“Last year it was a shock to my system because I’d been in the major-league camp for a month,” he said. “I’d gotten spoiled living in the lap of that kind of luxury, so it was tough walking in there. This year, I’ll be there from day one, so I don’t think it will bother me.
“In fact I’m looking forward to it.”
And so it was that on March 1, the Elarton family loaded up the car to make the cross-country trip to Florida. They had several days before Scott had to report, so they took their time, stopping often during the 1,794-mile journey. Their ultimate destination wasn’t so much Fort Myers as it was Baseball World.
“I know I’m going to walk into the clubhouse and there will be a locker with my name on it and a uniform,” Elarton said just before heading south and east once again. “I’m still a baseball player. Honestly, I can’t think of anything much better than that.”
In a very real sense, he spoke for everyone in the game: major leaguer, minor leaguer, independent leaguer. Player, manager, coach, scout, umpire, broadcaster, writer, or fan.
They all have one thing in common: they love the game.
Before they take off their uniforms for the final time, they find out a truth that was eloquently captured in the words of longtime pitcher Jim Bouton in the closing words of his seminal book, Ball Four.
“You see,” Bouton wrote, “you spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball and in the end it turns out that it was the other way around all the time.”
Truer words were never written.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The best thing about doing a book on life in Triple-A baseball is that your job every day is to go to a ballpark.
The second best thing is that when you walk into a clubhouse, people don’t instantly look at you with narrowed “What are you doing here?” eyes, as often happens in the major leagues. For a reporter, being sent to the minors isn’t all bad. In fact, it can be great fun. At least it was for me.
Almost without exception, the people I encountered during the 2012 season, beginning in spring training right through the Triple-A national championship game in September, were receptive and patient. When I had to go back for second or third interviews—or even postseason interviews—they were more than willing to sit and talk. Not one player complained about being asked to talk about life as a minor leaguer, even those who had spent a lot of time as major leaguers.
And so, as is always the case, I have a long list of people to thank. First, the fourteen managers in the International League: Arnie Beyeler, Joel Skinner, Dave Miley, Dean Treanor, Ryne Sandberg, Wally Backman, Gene Glynn, Tony Beasley, Ron Johnson, Dave Brundage, David Bell, Phil Nevin, and Mike Sarbaugh. Special thanks to Charlie Montoyo, who was one of my Triple-A tour guides beginning in February.
Thanks also to Randy Mobley and Chris Sprague in the IL office, who were both available for every ridiculous question I posed all season long. Thanks also to Mike Rizzo and major-league managers Tony La Russa, Buck Showalter, Joe Maddon, and Davey Johnson, who took time to talk to me about their minor-league experiences and some of their minor leaguers.
As you’ll quickly figure out while reading this book, I spoke to a long list of people but chose a core group of nine to make the central focus of the book. Those nine were Charlie Montoyo, Ron Johnson, Scott Podsednik, Chris Schwinden, Nate McLouth, Brett Tomko, Scott Elarton, John Lindsey, and Mark Lollo. I thank them especially not only for dealing with me during the lengthy interviews I did with them at the outset, but for handling subsequent requests and phone calls with both patience and humor.
There were many, many others I spent time with. They include the great Dave Rosenfield and his general manager, Joe; radio play-by-play men Matt Swierad and Steve Hyder; Scott Strickland, the grounds crew/weather guru of Durham; and the following players in absolutely no order at all: Buddy Carlyle, J. C. Boscan, Evan Longoria, Sam Fuld, Brooks Conrad, Craig Albernaz, Pete Orr, Pat Misch, Tug Hulett, Chris Giménez, Steve Vogt, Jesús Feliciano, Rich Thompson, Chris Dickerson, John Maine, Doug Bernier, Corey Miller, Nick Evans, Danny Worth, Jeff Larish, Danny Dorn, Adam Loewen, Frank Herrmann, Dontrelle Willis, John Lannan, Zach Duke, Dan Johnson, Bryce Harper, and Conor Jackson.
