the
Angels had a couple of injuries with infielders. I got
(06:41):
a call with about ten days ago left in the
season that they wanted me to come down. I'm so
obviously that was quite thrilling. My first time was Pincheran,
I think in the ninth inning, and then nothing really happened.
And then we went to Chicago Oldkamiski Park, and you know,
(07:02):
I think I had about twenty at pass got a
few hits, but I remember my first at bat. We
got a two zero count and I'm sitting on a
fastball hoping he thought they got him a slider, and
I saw the ball in the dirt and it wasn't pretty.
But I would have to say, I'm probably not many
people can say this, but their first major league game.
I made the first and third out and one inning,
so it was you yeah, you know. And then and
(07:26):
the next day we faced rich Dotson, who was a
twenty game winner, but I played with him in I
Oh Falls and I think he proved a fastball for
me and I got I got a double off on
my first at bat, So it was you know, it
was it was quite an experience. You know. It was quick,
but you know, I wouldn't trade it for anything. It
(07:46):
was fun.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Yeah, And you came in as a pitch runner. That
was a tight game against the Blue Jays.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
I think you won. You won that game by one run.
If I'm not mistaken, I can't remember.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
So yeah, so eighty one, you played in over a
half a dozen games that year, entering that major league
clubhouse for the first time.
Speaker 1 (08:07):
You had some great ballplayers. I mean, you had Rock
Carew on the team. Did you get a chance to
interact with the great Rock Carew?
Speaker 3 (08:15):
Yes, well, I think you know, I've been the Major
League spring training as a non roster guy, so I
knew those guys for the most part, and you know,
and it was fast. I didn't get to know him
all that well. I think I a call back inpout
eighty three after after the eighty two season. You know,
it was much more comfortable knowing them when they knew me. So,
(08:37):
you know, yeah, I got you know, in eighty three,
I batted behind Rod Wow, probably maybe half a dozen times.
And I always remember that, you know, obviously awesome hitter.
And if I was on first base, and he always
said watch me and if I hit my bat with
my cleats, that means I want you to go and
(08:58):
be hitting a run on the side.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
Is that right?
Speaker 3 (09:03):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (09:04):
Oh, what a tremendous hitter. One of the best left
handed hitters, right, I mean of all time?
Speaker 3 (09:10):
Right, Well, I was lucky, you know, we had an
eighty three We had Reggie Jackson on the team, and
growing up in the Bay area about five miles in
the Oakland Coliseum, you know, obviously I was a fan
of Reggie Jackson and or whatever, and you know, got
to know Bobby Gritch. I think Bob Boone was probably
the one guy that I stayed in contact with more
than anybody else on that eighty three team because we
(09:34):
were both out scouting and we had this son, Aaron,
who is now the manager of the Yankees, with was
in Cleveland. So you know, I go back with Aaron
because when I was playing with the Angels in spring training,
Aaron and Brett Boone used to be out on the
field at thirteen fourteen years old take ground balls with
us and stuff. So it was quite an experience. I
(09:55):
feel privileged that I got a chance to play with
such great baseball players, not that I played that well
the big leagues, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
Well, I mean, you know, it's a dream of a lifetime.
You made it to the pros. Millions of I mean
millions of athletes can only wish for that dream. I
mean it came true for you.
Speaker 3 (10:14):
Yeah, And I you know, I think in scouting you
say there's a he's a four A player, it means
he's real good and trip awa but probably not quite
up the stuff in the big leagues, and I could
probably be one of the poster boys of being a
four A player, but I wouldn't trade anything.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
Well, let me ask you about the managers.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
I mean eighty one, the eighty one Angels, I believe
they had they had dual managers, right, it was Gene
Mark and for Grossy if I'm not mistaken.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
Yeah, Yeah, Gene Mark was there at the end and
really didn't get a whole lot of time to get
to know him. You know, I know him a little
bit from spring training and stuff. But that was you know,
like I said, that was a eight to ten day
window that at the end of the year of a
disappointing season for the Angel So it was kind of
(11:01):
playing out the string. And I got there and he
threw me in the lineup and that was that was
pretty much it.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:09):
John McNamara in eighty three, who right, who? You know?
