Welcome to Guardians Weekly on the Cleveland Guardians Radio Network. Guardians Weekly is brought to you by Progressive helping Guardians fans save hundreds on car insurance I Reward.
Welcome to Guardians Weekly. Jim Rosen House along with you this weekend as we join you from Miami, Florida. Guardians just getting start on a lengthy road swing that we'll see them play two more times in Miami Saturday night and Sunday afternoon, and then twice in Cincinnati Tuesday and Wednesday nights, and finished the road swing in Toronto next weekend. So a lot of baseball away from home for Cleveland as they try and maintain their lead in the American League's Central Division.
Good show lined up for you today, as in just a little bit, we will hear from Guardian centerfielder Tyler Freeman as well as Daniel Schneman, who's just up from the minor leagues and has made quite an impression in his first week in the big leagues. And we'll also hear from Brian Sweeney, the former Guardians bullpen coach who is now the pitching coach for Kansas City, but still has many fond memories of his time five years in Cleveland working as
a coach for the Guardians. We'll also have another addition of at the Ballpark with Bobby d But first I'll look back at the weekend review Monday and off day for The Guardian and that set the stage for a big showdown series with al Central Division rival Kansas City. The two teams at the top of the American League Central with two of the best records in all of baseball, and it started on Tuesday night, not in a good way for the Guardians early
on, as the Royals power bats were out early. Hunter Renfro and Bobby Witt Junior each homered in the third inning, and Wit did it again in the fourth, and just like that, it was five to nothing Kansas City in the series opener. So a big mountain to climb for the Guardians to get back in it, and they did, starting in the bottom of the fourth with a lead off double from Stephen Kwan and then Jose Ramirez stepped in the three to two to Ramirez and it swung on tap left side on through
base it left field. Ramirez comes through with a slapped single of left that plates Kwan and the Guardians are on the board. It's now Kansas City five, Cleveland one. And that right there in a nuts y'all for Ramirez, just looking to get the run in. Following Ramirez to the plate, it was Josh Naylor. Here it comes, swung on and drilled high and deep left center. The way back there head it's Pleecher bound, Paul Ron,
Josh Naylor and the Guardians are creeping closer. It's now Kansas City five, Cleveland three, and they are doing it against a pitcher who just doesn't give up runs in twenty twenty four in SETH logo. But they've gotten to him here in the fourth inning for three runs, including home run number sixteen for Josh Naylor, moving him into a tie for team high honors with Jose Ramirez. It's date five to three until the seventh. That's when the Guardians went
back to work. Will Brennan singled that brought Tyler Freeman to the plate. Now the old one, swung on, hit high, hit deep to left center. This ball go. How about that? Tyler Freeman with his fifth home run, a two run blast to the bleachers and left center and Cleveland and one point down five to the best pitcher in the American League has tied this game at five, and what a celebration and welcoming committee on that third
base dugout for Tyler Freeman. Seth Lugo's night is done. The Guardian's kept it going in the seventh inning with a single by Daniel Schneman and then back to back walks to Ramirez. A Nailer brought David Fry to the plate. Serpah's ready here it comes one on a Tampa back up to the middle. Bobby with junior gloves, runs to second steps throws the ball away to first. Bat'll score two, Kwan to score, Ramires to score? How about that? And also coming home is Naylor? Are they going to say all
three get to score? The short stop? Bobby went on that Chopper charged it at short, ran a second, but he did not beat Nailer evidently, and so he thought I better throw to make sure, and then he threw it away to first and the Guardians are now back on top eight to five. Hey, there was another dominant day for the Guardian's bullpen, as Kate Smith and Scott Barlow shut down the KC bats before they turned it over to Emmanuel class A in the ninth fold count Royals again down to their last
strike Garcia at second May two. Down in the ninth eight to five, Cleveland now the payoff pitch, a swimming and the best Bowl game front door Cutter got him and the Guardians keep rolling, only this time against one of the best teams in baseball. Cleveland spotted Kansas City five runs and roarback to win Game one in this series eight to five, and after the game, Guardians manager Stephen Vote was asked once again about his team's ability to come back
late in games. I think it's just our belief, right, you have to believe that. If you don't truly believe that we have a chance to come back, every time you get down, you're going to say here we go again and just get buried deeper and deeper. But our guys truly believe were one rally, one hit away from starting a rally to come back, and we don't quit. These guys don't quit. And it's just a testament to who they are. Uh That's who they've always been, and it's just
