Jim Kaat Retirement Baseball's Loss

Let us not bury but praise baseball lifers.  Jimmie Reese bridged John McGraw and John McNamara.  Cap Ripken, Jr. was born into and breathes the game.  Envision Tom Lasorda without a Dodgers uniform.  You can't.  "You love baseball more than me," says Mrs. Lasorda.  Tom:  "Yes, but I love you more than basketball or football."

Voices can be lifers, too.  Joe Garagiola spanned Yogi Berra to Yogi Berra.  Boys Club catcher Bob Uecker's .200 average made Cooperstown.  This Friday, Sept. 15, the Yankees' Jim Kaat, 67, called his last game of a quarter-century of radio/television.  "It's time to retire," he says.  "I'll still follow ball like I did when i was growing up" in Zeeland, Michigan, 150 miles northeast of Wrigley Field.

"I'd listen to the Cubs' Bert Wilson and Jack Brickhouse," Kaat said of the early 1950s, "the Tigers' Harry Heilmann."  Each Sunday he tuned the family Zenith to WCFL Chicago.  "Bob Elson would do a doubleheader, and I'd be eating popcorn." The Old Commander transfixed -- his name, and sound.

Ultimately, Jim became a pitcher, pitching coach, and broadcaster, saying, 'I don't think I've ever cashed a non-baseball check."  Kitty was born in 1938.  In 1956, signed by Washington, he began using nine lives.

From D.C. to Peggy Lee

Kaat made the major leagues at 21.  In 1961, the Senators of the Nation's Capital since 1892  became the Minnesota Twins.  Jim pitched through 1983 -- the last Nat to dot the majors.  "I'll never be considered one of the all-time greats, maybe not even one of the all-time goods.  But I'm one of the all-time survivors."

Jim won 283 games.  "Great control and curve," said teammate Harmon Killebrew.  "Knew how to play the game."  He hit 16 dingers, had a pitching high 134 sacrifice hits, and was a palatine on the mound.  "No one noticed my fielding until a bouncer knocked out six of my teeth."  Kaat smothered bunts, covered first base like jam, and wore 14 straight Gold Gloves.

He pitched like being double-parked:  to Killebrew, "kept you on your toes."  In1965, Kitty clinched the Twins' first flag, beat Sandy Koufax in the Series, but lost twice to Mr. K, including Game Seven.  "Next time," Kaat laughed, "I think I'll pitch against a mortal."

In 1966, Koufax had 27 victories, 317 Ks, and a 1.73 ERA.  Baseball then awarded one Cy Young award.  "Maybe my best year," said Sandy, "and it had to be, to beat Kaat [A.L.-high 25 victories and career-low 2.75 ERA]."  In 1972, Jim started 10-2 but broke a wrist sliding.  Next year he slid to Comiskey Park.

White Sox mate **** Allen loved taters, horse racing, and Kitty's two-hour games.  "You pitching, old-timer?  Good.  I'll be early at the track."  Once, blowing a double play, **** allowed three runs.  "Old-timer, I'll get those back for you," he said, and did:  two two-run homers.

In 1974, Elliot Gould visited Comiskey to hype his movie "M*A*S*H."  Allen asked:  "Who is that?"  Kaat explained.  "Yeah," **** shrugged, "but can he hit a slider?"  Jim smiled.  "No, but he probably can hit my Peggy Lee fastball:  You know, 'Is that all there is?'"

From The Field to Radio/TV

Kitty joined the Phillies, Yankees, and Cardinals, then, retiring, became Reds pitching coach.  "I liked it, but hoped that my talent wasn't limited to my arm."

In 1984, ESPN TV named the lifer to minor-league and college baseball.  Ex-CBSer Gene Kirby warned of tilt.  "If you say, 'Trouble.  There's a ball in the corner,' ask yourself, 'Trouble for whom?'  Don't be a homer."  **** Enberg noted the baseball nut, no-nothing, and tepid fan "listening at the same time," Kaat said.  "Not the easiest job to ever come down the pike."

It got harder in 1986.  The rookie Yanks colorman was stranded by Phil Rizzuto:  "Kaat, I got to go to the men's room."  Producer Don Carney burned.  "I know he went back to the hotel room.  Phil does that all the time."  The freshman soloed.  Dicier:  enduring George Steinbrenner.  "He'll send notes telling you what to say," partner Bill White said.  "You have to take a stand."

Kaat did and was sacked, the truth having set him free.  "George's a good-luck charm.  After my release, the Cards sign me and win the '82 Series.  In '86, George fires me and my career takes off."  1987:  Jim joined Atlanta.  1988:  Minnesota rehired him.  1990:  CBS' new backup analyst flashed a good-guy air.  "This was a [L.C.S.] night for pitchers to excel," wrote Ron Bergman.  "Dave Stewart.  Roger Clemens.  Jim Kaat [on commentary]."  Kitty wanted coverage to "go on forever."  Instead, it went belly-up.

In 1994, Jim manned ESPN and The Baseball Network.  A year later, succeeding retiring Tony Kubek, he revisited Camp George's giants, ghosts, and ghouls.  "It's the Yankees," Kitty said, calling MSG color.  "What more can you ask for?"  Four world titles from 1996 to 2000.

The Last Hurrah

On August 7, 1995, dysfunctional Darryl Strawberry joined the Bombers.  Said Kaat:  "If [replaced Luis] Polonia was a tax evader, alcoholic, cocaine abuser, wife abuser, he'd probably still be on the team."  In 2002, having pitched or announced for 14 teams or networks, Kitty, settling down, made Steinbrenner's new regional cable-TV Yankees Entertainment and Sports (YES) Network.  "At first he seemed mild for New York," said a critic.  "Then Jim grows on you":  credible, his voice high and plain, baring an upper Midwest nothing-but-the-whole truth core.

Commissioner Bud Selig barely foiled a 2002 work stoppage.  "Baseball people will tell you if they left it to [ex-CEO] Paul Beeston, not Selig," Jim said, 'they would have had an agreement a year ago."

In 2003, manager Joe Torre ordered Jose Contreras to Triple-A.  Overruling him, Steinbrenner sent the pitcher to instruction.  Kitty:  "It undermines his [Torre's] credibility, and makes him look like he lied."

Like Selig, Boss George fumed.  Insiders nodded.  This weekend we will shake our heads.  "Just too much travel," Kaat says.  "I'm looking forward to life without a schedule."  Free, this baseball lifer can look in the mirror -- and be pleased at what looks back.