Obviously a manager that almost got the Red Sox championship
in eighty six. And I knew he's of the A's
when I was living in the Bay Area and growing up,
so I knew him, and you know, pleasant I think
I was probably closer to Preston Gomez, who was the
(11:33):
third base coach in Bobby Knapho's ringfield coach. You know,
those are the ones that I probably had the most
interaction with, more so than the manager John McMahon.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
And we're talking with former California Angels infielder Steve lou Bradditch,
who's with us this morning. Steve, eighty two season was
really a highlight year for you in the PCL League, right,
you let the league it hits batting average was three
thirty eight. You had a tremendous year that year. What
did you do differently in eighty two? Anything you remember
(12:09):
anything you recall?
Speaker 3 (12:10):
Oh? I think, you know, after two years of the
Triple A baseball and you get there and more experience,
and you know, Spokane playing in Salt Lake City for
a couple of years, then he go to Smokan. Spokan's
a Teller Paul Park. They end at the altitude or whatever.
It's more of a fair park. I think part of
it was I had Gary Pettis sitting in front of me,
(12:32):
and he got on a lot. He was a third
base a lot, and I saw a lot of fastballs
because when he's on first base, they didn't too many
breaking balls because he could steal. And I just think
it was just it was a good year, you know.
I first after the year, I was dude, I was
sitting in the high three hundreds, and then I started
to fade a little bit. And then in mid August,
(12:53):
you know, I actually had a chance to get two
hundred hits and I got hit by a pitch and
broke my arm, and and that was the end of
that season, which was a little bit of a disappointment,
but it is what it is.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
Yeah, I mean, like I said, three thirty eight batting average,
and I looked this up. You were playing for Spokane
at the time, and I believe, I believe Willie Davis
holds the record in average nineteen sixty he batted like
three forty six something like that. So you must be
up there, I mean, your name must be up there,
top five at least in Spokane history for batting average.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
Well, yeah, well that was the last year that's Spokane
at Triple A baseball. Now it's I think high eight
ball right now. And it was half season Northwest League
for a while, but that was the least because that
franchise after that season moved to Las Vegas and obviously
it was a smart move by the by the owner
Larry Kentuck. But you know, so after that our Triple
(13:52):
A with the Angels moved to Edmonton after that. But
it was a good year, and there's no doubt about
it was. It was a fun year. We had a
good team and like I said, offensively, it was good.
It was good. I had actually struggled. I was playing
second base almost all the time, and I struggled early
(14:14):
in the year defensively for some reason. Then got out
of that. But it was a good year, all right.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
So then you continued to play the minor leagues into
nineteen eighty six.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
I think the last year was with the Padres right
at Beaumont.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
Well, I was actually a player coach in Beaumont in
eighty five eighty six No. Six eighty six. I was
a player coach for the first half and then the
second half of the year I went to Las Vegas
and that was Larry Bowa's coach, strictly a coach in TRIAA.
(14:54):
So that was my first totally away from playing experience,
and then the next year full time into coaching and
managing for the Podress.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
All right, So talk about the transition from a player
to a coach A big difference.
Speaker 3 (15:10):
Yes, But I think I was ready for it. I knew,
you know, I didn't feel that it probably get another
chance at major league level. So you know, I always
wanted to be in baseball my whole life, and I've
been lucky. This is my forty ninth year in professional baseball,
so I've been real lucky. And I think one of
(15:31):
my strengths was knowing the game and how to play
the game and how to teach the game. So it
was a pretty easy transition. And like I said, I
was ready for it mentally, and some guys aren't ready
for it mentally. But I felt that that was my
way to the future, was to get into going from
(15:52):
an old Triple A player to a young coach. That
was pretty much how I looked at it.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
I mean, how do you keep all these players' egos
and check That must be a difficult task, you know,
some of these players have so many, so much big egos.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
Well, you get to know the player and you know
one thing about baseball. You try to be totally honest
with them, and you know you can get on each
other and you see you've got to have thick skin
when you play the game of baseball. And I think
sometime an ego is good because maybe you think you're
better than you are and you actually prove it. And
(16:28):
I think one of my downfalls when you got to
the big leagues, I wasn't sure if I really deserved
to be there, and you know, where some people might be,
it was about time I'm here, you know, I was
kind of the other way. And but you know, I've
known a lot of you know, I was close with
Tony Gwinn during my time with the Potters, and there
(16:49):
wasn't a whole lot of ego there. So you take
the good with the bad. There's you run into all
kinds of people in baseball, and for the most part,
ninety five ninety nine percent of them are real good
people who who worked hard. And you don't get to
the big leagues by being, you know, not working hard,
no matter how good you are.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
Yeah, and you know, Steves, we're on the topic of ego.