that belief that we're going to come back. Obviously, first three dates kind of goes through the line about all the game what how do you feel about that? They're able to say with that game, but it doesn't work. I think you just have to believe. I mean, at the end of the day, baseball, if a pitcher is executing, you're gonna have a hard time scorn runs. And Lugo did that, you know, for the majority of the night. You know, the quantity bangs of double and we
get something going. Posey comes through Naylor with the big swing and then Free with the the nightcap, and it just stick stick with the plan because eventually, hopefully the picture makes a mistake, and if you leave your plan, you're not gonna be ready for the mistake. So our hitting group works really hard on coming up with plans for these guys, and they've bought in. They've seen the success. You know, I mustle on that play spot. Yeah, I mean, if Naylor doesn't beat him the second, that's an
easy inning ending fielder's choice and we're probably still playing. You know, but he he got a really good secondary. Sandy told him beat the throat a second, and he got a really good throat or a really good secondary and ran hard and beat him a second and caused chaos and a three run three run play another near perfect doubt makes special. First of all, they're really good and nasty. They're prepared. Pg's got him super prepared coming out of
that bullpen. They're ready for any role at any time. Left, right, doesn't matter. And they just again I keep going back to belief. They believe they're going to go in, throw zero and come out. And this group has gotten to the point where when they don't do that, it's kind of like what just happened. And that's the mark of just a really good bullpen. And these guys feed off each other, they have each other's backs, and it's just a really really talented, special group out there that
you guys have. Where is where or how does a start starts in the clubhouse? You know, when when a group of players get together, there's talent and there's ability, but then there's also the belief that we can actually do it. They own it and run with it. And it starts with the leadership in that room, and it starts with the young guys believing that
they belong and knowing that they belong in the big leagues. And it's it's a testament to the twenty six guys in that room that proved to be the high point of the week, as after a Wednesday rain out, the Guardians lost the series finale to Kansas City. A late run for the Royals gave them a four to three win, and a very similar scenario played out Friday night in Miami is The Marlins scored a run in the eighth thending to snap a two all tie, and it was Miami three the Guardians two. On
Friday night in Miami, They'll play two more times. The Guardians in Marlins will seven forty on Saturday night one on Sunday afternoon. Stay with us when we come back. We'll hear from Tyler Freeman and Daniel Schneeman. That's next at Cleveland Clinic Guardians or radio on at work. When you switch and save with Progressive, you could use that money towards scoring court side seats for your
favorite team. Progressive cannot guarantee that you can score court side seats. Drivers who switch and save with Progressive good save one hundreds on average, But court side seats can be astronomical. Maybe if your team plays in a smaller market, you could swing it even Still, it's unlikely. Maybe fourthrow which are still incredible seats that you'll enjoy greatly. Savings possible court side lung shot switch and see if you could save at Progressive dot Com. Progresive Cashley insurance and
affiliates not available in all states. Progresive cannot guarantee that someone really tall will not sit in front of you at the game, rendering your excellen seats just okay. Jim Rows announced back with you on Guardians Weekly as we join you from Miami where the Guardians are taking on the Marlins. This weekend just the start of a three city road swing for the Guardians who don't returned home until
June the eighteenth. That's when their next homestand starts against the Seattle Mariners, and the Guardians will be home to face the Mariners and then the Toronto Blue Jays on their next homestand and again it does not begin for a while Tuesday night, June the eighteenth. A lot of different ways you can hear our show each week locally on our flagship station WTAM at airs at seven am on Saturday mornings, and of course you can hear it at different times depending on
your local Guardians Radio Network affiliate station. And you can also hear the show whenever you like in podcast form wherever you download your favorite podcasts. Tyler Freeman has had a real nice start to season. He's played very well in center field, a position he had never played in a major League game until this season, and he has also had some big hits at the plate, including
a huge two run home run in Tuesday's comeback in over Kansas City. It came in the seventh inning off of Royal starter Seth Lugo, who had been one of baseball's best so far this season. We caught up with Tyler the following day and he talked about his approach in facing Lugo that extra time in the seventh inning after he had been retired his first two at bats, and