On the publishing side I want to thank my new editors at Doubleday, Jason Kaufman and Bill Thomas, who have treated me like gold since our first meeting. Thanks also to Jason’s assistant, Rob Bloom. I hope this will be our first of many projects together. As always, I couldn’t possibly get a book done without my agent, Esther Newberg, who should love this book since a Red Sox farm team ended up as champions of the International League. Thanks also to her remarkably efficient assistant Zoe Sandler, and to Liz Farrell for putting up with me on the audio side. Thanks also at ICM to Kari Stuart, Lyle Morgan, and my legal protector John Delaney.
And, of course, friends and colleagues: Keith and Barbie Drum; Jackson Diehl and Jean Halperin; Ed and Lois Brennan; Rick Brewer; David and Linda Maraniss; Lexie Verdon and Steve Barr; Jill and Holland Mickle; Terry and Patti Hanson; Doug and Beth Doughty; Bob and Anne DeStefano; Bud Collins; Wes Seeley; Andy Dolich; Pete Alfano; David Teel; Stan Kasten; John Dever; Gary Cohen; Beth Shumway-Brown; Beth Sherry-Downes; Pete Van Poppel; Omar Nelson; Fran DaVinney; Billy Stone; Mike Werteen; Chris Knoche; Phil Hoffmann; Joe Speed; Jack Hecker; Gordon Austin; Eddie Tapscott; Steve “Moose” Stirling; Tiffany Cantelupe; Anthony and Kristen Noto; Pete Teeley; Bob Zurfluh; Vivian Thompson; Phil Hochberg; Al Hunt; Wayne Zell; Mike and David Sanders; Eddie Evans; Bob Whitmore; Tony and Karril Kornheiser; Mark Maske; Ken and Nancy Denlinger; Governor Harry Hughes; General Steve Sachs and Tim (no title) Maloney; Matt Rennie; Matt Vita; Matt Bonesteel (you cannot be an editor in the sports department at the Washington Post unless your name is Matt); Kathy Orton; Camille Powell; Chris Ryan; Harry Kantarian; Jim Rome; Travis Rodgers; Jason Stewart; Mike Purkey; Bob Edwards; Tom and Mary Jane Goldman; Mike Gastineau; Dick and Joanie (Hoops) Weiss; Jim O’Connell; Bob and Elaine Ryan; Frank Hannigan; Geoff Russell; Jerry Tarde; Mike O’Malley; Jaime Diaz; Larry Dorman; Jeff D’Alessio; Marsha Edwards; Jay and Natalie Edwards; Len and Gwyn Edwards-Dieterle; Chris Edwards and John Cutcher and, of course, Aunt Joan; Bill Leahey; Andy North; John Cook; Paul Goydos; Steve Bisciotti; Pam Lund; Kevin Byrne; Dick Cass; Mike Muehr; Martha Brendle; Joe Durant; Gary “Grits” Crandall; Drew Miceli; Bob Low; Steve Flesch; Brian Henninger; and Tom and Hilary Watson. Thanks again to Jake Pleet for the miracle we all witnessed on June 4 of 2012.
Thanks also to the folks who in the last couple of years have made me believe you can enjoy working on TV. At the Golf Channel: Tom Stathakes; Molly Solomon; Courtney Holt; Joe Riley; Dave Taylor; Kristi Setaro; Matt Hegarty; Eric Rutledge; David Gross; Ben Elisila; Alan Robison; Jon Steele; Brandon Ratay; Frank Nobilo; Brandel Chamblee; Rich Lerner; Whit Watson; Tim Rosaforte; Gary Williams; Kelly Tilghman; Todd Lewis, and Kraig Kann—who is now with the LPGA. At Comcast: Joe Yasharoff, Rebecca Schulte; Frank Crisafulli; Larry Duvall; Chick Hernandez; Jill Sorenson; Julie Donaldson; Brian Mitchell; Tim McDonough; and Kim Foley, who attempts to achieve the impossible every week.
And my new colleagues and friends at CBS Sports Radio: Andrew Bogusch (Ranger boy); Max Herman; Peter Bellotti; Eric (the intern) Spitz; Chris Oliverio; Dan Mason, and Kaitlyn Richard. Thanks also to Steve Cohen, Steve Torre, Chris Russo, Bruce Murray, and Tom Kress, who took me in for eight months at SiriusXM.