Like you mentioned Reggie Jackson. It was your last year
in eighty three, Reggie's first year with the California Angels.
Speaker 1 (17:17):
Did you notice a big ego in Reggie Jackson? You
know he's known for that.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
Oh no, not really was he was. He was nice
to me, and you know, obviously, you know, away from
the ballpark, I wasn't like hanging around with Reggie Jackson.
You know, you're pretty much with yourself for the guys
you knew on the team that were he came up with.
But you know, very professional. Obviously, he had a heck
of a career. He's a Hall of Famer, and you know,
(17:43):
it was an honor to be, you know, in the
same locker room and on the same field. Good.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
All right, So then you managed Single A Riverside. I'm
looking at your bio here. You managed a Single A
Riverside eighty nine, then Wichita ninety ninety one, and by
ninety seven you went to the Tigers organization. How did right?
How was it working? I mean, these are two different organizations.
How was your time with the Detroit.
Speaker 3 (18:10):
Yeah, I would say eighty eight was my first year manager.
Actually my first year manager was in Spokane. Back to
Spokane and we won the Northwest Championship. Riverside of the
year was so so. And then two years in Wichita
and then after that ninety two season, Joe mcelvain who
was the general manager of the party at that time,
(18:31):
gave me a call and Bruce Bochi was managing in
Riverside and a team called and wanted him to be
their Double A manager, and Jim Riegelman was in Triple A.
He wouldn't go anywhere, so Joe said, I'm not going
to lose Bruce Bochie to another organization. So from that
he offered me a professional scouting job, you know, at
(18:52):
major league level. So I thought about it. I could
have gone to other places to continue to be in
the field in uniform, but I think at that point
my life so I had met my wife now at
that point, and I didn't want to like just go
off and go to some city and wherever for seven
months and there's a major league scout. You can live
(19:14):
in a place and you're gone quite a bit, but
it's more of a real life. And I fell in
love with scouting at that point and carried that into
ninety After three years of that, I was this named
assistant general manager with the Podres and Randy Smith was
(19:34):
our general manager and then he left to go to
Detroit for the ninety sixties, and then men night I
went with Randy there and Kevin Towers, who was our
scouting director to go to go over as a general
manager of the Podras at that point. So now I
went to Detroit. Obviously, going from San Diego Detroit, people say,
oh boy, But actually my wife and I really liked
(19:57):
living in Troy with Dunton Suburbs. Is beautiful place. We
still have friends that are there. And the team didn't
perform very well over the six years that I was
assistant general manager, but I got to know a lot
of people and it was a good experience for me.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
Yeah, I mean a lot of history in the Tiger uniform.
And you know, being an assistant GM for a Major
League Baseball you must have so much pressure, Steve from
the people above you did you feel did you feel
a lot of pressure from your GM or your owners
at that time.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
Mister Elis was the owner. And when we got there,
you know, the you know that we need to rebuild,
you know, from I think the Tigers stepoint had like
one of the top salaries and all of a sudden
we had to tear it down to one of the
lowest souaries and try to rebuild. And you know, it
didn't It didn't go quite as well as what we hoped.
We had some ups and downs, mostly downs, but you know, heck,
(20:57):
you know, yeah, there's pressure. And I was also farm
director during that time, so I had, you know, so
much of my time was trying to developed players and
go that way. So you hate losing to bigig level.
But you were, you know, you were spread out pretty
thin with a lot of work. You know, if I
look back, I got you know, I got to know
Al Kline to getting the call from out Kline in
(21:21):
October asking me if I wanted to go play Oakland
Hills golf course where they play US Open and stuff
where he belongs, go play without Kline. It's like it
doesn't get much better than that.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
That's amazing. Wow, the great Alt Kline.
Speaker 3 (21:36):
Oh yeah, he's one of the one of my favorites
that I met in the game of baseball.
Speaker 1 (21:41):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:41):
They say he's such a great guy, very genuine person.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
Oh yeah, you know, he passed away right your COVID.
He didn't pass away because of COVID, but he passed away.
But he was, you know, understated, a very professional, honest
man and just one you know. O. See, you got
the big leagues and I think you get I think
I might have won a Battle championship at nineteen, but
(22:06):
he was just a true nice person. I enjoyed my
time with him, and you know, one of the highlights
of my time in Detroit.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
And I have a few minutes left with you, Steve,
I want to ask you. So you so you then
moved on to the Cleveland Guardians.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
Right, Well, so what are you currently doing now?