what he learned earlier in the game. Sticking to our plan. I think that's our biggest thing, and that's why we ended up winning that game. You know, he gave it to us first few innings he threw the first time, threw the lineup, and I think the second time we stuck with our plan. That was our biggest thing, and we didn't change it. I think we would have foul if we changed our plan a little bit, but just because the results in show in the beginning didn't mean we have to
like go away from that. And I think that's exactly what we made sure we stuck with our plan. And you say we and then obviously you had the good success in that last at bat against him. What did you see early on that said, you know what, maybe later on, if I get a certain pitch, I might have success. Yeah, you know, I was looking in one location and he wasn't going there in the beginning, and but I stuck with it. I was like, I'm gonna still look
in the same spot whether whether he does it or not. At some point he's gonna go there. And I did some damage with it. You were around long enough last year to know that that come from behind winds are not easy and they don't happen all the time, but for this team they seem to. Why is that you're thinking and when did that start for this club? I kind of I said it yesterday. I think the last game of
the year last year in Detroit, it just kind of sparked everyone. We didn't want to have that feeling again, and so going to the offseason, I think that's where it started. Guys with their training or however, to get better help this team win. I think that's what we did. We took it to heart and coming in spring training, we were gonna make sure it wasn't gonna happen again. So our mentality is if we're behind, who
cares, We're gonna We're gonna bow to the end. But Tyler, you had that stretch in the leadof spot, and it seems like that's coincided with a good stretch of the plate of consistency. Do those two go together or did you see it coming anyway? Oh, you know, just being patient with the results sign it's been it's been a frustrating year so far. But I think when when they did move me to the leadoff spot just kind of like took my mind off that a little bit. I just stayed aggressive,
and I think the results just started to show. Coincidentally, is there a different approach at all when when you hit leadoff, No, just staying aggressive, like I said before, I just think coincidentally, balls are starting to fall now, and just just trying to keep that going. And you have the Royals here for a series, and when you look at where your teams are in the standings from the enjoyment standpoint of what you like to play for.
Is this what it's all about these kind of series? Absolutely, and Austin Hedges reiterates at every single series that we play, every series is a playoff series, and if we take our minds off of that, that's when we start to fumble. So we play every games as if it's a new game and try to win each series. Nice going last night a big part of it. Thanks, thank you. That's Tyler Freeman. He's had a lot of big base hits for the Guardians so far and has played tremendous defense
in center field as well. Well. Freeman not that long in the major leagues, and same holds true to a much greater extent for Daniel Schneman. He was called up to the big leagues on Sunday last Sunday, and he made his major league debut against the Nationals. First pitch he saw, you just heard the highlight, Big Bass hit a double for him. So he got that out of the way, and he's done nothing but hit since in
the games that he has played this week. We had a chance to talk to him on Tuesday about that first day in the major leagues, a day that he'll never forget. Well, the biggest thing is just having all my family here. That was super specials making all the calls, letting know that I was getting called up, and then one of the best memories I had was just after the game, just spending some time with family and taking some pictures is really special. And on the field, you get something positive done
right away. For some players it doesn't always work out that way, but for you, you're standing on second and is it a relief that you get that first hit out of the way, or is it something more than that. I mean, I'm sure if I started over ten, I would be feeling a little more stress than I would have. But I really just tried taking the same approach I would have been any other bad and I'm glad it
worked out definitely. Were you able to look around at all and kind of soak it in or are you so locked in during a game like that that that you can't really do that? I mean, I was really just trying
to focus. I didn't I didn't really want like the magnitude of the situation to kind of maybe affect my performance or anything like that, So I was really just trying to focus on the cues that I tell myself that, you know, that helped me have success, and so, I mean I definitely had some nerves, and I definitely soaked in a lot of the moments,
but I was really just trying to focus on those things. You had a good spring and you had a great start to your season at Triple A. Difficult to maintain that good positive outlook and take care of business where you are instead of thinking about where maybe you could be. I really was just I have a lot of buddies down there on that team, a lot of good relationships. I was enjoying it down there. I mean, I just love playing the game. Obviously, my goal is to make it up here.
