On this very day 40 years ago, The Houston Astrodome would play host to the 57th annual All-Star Game. Royals Second Baseman Frank White would ultimately score the deciding run that night and he’s our featured guest at The Crawfish Boxes.
Q: You were no stranger to All-Star Games, and your career spanned eras to a degree. What were those games like?
A: Those All-Star Games were unbelievable. In the 70’s, you were able to see Willie Mays and play against Hank Aaron and Clemente and all of those guys.
Frank Robinson was my favorite player and watching them go into the Hall of Fame was inspiring. I still think about it, those guys were all so impressive.
Q: Your final ASG, would be on this day in 1986. You sure made it count! What do you remember about that game?
A: (laughs) I didn’t start, I came in late and pinch hit. Mike Scott was pretty much unhittable that year, and he had started the inning by striking out Cal Ripken and Jessie Barfield ahead of me. He had me down 0-2 in the count and the Dome started to come alive with 45,000 people standing up anticipating a third strikeout. I
was hoping he’d try to sneak a fastball inside, often at that time when a pitcher had you down in the count, they’d throw you that pitch inside and he happened to miss. I was able to hit a homerun. That was something to make that happen.
Q: Did you know it was gone when you made contact?
A: You know, when I first hit it, I didn’t think it was going to go out. The Astrodome was huge of course, a tough place to hit homeruns. I was glad it sailed over the fence.
Q: Was it extra special for you to be able to play for your manager Dick Howser in that game?
A: Without question. I loved playing for him.
He was a great manager, especially if you were a veteran player because he had spent most of his time previously with the Yankees and they didn’t have a ton of younger players. They always had established guys who were ready to play, just like us. He knew how to handle older guys.
I put it all together in 1985 and Dick let me bat fourth in all seven games of that World Series since we couldn’t use the DH, and I led the Series in RBIs.
Q: When you see All-Star Games in this modern era, why doesn’t it mean as much?
A: I think when we played the games meant more from a competitive standpoint. Guys played to win. Today there’s the home field advantage to justify it, but it’s not like when Pete Rose ran over Ray Fosse. There was so much intensity back then. It’s more of a show now, it’s really for the fans.
Guys are being interviewed while they’re on the field or in between innings, it’s more of a show and it’s not as physical of a game as it used to be.
Q: We have a special guy in Houston who plays second base just as you did. In all probability, he’ll finish his career just as you played your entire career with Kansas City., he’ll play for one team. What do you think of Jose Altuve when you watch him play?
A: He’s a fun guy to watch, he always has been. I’ve always been envious of the size of the park he plays 81 games in each year (laughs). Kansas City was the biggest park in the American League back then.
What I like is the overall consistency. It just shows you, even with his size, you don’t have to be a big player to be successful in this game. Jose can do it all. He’s a Hall of Fame player, no doubt.
Q: What was tougher? Politics for you when you held office or dealing with a Roger Clemens fastball back in the day?
A: When I faced Roger Clemens, I kind of knew what he was going to throw. That being said, he dominated us in his career.
With politics, your worst enemies are the politicians (laughs) so I was happy I did that for 9 years for the community, but I’m glad I’m out of it and enjoying my life now.
