Pegasus Interviews Baseball Hall of Famer George Brett

by Justin Smith

George Brett looks like he has been carved out of some leather and wood mixture—a tough hide with piercing blue eyes. I got the chance to speak with him at the “Baseball As America” exhibit at the Musuem of Nature and Science.

Pegasus News: What do you think of Craig Biggio's chances of getting into the Hall of Fame are?

GB: Oh he's definitely in. He had 3000 hits. We used to have spring training in Florida together, the Astros and the Royals, so we would see them at night at restaurants and I got to know him. He's a really talented and good kid.” he said. Then his toned changed. “As a matter of fact, that motherfucker passed me the other day on most doubles. That little shit. I am gonna have to have a little talk with him when I see him.

PN: You're not really mad though, you're just kidding, right?

GB: Hell no. I want to be in the top five. And now I'm sixth and it really pisses me off.

PN: I was wondering if you think players are given the same opportunities when they come up from the minors to develop that players like you were given.

GB: I don't understand the question.

PN: What I am asking is that it seems that players who play in the majors nowadays are not given as much time to develop by management once they get to the majors as you were given.

GB: But I developed in the minors.

PN: I am not contesting that. I am just considering the fact that you became arguably the greatest third baseman to ever play the game. But that wasn't so in your first year in the majors. It seems that management tends to push players back down to the minors more quickly than they did twenty or thirty years ago. What do you think about that?

GB: Well, when a player comes up, they are usually going to have to make a major adjustment. And it can be pretty rough your first year. It is true that management will pull players out of their rotation because they are trying to protect the player from going into a slump that they may not recover from. Which is justifiable. However, in my case, they new I had that competitive edge that would allow me to take the big hit when I came up. And I think they apply that same thinking today.

PN: I know that you learned baseball from some of the greatest minds in the game. Have you ever thought about managing or coaching?

GB: I have been approached about that. But I want to see my kids. People think that you are gone for half the season for away games. But in reality, it’s a full time job, for over half a year. I would much rather be able to see my kids grow up than manage baseball.

Mr Brett then walked away and although I was a bit taken aback by his abrupt manner and somewhat domineering ego, I was also deeply in awe of him. Here was a man who had given everything to the game and then at the end of the day went home and now loves his family more than anything in the world. I think that this earth could use a few more George Bretts.