But I was really just trying to take it one day at a time and and just stick to the you know, the process that that was going to give me success and give me a chance to come up here. But I mean, I enjoyed it down there, and I'm just trying to, you know, soak in every minute up here as well. The Schneemann family is here for the week the next couple of home games here. For The Guardian said, how many others are going to be in town pulling for you?
The next couple of days. I got quite a few friends and family coming to me an account, but it would be good, you know, spend some time with them after the game and and I'm glad. I feel a ton of support from all them, so I'm gonna enjoy it. Congratulations on the call up, Thanks love for coming back. Thank you. That is utility man Daniel Schneeman, who so far he has played second base, shortstop, and center field as well as pinch hit, all with great success.
It's been a fun first week in the major exports name and it took him a while to get here, but after six season in the minor leagues, he seems ready to go and has been a steady contributor since getting the call. Stay with us well, I'm more to come, as Guardians Weekly continues after this time up. Welcome back to Guardians Weekly. Jim Rosenhouse along with you from Miami, where the Guardians are taking on the Marlins this weekend at
Lone Depot Park. The Marlins a winter on Friday night three to two, with two games to go Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. Earlier this week, the Guardians hosted Kansas City at Progressive Field, and that meant a return to Cleveland for Royal's pitching coach Brian Sween, who spent five years as a Guardian's
bullpen coach and during that time developed some great friendships. As his role as a first responder a volunteer fireman during the off season back home for him in upstate New York, it led to some great opportunities to mix with first responders in the Cleveland area, so he had a chance to renew some of those friendships when he came to town earlier this week, and when we caught up with him, he talked about his second season as pitching coach for Kansas City
with a lot of good things happening for that pitching staff, and he says a big reason why he's had success in case so far is because of the things that he learned during his time in Cleveland from the coaching staff in front office. Here. I learned a ton here. You've heard me say before. The people around me are great baseball people and really smart. And I was able to grow as a coach and as a person while I was here and build a philosophy, built something that I can I can stand behind.
And then when when I come to Kansas City, it's not it becomes the Kansas City way, right, and you know, and nothing not not the Cleveland way. Right. We're trying to make our own, make our own direction. But it's really just the journey that I took, uh and I owe a lot to to my time here because I wouldn't be able to have done it without it. And some dramatic improvements both especially starting rotation wise for
your team. Is it mainly just different talent or are there some things in place that that past pictures who are still with the organization and still on the big club doing better because of some of the things that you're trying to implement. I think it's it's it's a whole the whole mixture of things. A wise old pitching coach once told me, it's guy Carl Willis, I don't know if you know him or not, and say, you know, you know what makes a good pitching coach good pictures? Right, So he would
he would always joke around in that way. Really, really what it comes down to, and you know is you know, you create the environment for these guys to succeed. You know, you know you have the proper communication and trust and then you know, you deliver the information you know that's readily available to us now and you teach right. And if we're able to do those things on a daily basis with the guys that are here that we're here for a while in Kansas City, or the guys that are new, I
think we're going in a good direction now. When you bring in new pitchers like Michael Waka and Seth Lugo, guys that have been through the grind, been professionals a long time, they can teach the pitching staff a whole bunch of different things. You know, we've got Will Smith and Chris Stratton in a bullpen. They create an environment for success, and it's it's really fun
to watch the culture. You know, during the games, when a starter comes out of the game, they all gather in the middle of the dugout and talk about the outing. You know, that's that's what you want from from a group of starters that are competing not only against the opposing team, but you know, a healthy competition amongst one another. They're there if one guy falls down just for an other to pick them up. And I couldn't be a more proud coach when I see something like that night and day from
a year ago. I wouldn't say night and day. Just growing, you know, just growth, you know, there there were we had some good pictures last year that just needed some some growth opportunities and you know, and then bringing in bringing in some new new guys. Now we have a well rounded staff. Now. It's nothing's ever perfect, right, We're we're always trying to improve, but it's it's definitely, you know, a better start than last year, you know, and to be able to go toe to
toe with with Cleveland that's in first place is really fun. Royal's pitching coach Brian Sweeney joining us with Cleveland for five seasons and you made some great relationships here off the field. We've talked to you in the past about in the off season back home and upstate New York. You're a volunteer firefighter and you brought some of that here to Cleveland in terms of relationships. So when you come back here, I know earlier today you had an opportunity to visit with
some folks. How much do you bring that here to Cleveland and still remain in touch with those who serve our community? Oh, I mean, I have a heart for first responders as my you know, my dad was a firefighter for a long time in Yonkers, New York. And then you know, starting Ready to Respond here with the organization's blessed and you know, to honor first responders, you know ems, police dispatchers and firefighters. Is ah.
