Through The Eyes Of…The Bullpen Catcher

The following is part of a weekly series called “Through the Eyes of…”  In each segment, I share interviews with or stories about those who I view to be the “Good Guys.” The men and women who participate in and are the very fiber that make up the great game of baseball.

“Through the Eyes of…” is a part of my personal crusade to present baseball in all its beauty, splendor, and goodness, instead of through hashing and rehashing all that is broken with our national treasure. TC

There is hardly a soul who has ever picked up a leather glove and a hardball, who hasn’t also dreamed of making the journey to the the big leagues. The two travel nearly hand in hand once the sound of rawhide against hardwood is experienced.  

And for nearly every child who dreams the dream of playing major league baseball, so too goes the subtle disappointment that comes with the realization that the dream is just that: a dream. They are few and far between, those with the gift, the willingness to work and the dedication necessary to succeed that make it all the way to the Show.

But then there are the nearly chosen few, who don’t make it to the big leagues, but by luck or by circumstance still get to pull up the stirrups next to the big boys.

For 486 consecutive games from Opening Day of 1998 to the call of “wait til next year” in 2000, Bill Artz was privileged enough to put on the uniform of the present World Champion Philadelphia Phillies and catch the likes of Curt Schilling, Randy Wolf, and Mark Portugal in his role as the Bull Pen catcher.

Though not a glamorous position on the hierarchy of the baseball org chart, there is nary  a one of us, that wouldn’t give up doing what we are doing today to experience a cup of coffee or two and maybe a mid game catch with Paul Byrd, Mark Leiter or Vicente Padilla.

Today, Artz owns and operate Big League Floors, a Philadelphia based company that provides residential and commercial floorings services for an eight county area in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

But, for three glorious seasons after graduating from the Lasalle University School of Business Administration, Artz was in part responsible for the fortune, both good and bad, of the Phillies pitching staff and is the subject of this week’s segment of “Through the Eyes of….The Bull Pen Catcher.”

Civ: You played your college ball at LaSalle in 90-92, were you a catcher?

 

Bill: Yes, I was a catcher at LaSalle University in Philadelphia. I started every game from the time I was a freshmen.

Civ: Did you have any aspirations of playing pro ball?

Bill: Absolutely, from the time I was four years old and up, I lived and died the game.  Every move I made was directed toward the goal of some day being in the big leagues.

Civ: After college what did you do?

Bill: After college I floundered around really not knowing what to do with my after baseball life.  I continued to play in the Pen-Del league in Philly. As far as vocation went, I worked many odd jobs after graduation as well as coaching at LaSalle for one year.

Civ: You had a teammate at LaSalle with the last name DiMaggio, any relation to Joe, Dom?

Bill: Wow, how did you find that one???  No, Ross DiMaggio was no relation to the famous DiMaggio’s, although we had a professor at LaSalle who called him “Joltin’ Joe”.  Ross was the catcher before I arrived and was a pretty good left-handed hitter.

Civ: Did you play with or against any MLB players during your career?

Bill: Yes, I played against quite a few future and former big leaguers along the way.  Those include Doug Glanville, Sal Fassano, Chris Michalik and I played with Bobby Higginson in the summer league in Philly. There were others as well.

Civ: You graduated college in 92 and became BP catcher six years later, had you played any ball in between?

Bill: As stated before, yes, I continued to play in the Pen-Del league in Philadelphia.

Civ: How did you get the job with the Phillies?

Bill: One of my teammates in the Pen-Del was former pitcher Dickie Noles.  Dickie was remembered most for knocking down George Brett in the 1980 World Series. Some claim this was the turning point of that series. Anyway, I was at home one night watching the game and he had called to see if I was interested in the job, of course, I was ecstatic.  Even at the age of 27 I never lost hope of being in the Majors, even when it looked like there was no hope.

Civ: You caught Curt Schilling all three seasons, what was that like?

Bill: Obviously an honor. Just to have him think enough of me as a receiver was a tribute because if I was sub-standard, he would not have me catch him.  The guy was a perfectionist. I also helped him with his rehab in spring training in 2000, long tossing with him everyday.  

Civ: Is he the most notable player you caught?