Also, the usual suspects in different sports: At the USGA: David Fay (ex-exec director); Mike Davis; Mike Butz; Mary Lopuszynski; Pete Kowalski; Suzanne Colson; Amy Watters; and Craig Smith (still). Frank and Jaymie Bussey are unique and extraordinary. At the PGA Tour: Marty Caffey; Henry Hughes (sigh, still); Sid Wilson (same); Joe Schuchmann; Todd Budnik; Dave Senko; Doug Milne; Chris Reimer; Colin Murray; John Bush; Laura Hill; James Cramer; Joe Chemyz; and Phil Stambaugh. Special mention to Dave Lancer and Ward Clayton and, as always, to Denise Taylor and Guy Sheipers. At the PGA of America: Joe Steranka (emeritus); Julius Mason; and Bob Denney.
The rules guys—of course: Mark Russell (and my favorite Republicans, Laura and Alex Russell, without ever bringing up the election results); Jon Brendle, Steve Rintoul, Slugger White (to whom I will bring up the election results); Robbie Ware and Mike Shea. Special thanks to John Paramour, who always keeps me sober. (Sort of).
Basketball people: David Stern; Tim Frank; Brian McIntyre; Rick Barnes; Mike Brey; Jeff Jones; Lefty and Joyce Driesell; Seth and Brad Greenberg; Fran Dunphy; Jim Calhoun; Jim Boeheim; Brad Stevens; Shaka Smart; Billy Donovan; Larry Shyatt; Tom Brennan; Tommy Amaker; Dave and Lynne Odom; Jim Larranaga; Mack McCarthy; Pat Flannery; Ralph Willard; Jim Crews; Zach Spiker; Emmett Davis; Billy Lange; Fran O’Hanlon (still the last coach standing). Frank Sullivan was the best, is the best, and always will be the best.
I wish I didn’t know so many doctors but glad I know the ones that I do: Eddie McDevitt; Dean Taylor (saved only by Ann); Bob Arciero and Gus Mazzocca, not to mention Tim Kelly; Steve Boyce; and Joe Vassallo.
The Damon Runyon of hoops—Howard Garfinkel; and the only honest man in the gym (now and always), Tom Konchalski.
The swimming knuckleheads with whom I hope to swim again someday soon: Jason Crist; Jeff Roddin; Mark Pugliese; Clay F. Britt; Wally (no one has a Wally) Dicks; Paul Doremus; Danny Pick; Erik Osborne; John Craig; Doug Chestnut; Peter Ward; Penny Bates; Carole Kammel; Mary Dowling; Margot Pettijohn; Tom Denes; A. J. Block; Pete Lawler; and (three-timer) Mike Fell.
The China Doll/Shanghai Village gang lives on, even though I am an infrequent visitor: Aubre Jones; Jack Kvancz; Chris Wallace; Arnie (“the Stud Horse”) Heft; Stanley Copeland; Reid Collins; Harry Huang; George Solomon; Geoff Kaplan; Jeff Gemunder; and Murray Lieberman. Pete Dowling, Bob Campbell, Joe McKeown, Morgan Wootten; and Ric McPherson will always be members, even in absentia. Zang, Hymie, and, of course, Red remain absent friends always remembered fondly.
The Rio Gang continues to brawl constantly over politics and the quality of basketball being played at the alma mater: Tate Armstrong, Mark Alarie, Clay Buckley, and Terry Chili. For the record: they’re right, I’m left, and they’re wrong.
The Feinstein Advisory Board: Drummer Frank Mastrandrea, Wes Seeley, and Dave Kindred. I still hear Bill Brill’s voice in my head every day.
Last, never least, my family: Bobby, Jennifer, Matthew, and Brian; Margaret, David, Ethan, and Ben. Marlynn, Cheryl, and Marcia. And, of course, Christine, who somehow puts up with me (I honestly don’t know how); Danny, Brigid, and the world’s smartest, prettiest, cutest toddler, Jane Blythe Feinstein.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
John Feinstein is a columnist for The Washington Post, Golf World, and Golf Digest. He also hosts a daily radio show on the CBS Sports Radio Network, is a contributor to the Golf Channel, and is an essayist for CBS Sports Television.
Where Nobody Knows Your Name: Life In the Minor Leagues of Baseball Page 37