You know, it was an honor to do something like that because when people call nine to one one, they show up right, they they're ready to respond. Now, we brought that over to Kansas City as well, where we have answering the Call is the is the name of a you know, the program that we have there and it's very similar to to what Ready to Respond is. And making connections with the first responders in the area here in Cleveland and now in Kansas City is really special to me because they're just
a great group of people. Had the chance to go see Andy, Uh, one of my friends in the fire department over here at Engine two right next to the stadium. Uh, you know, walked in, had a hamburger with the guys. You know, we're just you know, you know, talking through things, talking baseball, and you know Andy's torn now you're right, he's a Cleveland fan and and but we're friends. So it's, uh, he's like, he says, it's a win win for him,
right, Cleveland wins, he's happy, Kansas City wins. You know, he's sort of happy. So it's it's one of one of those kind of things. But it was really good to reconnect with them and just to let the first responders in the area know that we care. What they do in the community matters. And back in the day, the best reliever in baseball was the Firemen of the Year award. And did ever strike you as ironic that here you are here when during your time here you're the bullpen coach and
trying to help them do the best job they can. Yeah, I get what a connection. Interesting connection there. You know, it's you know, it's it's cool to think of those guys as firemen, but you know, those real first responders, they're rock stars. They're rock stars and saints at the same time. You know what they do and what they have to deal with on a daily basis. We're lucky to have them. And so this is obviously a time consuming, full time job. What keeps you going in
the off season to keep wanting to do that back in your hometown? I live in a really great community. I love where I live. You know, my wife is from the area, and you know, I was just you know, I wanted to do something in the community while I was home. You know, there's still baseball going on for me, right there's there's plenty of stuff to be done on zoom calls and computer work. But I
really felt like I wanted to be a part of the community. And you know, when I drove by the station one day taking my daughter to school, that's when the light bulb went off. I said, that's it. I said, that's let me. Let me give this a shot. Uh. So, you know, being being able to you know, to answer the call when when the pager goes off as a volunteer, it means a lot to me, you know, and you know, you know, it's a it's a huge responsibility in in a neighborhood and there they need, you
know, volunteer. There's not too many volunteers, uh, you know going around. You know, we're always looking for for good people and that we can turn into good firefighter. So uh, you know, it's an honor to do that job. And you know, and and it's out of respect for my father who taught me all of those values. It's great stuff and much appreciated, whether it's back home upstate New York, here in Cleveland and now in Kansas City. And Brian, always great to see you. Thanks
a lot for coming back, Thanks for having me. That's Brian Sweetey, the former Guardian's bullpen coach, now a fine pitching coach for the Kansas City Royals. Stay with us for a lot of our final segment coming your way shortly after this timeout on the Cleveland Clinic Guardians Radio Network. When you switch and save with Progressive, you can use that money towards golf lessons to become a scratch golfer. Progressive cannot guarantee that you will ever become a scratch golfer.
Scratch golfers are really really good drivers who switch and save with Progressive good save one hundreds on average, and sure you could put that money towards lessons. But if you can't hit the broad side of a barn and think you're going to become a scratch golfer, your delusional. Sorry, just telling it like it is. Savings, maybe scratch golfer, don't hold your breath. Switch and see if you can save at Progressive dot Com, Progressive Keshley Insurance
Afilate. It's not available in all states. It's universally accepted that golf is hard. Progressive cannot guarantee improve performance on the course. Welcome back to Guardians Weekly. Our final segment coming your way, and it's another edition of At the Ballpark with Guardians. Senior Vice President Bob d. Bassio is guest this week, former Cleveland pitcher Charlie Naggin. The perfectly manicured field, the unmistakable
aroma of a ballpark hot dog, and the electricity celebrating another victory. This is at the Ballpark with Bobby de Thank you, Hammy. Welcome to at the Ballpark, where we hope you enjoy our conversations with those involved in the great game of baseball. Those who may be behind the scenes are the colorful
personalities who have provided so many exciting moments and memories. Today we are joined by one of the winningest pitchers in franchise history, a first round draft pick, a member of Team USA and the Guardians Hall of Fame, mister Charlie Naggy. Thank you, Chuck for being with us. Catch us up on the family these days. The family's good. Kids are out of the house. Oldest twenty five living in San Francisco, and our youngest is she's a
junior at Baylor University. Empty nesters. Unbelievable. We have to believe. Consistency is what you are most proud of. In your thirteen year career, wearing that Cleveland uniform, you make your major league debut in nineteen ninety, you become a seventeen game winner in ninety two, and all start tossing two hundred and fifty innings. That's a pretty cool way to start your career.