Speaker 3 (22:31):
Well, I'm a special assistant to Chris Antonetti. Might turn
up at the heads of our organization. I've been here
I think December first of two thousand and one when
I got here, and you know, this will be the
last place I worked in professional baseball. And you know,
I'm at seventy now. I'm probably gonna work another full
time for another year and then fail back into some
(22:53):
part time so I can get back to playing Tomrore golf,
but mainly scouting. Right now, I'm in out in the
suburb of Cleveland watching our high eight ball team in
Lake County, and uh, you know, write reports on our guys,
evaluating the whole situation. And that's on Monday, I'm going
to move into downtown Cleveland and be with our big
(23:14):
lead team for a week. So it's it's a heck
of a job. You know, there's a lot of you know,
you go go watch college players, so high school players,
some other pro teams, and you write a lot of reports,
you know, my priority players, and it's it's a it's
a good job that I would trade for him.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
Now, Steve, are you disappointed the way the Guardians are
playing this year? We were speaking about the Tigers there
first in your division.
Speaker 3 (23:40):
Yeah, uh yeah, well I would. I would say, you know,
last year was the heck of the year. You know,
we lost the Yankees in the Americle you know, Championship Series.
But we knew it was gonna be a little bit
tougher this year, and you know, when we lost one
of our better starters and then plus they are closer
(24:03):
to the gambling situation, which I don't have any feel
for or like that. But we knew it's going to
be hard to whatever number one game over five hundred,
and I think most people would say we probably overachieved
a little bit.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
Yeah, I mean, you have some good talent on the Guardians.
I mean, Jose Ramirez is unbelievable.
Speaker 3 (24:23):
Well, you know, I'm sitting here in Lake County. I
remember the first time I saw him. You know, Francisco
Lindor was playing short. Francisco Lindor was playing short and
Jose re Mirrors was playing second, and you know, a
pretty good combo. And I remember seeing Jose and I
didn't even know the kid. You know, he was didn't
sign for much money, and it's just like getting a
chance to play and you watch him play and you,
(24:45):
holy cow, this guy's good. I wish he was a
little bit bigger, but this guy's really good. And Jose's
a good leader of a team because he plays hard,
he's instinctual, plays the game the right way and by example,
and it's been a huge reason why we've had success.
Speaker 1 (25:05):
Oh absolutely. And you'r d H. Kyle Manzarto another great talent.
Speaker 3 (25:11):
Yeah. You know, we traded a pitcher two years ago
at the deadline to get him, and i'd seen him
in a ball a year before that, and you know,
we talked a lot about him when he's come out
of Washington State in the draft and we got a chance,
and we got some more guys coming behind him. But
(25:31):
you know, for his first full season the big leagues,
he's you know, he's got a chance. He had thirty
home runs, which is probably quite good. And he's the
working progress defensively at first base. But he's getting better.
Speaker 2 (25:42):
Yeah, and so and so is Bo Naylor you catch her.
I mean he's impressive as well. He looks really good.
Speaker 3 (25:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (25:50):
Bo.
Speaker 3 (25:51):
Well, we know he had his brother, joshuas and we
traded Josh because he's going to be afraiding that this year.
And we got some good pitch back for him. But
you know, we'll be drafted Bow I think twenty eighteen
outside of Toronto, and he said it's up and down
(26:11):
with the bat, but he's gotten better behind the plate.
He's still young, and you know we're looking for Bo
to keep on getting better as he goes.
Speaker 1 (26:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
So listen, I really appreciated Steve. A great job by you,
and you know I wish you the.
Speaker 1 (26:26):
Best of luck.
Speaker 3 (26:28):
Well, no problem. You know I saw when it was
km ET. I remember in college that was our go
to station when it was classic rock.
Speaker 1 (26:35):
So yeah, k ets in the Hall of Fame for
prog rock. So it's you know, letters are very important.
Speaker 3 (26:42):
That was our station back in the late seventies when I.
Speaker 2 (26:46):
Was a Riverside Well, you know, we were happy to
have you have you really appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (26:52):
All right, Brian, I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (26:53):
Thanks, take care of yourself.
Speaker 2 (26:55):
Steve lou Braditch nineteen eighty one eighty three California Angels
Until next week, happy collecting tools
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Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!