One of the great benefits of being in the baseball industry, even as a web writer for a little site like this, is the opportunity to meet some great people. One of them is Pat Ahearne, whom I saw pitch in the College World Series and followed in the majors. I owned him in a fantasy league a long time ago. Pat was gracious enough to answer some questions posed by Brian Joura and myself about his career.  Pat opines about playing in China, facing Rottweilers in Venezuela, eating snake soup and getting chewed out by Kirk Gibson in Detroit.

Pat Ahearne is quite an interesting guy. I came across him through my work with Fanball.com and was pleased that he agreed to be interviewed.  He has had an intriguing baseball career, playing in many contries across the world, and now works in the industry as well as running his own photography studio.  He is currently the Pitching Instructor & International Director RDRBI at USC at Rod Dedeaux Research & Baseball Institute, USC, and is the Owner of Pat Ahearne Photography.

1. Pat, can you tell me about your work at the Rod Dedeaux Research & Baseball Institute, on the campus of University of Southern California.

At the RDRBI, it is a unique partnership among athletes, coaches and medical staff where baseball training and research is done and brought to the athletic community.  The centerpiece of the facility is the 1200 frame per second motion analysis system.  Many of our training methods and teachers have come from the research done on top professional players with a system that records at a speed 30 times what can be seen by the human eye.  It’s given excellent insight to what actually happens during the dynamic motion of throwing and has added science to pitching instruction. 

I am also proud to work at a place carrying the Dedeaux name.  For myself and everyone involved, it is important to honor his legacy with our work and in whatever manner possible, and to give to current players in the manner Rod Dedeaux gave to everyone he knew. 

2. You have played baseball all over the world. Can you tell me what that was like, and what are some of your best and worst experiences?

Travel is one of my favorite parts of playing baseball.  It definitely hones your ability to adapt.  My baseball passport has been stamped by Canada, Australia, Venezuela, Italy, and Taiwan and the hospitality I have encountered in each place has been excellent.  I always try to represent myself and my country as best I can when overseas and I want to experience as much of the culture as possible and to that end, respect of the culture goes a long way.

Some of the best experiences on the field include participating in the ultimate rivalry in Venezuelan baseball: Caracas vs. Magallanes.  These are the kinds of games that are so intense, they have military security with German shepherds and Rottweilers on the field in foul territory during the game.  I have been able to pitch in 5 of those games and they were the most exciting games I’ve been involved with.

 Off the field, I have been invited into people’s homes for great traditional meals, visited beautiful sites and cities, and met a lot of different people in different countries.  It’s been a rewarding experience beyond the baseball.

One of the worst times was catching pneumonia just before traveling home from Venezuela for Christmas one year.  I didn’t know until I saw the doctor when I got home, but Caracas-Miami, Miami-Los Angeles is tough when you are that ill.  That one hung around for 3 weeks and took about 18 pounds off me.

3. An offbeat question-there is a new book out dealing with baseball ghosts and I was surprised how many players had stories where they claim to see supernatural phenomena. You seem like a sober guy; but do you have any such stories?

I have heard stories and I know how prone baseball players are to superstition and strange phenomenon.  I am definitely aware of the history of places and can almost sense those things when you visit places like Yankee Stadium and Fenway, and the old Tiger Stadium.  I have to say that the only supernatural experience I have had is the time in 1996 when during a St. Paul versus Duluth game, a baseball left my hand, hit Darryl Strawberry’s bat and never landed.  Quite mysterious.

4. You are one of the relatively few players that have played in China. Can you tell me what that was like? How was the quality of play and how did it compare to the US Minor leagues?

Baseball in Taiwan was a great experience.    The level varied from AA to AAA level and the experience had elements of pro, high school, and college baseball.  For instance, most teams didn’t have their own stadium so you didn’t have a permanent clubhouse and changed at the apartment, bussed to the game and returned to the apartment after to shower and change.  Also, you would play in a stadium one day and be home team and be visitor another time in the same spot.  Sometimes the schedule was a game everyday and sometimes you’d have 3 or 4 days off in a row. 

Another interesting time was when the pregame meals would arrive and when you’d ask the translator what you were eating, sometimes he would say “I don’t know how to say that in English.”  When you are hungry enough, you just go for it.  I never had any problems with the food there so that’s good.  Probably the most exotic (that I knew of) was snake soup.