It was. It was a rapid minor league career. Got drafted boom the Olympics Kinston, North Carolina, and then the following year Canton and getting called up to the big leagues. And it was just a great moment. And it wasn't that easy starting your career in college, right You went to Cornell, you went there to play football and baseball, and then there was an
issue. Then you move on to the University of Connecticut. Tell us a little bit about that, so kids out there understand that everybody has obstacles as they're trying to reach their dream. Yeah, I mean I was enamored with Cornell. I went there and it just didn't work out for me, whether I just wasn't ready for it or what not. But still I went home and still kept in contact with coach Andy Bailock at the University Connecticut. He
was recruiting me also, and we made it work. I had to do some summer schools before I went there, and things went well, and I had two great years there at the University of Connecticut. A lot of friends, played with a lot of great players, had a really good time, and then inevitably got drafted that year in nineteen eighty eight. Other than the nineteen ninety three season in which you suffered an injury, you only had nine
starts that year. You rebound and enjoy a streak where you post double digit wins in eight of the next nine straight seasons. Again consistency. You start the last game at Cleveland Stadium ever coming off an injury, but then you don't miss a start again until sometime after eleven starts in the year two thousand. That's a remarkable streak, you know. I mean, that's what you
strive for every year. I remember Johnny Ferrell my first spring training sat down next to me after a spring training game and we were just talking a little bit, and he was just, you know, hey, this is these are goals you should shoot for. You know, make all your starts throw over two hundred innings a year, and I mean, those are the benchmarks that every pitcher should look for. And you know that's after hearing that from him. You know, that's what I strive to do, year in,
year out. And you know there were probably some times I probably shouldn't have taken the ball, but you know, oh well, you know, but I just you know, you work hard and you want to get that ball every fifth day and give your team a chance to win. You were a three time All Star, including nineteen ninety nine. What was it like pitching on that team? That team is the only team in our franchise history to
score more than one thousand runs. I believe the ninety four team, if the season wasn't averted and had stopped in August, that club probably was on pace to score one thousand runs. But the ninety nine club, where man he had one hundred and sixty five rebies, Robbie was just going crazy doing his thing. And of course Jimmy told me being Jimmy. Of course, what was it like pitching for that ball club? It was like every other ball club we had there. I mean, we were just known for our
offense, you know, scoring runs. If you go out and you know, you give up a few runs in the first inning, as long as you hang in the game long enough, you've got a chance to win this game. Still. And you know, you said the ninety four team, and you know you could actually argue the ninety five team too, because it was one hundred and forty four games and we still had a few, obviously twenty some games that we didn't play well. That team was remarkable to me.
You guys clinched the division on September eighth. You end up winning the division by thirty games, which is ridiculous. You guys came to the park and the attitude was once we clinched on September eight, was let's get to one hundred. Yeah, we had to set a goal after that and it was just to continue on winning and getting ready for the postseason. And yeah, we came to win every game. And I know everybody who who came to the other teams, who came into Jacob's field, and those years just
didn't want to be there. They didn't want to the pitchers didn't want to face our lineup. Let's focus a little bit on one thing that I think is remarkable in your career. There were two occasions in our franchise history where we brought back thirty to forty of our most illustrious alumni. One was the closing of Cleveland Stadium October third of nineteen ninety three, and then on July twenty first, two thousand and one, where we celebrated our one hundredth anniversary.
