Love Pudge! He pretty much saved the Tigers when he signed here back in 2004. He helped take them from a 119 loss season to the World Series 3 years later. He will always be a special player in Detroit.
I was an adult through all of Pudge's career. But Nolan Ryan? I was 3 when he made is MLB debut, and 30 when he retired. Great childhood and young adult nostalgia there for me.
I was a huge rangers fan as a kid even though i was from NJ and couldnt watch any games. Nolan Ryan was my favorite player ever. I remember saying to my dadthat i was shocked that the old man won and he said "I sure as hell wouldnt want to fight a 50 year old Texan who throws 100 mph".
My favorite Pudge stat: legendary pitchers whose last (Nolan Ryan) and first (Stephen Strasburg) pitches he caught won World Series games 50 years apart.
@@travisp5747 Pudge himself played for about 20 years, op is pointing out that Pudge caught both Ryan (who pitched in the 1969 World Series with the Mets) and Strasburg (who pitched in the 2019 World Series with the Nationals), who each appeared in the World Series 50 years apart.
One of the greats!! This guy changed the way “ Catcher” was approached, perceived, and played. A game changer. He had it all really. But that arm was a CANNON!!!
that was a fun Rangers team and a good group of starting pitchers, it was always the bullpen that let them down. Kevin Brown was still kind of a head case back then, and Kenny Rogers hadn't quite bloomed yet either. Bobby Witt was wildly inconsistent. Those were some great summers listening to WBAP with Mark Holtz and Eric Nadel
Ventura said when he took his first few steps towards Ryan, he was saying to himself “What am I doing”. If that’s your mindset, it’s not going to end well.
"Old man noogies," so much disrespect. He whipped him with his pitching hand and remained in the game after disposing of Ventura and finished the inning
That followed Robin Ventura for the rest of his career, he'll it will follow him forever. He was a young star and his reputation never really recovered.
I took a trip to the D/FW area back in the 70's with family. We passed Arlington Stadium a few times. It was July, so i wish my dad woulda taken me to a Rangers game. I was into the Dodgers and Angels, as we are Californians, but i woulda loved to take in a game while in the area.
First game I ever saw was at The Ballpark in Arlington against the yankees with my dad and my little brother when I was about 6 and I've saw several there as a kid and a couple at the new stadium Go Rangers
At this point ... over a decade later and the Cubs finally won it all ... if the average baseball fan with knowledge of the Bartman story ran into him, 90% would say, "I am so happy for you the Cubs won, and I am sorry that baseball did that to your life." As we should. Also ... to hell with Alou for basically pointing at Bartman and saying "his fault". Go home and count your money Moises.
Rich Eisen and all these sports journalists are the problem. Listen to Rich’s tone when says “I got it....” Knowing what they did, ESPN, was wrong and he’s not sorry for it
@@sococomfort22s34 yeah he was solid in those areas, plus his arm to 2nd- but controlling pitches from all time greats for 30 years is incredible. If you've ever catched, you know
Ryan Express was a rancher who wrestled many a cattle and used to throw a football 🏈 to warm up , he was throwing 90’s mph when he was 42 years old 7 no hitters a record that will be like DiMaggios 56 game hit streak
The rancher wrestling cattle story sounds good, but I have friends & cousins that grew up & know Nolan Ryan, I don’t think he’s ever wrestled a cow. By the way, one of my cousins & one of my ex-co workers that went to school with Nolan were both rodeo bull riders, they should know. I doubt if he would have risked his career, he’s too smart.
As a Tiger fan I was really bummed when they traded him away - when they were only 5 games out of first in division. The GM(Dumb browski) essentially gave up that year. Jim Leyland even said he and Pudge had butted heads but Jim said it wasn't that bad and he held no grudge. For a crusty old manager like him that is almost a compliment.
Understand that! I’m a lifelong Astros fan, and was so pissed off when they let Nolan Ryan go to the Rangers. He could have finished in Houston and gone to the Hall of Fame in as an Astro; not a Ranger.
He's already there. He got in right away. There was no debate on that one. We all saw it. Best catcher since Bench and probably as good as Bench and Bench was #1 all-time.
@Dartgame 340 Thats your opinion. For me Ivan Rodriguez is and he has 3 more golden gloves and played in a different era too with way stronger guys than when Bench played.
Ramon Colon I agree with Ramon Colon...Yogi played before the game was fully integrated so he doesn’t count - and Johnny Bench wasn’t the defensive catcher that Pudge was.
If you stole second with Nolan Ryan pitching 108 mph and Pudge throwing at least 90 back to second you would have been as mythical as sasquatch and the toothfairy
I love the way Pudge says about the Ryan Ventura incident as an "accident". 🤣I use the same word to describe a trauma I had when I got robbed and stabbed in the head.
@@scottdavis4388 actually Pudge was a better all around hitter than Bench except for power; almost a career 300 hitter, with I believe close to 3000 hits and over 300 Homer. Pudge wasn't no slouch with the lumber. also about 500 doubles and the little guy was.very durable Bench beats him in power, close second in defense and that's about it.
Meanwhile, the original question: “Who’s the best player you played with?” never got followed up on and never got answered. That’s some great interviewing skills you got there, Eisen.
@@TEAMGETHELP Dude, why would he say Cabrera? They played together for half a season. Cabrera wasn't even a full time player at the time. Pudge responded with Juan Gonzalez because they played together for a decade. Juan was the best player in baseball for multiple seasons. Wtf are YOU thinking?
So fortunate in 96 to watch this BA play and got some signatures. Johnny Oates, Juan Gonzales, Rusty Greer and many other greats. Nolan Ryan son lived in Alaska for a little while and played ball up here. Tiny Alaska/Texas Rangers link with that little bit of history. Good to see pudge looking good brother.
I remember WAAAY back, his time with the Rangers, Pudge didn't like to do interviews cause his English was not as polished as it is in this interview. He avoided the mic
Ryan said that he was at the bottom of the pile and felt like he was suffocating. He recalls a big strong arm reaching down to lift him up, and it was Bo’s.
People would love more behind the scenes stories of all sports. Be nice if more players would tour and tell them. Added income to former players. Careers don’t last long in most sports but the stories will be forever. .
Pushed Rodriguez used to drive a Porsche 911 Turbo in those days when he was playing with the Rangers. I used to see him regularly tearing it up in that car... Copeland Rd.
Met Pudge in Arlington at the Parks Mall when I was 12 years old. At the time he was by far my favorite MLB player as I was from the area and watched him play everyday. Couldn’t have been more disappointed. He was very mean to me and his wife actually apologized for his behavior then started yelling at him in Spanish. I’ve never liked him since.
Sounds like he was having a bad day and as much as it sucked and must have been devastating to a 12yo he is still human and we all have bad days. I’m sure if he knew or remembered that happeneinv and knew how much he upset you he would have went out of his way to make it right. I’ve know him a long time. I’m friends with his family and I’ve only met him a few times I have heard stories about him from his family and that doesn’t sound like him at all.
I was young cat when Ventura charged the mound. That beatdown reminded me to respect all men, even the old dudes. You never know, and it's best not to test it unless you really want the smoke as they say nowadays.