Bill: By far, some say he will be a Hall of Famer and I would not argue this.  I just wish I had warmed up to him a little more because I think we could have been pretty good friends…

Civ: Schilling had three rather mediocre seasons while you were there and then had his best years in AZ and Boston, why do you suppose that happened?

Bill: I would not say they were mediocre seasons on his part.  That team was less than mediocre.  The guy thrived in the big moments and there were more of them in AZ. and Boston.  He did get shut down in 1999 with an injury and of course his record does not reflect the games that the bullpen blew or the offense did not support him.  He will always be loved in this town for his energy and talent on the field as well as off of it.

Civ: Does the BP catcher get to hang with the team? Did you ever spend any time with Abreu or any of the name players?

Bill: I did towards the end and became pretty good friends with Pat Burrell and Randy Wolf.  I was a little standoffish at first just because I thought I should be seen and not heard but I took it a little too far. But I would have to say that my most cherished relationship was with legendary announcer Harry Kalas, not a day goes by that I don’t think of him.   

Civ: How rough were the fans in Philly? Did they ever heckle the bull pen catcher?

Bill: The Phillies fans can be rough at any time but even more so then, that is, the ones that showed up. Personally I thought the San Francisco Giants fans were the most obnoxious. I got heckled at times, yes.

Civ: Who warms pitchers up before a game, the starting catcher or the BP catcher?

Bill: Sometimes I would start warming up the starting pitcher before games but the starting catcher would always finish him up.  He needs to see what they have on that particular day.

Civ: The 2000 Phillies went through 27 pitchers, was that challenging for you?

Bill: Somewhat, in those three years I was there, they used about 55-60 different relievers. It seemed like a revolving door at times..

Civ: Were you involved in the pregame planning or coaching or is that left up to the BP coach or pitching coach?

Bill: No, I was subjected to the scouting reports and pitcher vs. batter stats.  They were very interesting.  Look up what Marquis Grissom hit off Schilling sometime. (Civ-An impressive 31 for 94 or .330. He had more hits off of Schill than against any other pitcher)

Civ: Do you get to take batting practice or strictly the bull pen catcher?

Bill: Rarely did I take BP, but I would have loved to.  I should have been more assertive.

Civ: What did you do on off days?

Bill: On the road I would try to see the sites of the city.  At home, spend time with my family.  Nights were always the same, go out and party…

Civ: The bullpen is usually a pretty close knit group, were you a part of the fraternity?

Bill: I would not consider myself part of the fraternity.  I took the game a little too serious to be involved with any foolishness.

Civ: Do you go on the road with the team?

Bill: I did travel only after they discovered that I threw BP.  They also needed a guy in the bullpen when the back-up catcher had to go in the game and they need to get two pitchers up.  They found this out the hard way in Pittsburgh when they had to delay the game to get the back-up in from the bullpen to pinch hit.

Civ: What is the best away city?

 

Bill: I always loved NYC.  My sister lives there and at the time worked for the NY Daily News.  She is now Mayor Bloomberg’s photographer.  San Francisco was second, then Pittsburgh, a much underrated town with very nice hard-working people.  Toronto is good, as well.

Civ: Are there any funny stories that you recall?

 

Bill: Off the top of my head I remember playing a weekday game at old Veterans Stadium and a vagrant women just walked into the bullpen off the street.  She had no clue where she was but we joked that if she could throw strikes we might have to suit her up!!! TC

 

Todd Civin is a freelance writer for the Bleacher Report, Seamheads and Sports, Then and Now. He is available for comment or hire at toddcivin1@aim.com. He is also a supporter of A Glove of Their Own, the award winning children’s story that teaches pay it forward through baseball. Visit the site and purchase the book under today’s donor code JNF636 Joe Niekro Foundation as $3.00 from each purchase will go to that wonderful cause.

Read more Philadelphia Phillies news on BleacherReport.com

The Peter J. McGovern Little League Museum: Feeling Like You’re 10 Again

Like any rites of passage, the day I turned ten-years-old was a big day in my life.  Though I was still unable to vote, drive, or join the army, I was now eligible to participate in a tradition far more important.

As I flipped the calendar from age nine to 10, I was finally old enough to try out for Little League.  Up until now, I had played a few dozen neighborhood games of ball, but was always the last guy picked.

I was lacking in several critical areas that “the scouts” seemed to pick up on, including the ability to hit, throw or field a ball. I was the proverbial zero tool player.