5. How did you get into photography? What are some of your favorite photos?

I always wanted to do photography, but it wasn’t practical carrying and developing film while I was traveling.  When digital came out, I got a 1.3 megapixel plastic camera just for fun and when I showed people my stuff, they really liked it.  I guess that part came natural and I have gradually upgraded my equipment since then and now I have been published in Newsday, done some parties and private photo shoots, I’m a member of Pro Photographers and Nikon Professional Services, and have my own site: http://ahearnephoto.smugmug.com

My favorite photos to take are ones that capture the moment.  Many times my purpose is for whoever sees my work to have a good feel for being there.  I’ve done equestrian jumping derbies and caught great action shots, but the riders all like the candid shots of them interacting with horses better so I think that’s where my skill lies.

6. When you pitched your motion was very similar to that of Orel Hershiser. Was this deliberate?

I have been a Dodger fan since birth so I always followed them.  When I was pitching in college, our coach was airing us out one day and asked if any of us pay attention to how the best in the game do their job.  After that, I recorded games Orel pitched on TV.  My motion was similar and I threw a sinker, but I began to emulate his motion because he was one of the best.  I emulated his motion deliberately to help my game from a physical standpoint and emulated his mannerisms, look of intensity and competitiveness from a mental standpoint.

7. You played under Sparky Anderson. How was he as a manager to the guys who were on the bench?

Sparky Anderson’s first words to me were after I allowed 5 runs in 1 inning pitched in my major league debut.  He walked by my locker on the way to the shower and said “The sun will come up tomorrow, kid.” I think at that point in his managerial career, he liked being around veteran players more so than the 25 year old rookie that I was.  Interestingly, I found out he was the batboy for one of Coach Dedeaux’s teams at USC.

8. You also played with Gibson, Trammell, Whitaker and Cecil Fielder  - was Gibson as intense as he seemed to be? Do you think Trammell and Whitaker should be in the Hall of Fame?

To answer your question about whether Gibson was as intense as he seemed the short answer is YES, and more so.  I like to tell the story of Gibby working out in spring training with the Tiger’s strength coach at the time, Brad Andress.  After one particularly tough set of exercises with Andress in his face encouraging him, Gibby pushed up the last rep with a yell that made the alligators out on Lake Parker flinch.  He then proceeded to, in a friendly way, cuss out his workout partner.

One game while I was in Detroit, I finished my running and with 5 minutes of BP left, I put my hat in my back pocket to keep the sweat stains off and finished my shagging.  When I got back to the clubhouse, Gibby was standing behind me yelling “Hey Rookie!  Hey Rookie! Who the hell are you that you can’t wear your g—amn hat during batting practice?!?”  He then turned to Cecil Fielder, “Hey Dad (Cecil’s nickname) The Rookie here can’t wear his g—amn hat during batting practice!”  Cecil just looked down and the ground and said “Oh No.” After which the scared 25 year old rookie denied that he took his hat off during BP.

I will say for sure that being team mates with Kirk Gibson is my favorite experience of being in the big leagues - and I pitched at Yankee Stadium and Fenway Park!  When I was sent back to AAA, I was in the clubhouse at Fenway packing my stuff and Gibby was the first person to tap me on the shoulder and tell me to work hard, get myself back up to the big leagues, and wished me luck. 

I am all for Trammel and Whitaker to be in Cooperstown.  I don’t see how anyone can argue about their accomplishments and longevity in the game and I can also attest with my small bit of first hand experience playing with them.  I think it would be great to see them inducted together.

9.  In 1995 were you pressured to be a replacement player during that year’s strike?

I was with the Tigers that year and they brought all their minor leaguers in early and made the offer available.  There wasn’t any pressure brought to bear with them although I heard there was more of that in other organizations.  I never thought about crossing the line with that.  I attended several players union meetings and knew much about what was going on and I also wanted to be able to comment about the situation in the future and say that I never became a replacement player.

10. Here is a sensitive one: You were in the Majors for 10 games with an 11.70 ERA.  Are you happier to have had a cup of coffee with poor results or would you rather have been a career Minor Leaguer and left wondering how you would have done if given the chance?

This isn’t a sensitive spot for me, so I can tell you being able to put the title Major League Baseball Player after my name is something I’ll always be proud of regardless of time or results.

11. What advice do you have for anyone trying to get into the baseball industry?

For the player, understand it’s a different type of lifestyle similar to someone in the arts or entertainment industry so there will be people who understand what you go through and some who don’t.  You have to follow your heart and love of the game in the midst of the career.  I know many people in the industry who are non-players and all of them have a love of the game and the rewards it gives.  For both parties, I’d keep my focus as much as possible on all the rewards being involved with baseball provides.