My major league debut came at old Busch Stadium on Grand Avenue in St. Louis, against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The first pitch I threw was to third baseman Bob Bailey. It was a fastball, low and away. He ripped it for a home run down the left field line. I said, 'Damn, that was a pretty good pitch.

I took it personal. I got slammed quite a bit.

I was probably in the best shape of any athlete at the time, but you don't get to pass judgment on yourself.

To get the feel of how the slider should roll off of your index finger, use this grip and practice at half speed and roughly half the distance to the mound.

To pick up the paper and read about yourself getting slammed, that doesn't start your day off right.

Pete Rose came over to the Phillies in '79 and he became the catalyst that helped us to put it all together.

Everything I was, physically and mentally, that's what I put on that field.