With the help of my two, extremely patient, Little League coaches, I soon learned to hold a bat without having my arms crossed and how to throw like a boy.  I mastered fielding a grounder without moving to the side and how to get under a fly without covering my head for safety.

But, there was a lesson taught that was far more important than learning how to throw or hit or field.  A lesson taught to each and every Little Leaguer since it’s inception 70 years ago; to win gracefully and lose with dignity.

So, when I had an opportunity to speak to Janice L. Ogurcak, Director of the Peter J. McGovern Little League Museum in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, I felt as if I was speaking more to one of my teachers than to the curator of a museum. 

“Most of our visitors come from far away”, explained Ogurcak, who became the museums director in 2005.  “We get visitors of all ages from all places, each remembering what Little League meant to them.”

“Our senior citizen guests especially come in and tell us what a really important impact Little League had on the rest of their lives.”

Ogurcak is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operation of the museum, which has about 30,000 visitors each year.   She and her staff are responsible for maintenance of the many Little League artifacts, rotation of exhibits, special events, the museum gift shop and educational programs.

The museum is part of the Little League International Complex and offers interactive exhibits, which use a hands on approach to teach about the history of Little League.

The museum chronicles the growth of the league from one, three-team league in 1939 to the multi-national youth sporting organization that it is today.

Directly behind the museum is the Howard J. Lamade Stadium and the Little League Volunteer Stadium, where the Little League World Series will be played this year between August 21 and August 30th.

“During that ten day period, our attendance at the museum will jump from about 100 visitors per day to anywhere from 500 to 1000” added Ogurcak.  “We expect about 10,000 people to walk through the museum next week alone.”

The most inspiring part of the museum is the Little League Hall of Excellence, where visitors enjoy the motivating stories of Little League graduates, who have gone on to distinguished careers as adults.

Members are selected not for what they did on the diamond, but for their contribution to society and include Ozzie Newsome, Dusty Baker, George W. Bush, Tom Selleck and even Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, each of whom grace the walls of the Hall of Excellence.

“The museum really made an impression on Kevin Costner when he was inducted,” explained Ogurcak.

“He was so moved by the museum that he wanted to play on the ball field.  He ended up taking a group of Little Leaguers onto the field at 11:00 that night to play baseball.”

The museum gift shop has recently adopted the book A Glove of Their Own as a way to teach sharing and baseball to their many guests.

“We have a lot of people come into the shop, who know the book and how popular it is around the country.  I am impressed that they know of the book considering it has been out such a short time.”

“We were hoping that the authors could come in and sign for us this year, but we are hoping to have a big signing event to start next year.”

Coach Bob Salomon, a driving force behind the award winning book is equally excited about aligning the book with the Little League Museum.

“The ideals and principles taught in our book are identical to those taught in Little League”, said Salomon. “Teamwork, sharing and love of the game by our children, walks hand in hand in the book and in the spirit of Little League.”

“To me, it’s a perfect match,” he added. “I’m truly humbled and excited that the Little League Museum is supporting our book.”

The museum is located on U.S. Route 15 in South Williamsport, Pa., next to the Little League International Administration Building.  Admission is $5 for adults (and children ages 14-17); $1.50 for children ages 5-13; and $3 for senior citizens (62 and over). Children age four and younger are admitted free of charge.  Group tours and rates are available.  Call 570-326-3607 for more information.

Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.  After Labor Day, the museum is open Friday and Saturday only, 10:00  a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Todd Civin is a freelance writer for Bleacher Report and Seamheads.  He can be reached at toddcivin1@aim.com for comment or hire.  He is also a supporter of A Glove of Their Own, the award-winning children’s story that is capturing the heart of the nation by teaching sharing through baseball.

AGOTO is supported by players and coaches including Jason Grilli, Ken Griffey, Joe Torre, Craig Biggio, Sean Casey, Dick Drago, Luis Tiant, Phil Niekro, Ed Herrmann, and The Joe Niekro Foundation as part of their fundraising campaigns. Visit A Glove of Their Own  and purchase under donor code JNF636 The Joe Niekro Foundation.  With each sale $3.00 will go to The Foundation which is Aiding in the Research and Treatment of Aneurysm Patients and their Families.