You were on the mound for both of those games, so you had to pitch in front of that crew. So let's talk about the May third.
You're coming off an injury. But for people that may not remember, we closed Cleveland Stadium with Bob Hope after the game doing a rendition of thanks for the memories at Cleveland Stadium and dotted around the field the greats at third base is like the al Rosens and out and right field Rocky Colavito, and you got all the great pitchers circling pitchers mound, and there's players dotted all around the field and they're in the loses watching you perform. Did that sink
in that all those eyes were on you. Not so much at that time. Initially, I was just concentrating on the game because it was my first start coming back, and you know, just hoping everything would go well so I could, you know, peace of mind for the offseason and going into the next season. But then it started to hit me a little bit when you know, you see all the great players that are here and Bob Hope getting ready to sing after the game. I really don't even remember the outcome
of the game. We lost, unfortunately. I think Mark Lewis struck out as the final out in Cleveland Stadium baseball history for our franchise. I think that's stuck in my head. But again, you, Jay and Jason Barray were the two starters to become friends, both in Cleveland uniforms. But you were coming off an injury, so you but that started your streak, as we talked in segment one about your incredible consistency. But what do you think
about that old cavernous place on the lake. I loved it. You know, it's my first place being called up to, and I love that stadium. It was a great place to pitch, had a good backdrop. You know, it was an older team when I got there, and then it kind of changed as people saw trade a lot of guys away and then we went young and just everybody was gearing up for the next night, you know, for the ninety four season and the new stadium that was being built.
But you know, it was sold out that day. We had a few sellouts throughout the season. Was day July fourth and the final week, final week in all three games. And just also you know, to be pictured on the tickets with mel Harder, So I get that a lot. I get them in the mail, I get them when I go back to Cleveland, or just random people and just want them signed and talking about that day when we broke round for Jacob's Field and it was just a that was That's
a memory in my mind that I'll never forget. The other one is July twenty first, two thousand and one or one hundredth anniversary. There's forty plus members of the top one hundred roster, dotted by some of the greatest pitchers in the history of our franchise, of course, and you're starting that game as well. Tell me all about that day. It was a fun day. I mean, I've got to know a lot of those guys that were there. I mean, they've been around before, and I'd been around for
a while and it was great to see everybody that was there. But and you know, I still had to remember that I was pitching. And I remember we talked of taking that photo when I was walking in after I warmed up from the bullpen and getting in the photo. And I didn't know how long it was going to take or anything like that. I really didn't care at the time, but you know, we did that. We took the photo, and you know, everybody pat me on the back, you know, hey, go get him, go get him, And I'm like,
oh god, I better pitch. Well today that's not exactly the words you used to be, but it was something like that. But yeah, I could not let you not be in that photo. I didn't want it to be like a kindergarten homeroom picture with a little thumbnail in the corner that Chuck was there, but he was pitching that day. You had to be in that photo. So when we took it, but guys like Bob Feller and Louis Tiant and Lenny Barker, Sonny Sebert, mel Haarder and Mud, Gary
Bell, Sam McDowell. They all came up to Charlie, patted him on the back, said hey, we're really looking forward to see in your throw today. Go get him and you and I just had a nice little tom as we walked to the dugout about that. Yeah, about Hey, don't screw this up. But you won that game. You pitch great, you got into I believe it was through the seventh inning and we ended up winning
that one. So two of the most remarkable days in our history as we celebrated our rich history, and you're on the mound for both of them. I just think those are the really cool things that fall in line in the game of baseball. Chuck, it's been a blast catching up. Many thanks, and we hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane. We look forward
to another edition of at the Ballpark on the Cleveland Guardians Radio Network. As always thanks to Bobby d and another edition of at the Ballpark, and that's going to do it for this week's edition of Guardians Weekly. Thanks as always to Brian Motsey for helping to put together our show each and every week. We'll join you next week from North of the border as the Guardians will be in Toronto, ont Canada to play the Blue Jays next weekend, and we'll
join you with our show from Canada next Saturday. Until then, this is Jim Rosenhouse reminding you that you've been listening to Guardians Weekly on the Cleveland Clinic Guardians Radio Network. Guardians Weekly has been brought to you by Progressive helping Guardians fans save hundreds on car insurance