They broke it to me gently. The manager came up to me before a game and told me they didn't allow visitors in the clubhouse.

You know, I was once named Minor League Player of the Year...unfortunately, I had been in the majors for two years at the time.

They broke it to me gently. The manager came up to me before a game and told me they didn't allow visitors in the clubhouse.

Phil Niekro and his brother were pitching against each other in Atlanta. Their parents were sitting right behind home plate. I saw their folks more that day than they did the whole weekend.

Anyone with talent can play in the Major Leagues; for someone like me to stay around as long as I did, I think that's a much greater acheivement.

Anybody with ability can play in the big leagues. But to be able to trick people year in and year out the way I did, I think that was a much greater feat.

The biggest thrill a ballplayer can have is when your son takes after you. That happened when my Bobby was in his championship Little League game. He really showed me something. Struck out three times. Made an error that lost the game. Parents were throwing things at our car and swearing at us as we drove off. Gosh, I was proud.