Bye Bye to a Killer "B"

November 26, Phoenix - Here's hoping you and your's had a blessed holiday this past week. In the world of baseball and in the spirit of Thanksgiving, there is no doubt that most find themselves thankful for the career of Craig Biggio, a player that played the game the right way.

Here are some thoughts I recently compiled on the blue-collar ball player:

In a season and a decade that has been defined by the home run, isn’t it refreshing that in 2007 baseball celebrated two players that were recognized for their loyalty, skill and endurance. The Dbacks won the NL West, the Rockies the pennant and the Red Sox won it all, but this year also belonged to Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken, Jr. The Baseball Hall of Fame honors two living legends that played the game the right way and did so for one organization. Here’s hoping five years from now there is a spot for another 3,000 hit, blue-collar overachiever that wore just one uniform his entire career.

Craig Biggio’s recently wrapped up career makes him all but a lock to unlock the doors of the hall, but for many who play this game he was in long before 3,000 based on his versatility and success at three separate positions. He was an All Star as a catcher and a second baseman, while starting nearly 400 games behind the plate and nearly 2000 in the middle of the infield. Late in his career he also put the team first and moved to the outfield where he started for two full seasons. But if Craig had his way his position would have been starting tailback for Syracuse.

“Football is really what I wanted to do and that was my true love and passion. I just loved running the ball,” Biggio shared with me, “My brother told me not to spend all of my time studying like he did and I heeded that advice a bit too much. When it came time to go to any Division 1 school that I wanted to go to, I just couldn’t get in and reality set in real quick. I realized that I kind of messed things up and I had to go play baseball. Hindsight is definitely 20/20 and things definitely worked out, but my true passion and love is football and that’s what I wanted to do.”

Many pitchers the last two decades regret that he didn’t mature in the classroom until he was a baseball player at Seton Hall. His parents helped a bit as well as they took away his pride and joy, a 1969 Mustang, until he proved himself academically. After a 3.5 GPA his first semester he was driving again and his destination was the big leagues, where he continued his education by breaking in with a clubhouse full of veterans with the 1989 Houston Astros.

“Those days to me were the most precious day that I ever had. When I broke in I was 22 and the next guy closest in age to me was 32. So I had an opportunity to be around guys like Buddy Bell, Nolan Ryan, Larry Anderson and Billy Doran and to see how these guys go about their business was incredible. They worked hard day in and day out and they were always available for the media whether the result was good or bad. To me those were the most valuable days that I have ever had.”

But it was Bell that provided as much guidance and insight as any other in that locker room. It is the way Biggio leads his teammates in Houston.

“Buddy made it clear that you are held accountable. It doesn’t matter who you are whether you are the big fish or the littlest fish on the team, you play the game the right way and if you don’t then somebody is going to say something to you. It taught me how to go about my business. If you don’t do the right thing and you don’t stand up then we’ll make sure that you are there to do that.”

Doing the right thing in the workplace was always a trade mark of the grizzled veteran, but having the same impact at home was always the challenge as long as he wore a baseball uniform. His wife Patty and three children are the hall of famers as far as Craig is concerned.

“They’ve been the best. It’s hard. It’s rough on my boys and my daughter. You feel like you are never there and you aren’t there to help them with the little daily things that most dads get to do and that’s the hardest thing. They pay the biggest price and you can’t put a price tag on that. You can’t go back in years and back in time and start all their activities and memories over again. My wife and my kids have been nothing but the best in allowing me to go out here and do what I’ve got to do.”

But his family certainly can make memories together making an impact in the community around them. Biggio serves as the national spokesperson for The Sunshine Kids Foundation which adds support and quality of life to children with cancer and their families. For the man who has been hit by more pitches than anyone in the history of the game, being hit by the realities of cancer left a much bigger mark.
    
“I got introduced to cancer at a young age when a good friend on my paper route lost their son at the age of 10 years old. I was fourteen at the time and I learned what it really does to a family. From then on I knew that if I ever had a chance to make an impact or do anything that cancer would be the way to go. This was a perfect fit and they are one of the reasons why I stayed in Houston. Just as much as I’ve had an impact of their lives, they’ve had more of an impact on mine. I understand how lucky we are to do what we do and how fortunate we all are to help them out if only a little bit.”

So as we celebrate Tony and Cal, will we be celebrating a similar career in 2012?

“It is something that as an active player you just go out there and play, but for people to mention you and the Hall of Fame in the same breath is very humbling to me. I don’t look at myself as that type of player. So you love the game and you play the game, and if people think that in five years from now then that would be the ultimate. I just try to play the game the right way, be a positive role model and leave my legacy behind. I know that I am very appreciative of getting to play the greatest game in the world.”

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I recently had a chance to spend some time in conversation with Hall of Fame broadcaster and baseball ambassador Joe Garagiola. I will share those audio clips with you over the next few days. It was memorable and special to say the least.