{"id":254,"date":"2018-08-17T01:11:17","date_gmt":"2018-08-17T06:11:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/haughtcorner.com\/?page_id=254"},"modified":"2023-06-01T12:13:54","modified_gmt":"2023-06-01T17:13:54","slug":"mike-bacsik","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/haughtcorner.com\/?p=254","title":{"rendered":"Mike Bacsik"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pitcher Mike Bacsik<\/span> was one of the early Texas Rangers players who helped me learn the pro game. He wasn’t a big star, but that didn’t (and doesn’t) matter. He played and competed hard — the right way — and<\/em> The Haught Corner is as much for guys like Mike as anyone. Thanks, Mike!<\/em><\/p>\n

You were drafted by the Orioles in the 55th<\/sup> round of the 1970 draft, but you \"Bacsikdidn\u2019t sign. Did you feel you were picked too low, or were there other reasons not to sign?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I graduated high school [Bishop Dunne in Dallas] at 6\u20191\u201d and maybe 160 pounds \u2013 I was the point guard on our basketball team. I wanted to sign really bad, but my dad said, \u2018the important draft number is the one Uncle Sam has for you: 42.\u2019<\/p>\n

Remember, in 1970, Vietnam was in full swing, so it was somewhat of a no-brainer whether to join the service or reserves or go to college; \u00a0Vietnam made that decision for you. I believe you had to make a C average, but I was a pretty good student, so that wasn\u2019t a problem.<\/p>\n

You went to Trinity in San Antonio for three years, instead.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I turned down a scholarship to Texas, because believe it or not, at that time a UT education was not close to what you could get at Trinity. Remember, we are talking 1970.<\/p>\n

And you had good teams and got plenty of exposure at Trinity.<\/strong><\/p>\n

We were good! We actually got in the Top 10. We had the Mahler brothers [Rick and Mickey] and Paul Stanley and me as starting pitchers. Three of our four starters pitched in the big leagues.<\/p>\n

We played a nonconference game against Texas, and I was friends with most of the UT players because we played summer ball in Dallas together. I lost 2-1 when Keith Moreland hit a triple.<\/p>\n

I had a fun time in college, and I love my college teammates. I got my degree, and things worked out for me there.<\/p>\n

Was your sinker a natural fastball for you?<\/strong><\/p>\n

In college, [ex-MLB pitcher] Joel Horlen said, \u2018your fastball is a straight four-seamer.\u2019 That\u2019s all I knew. He said, \u2018let\u2019s throw this slider and [a two-seam] sinker\u2019 and it changed my life. Tight, hard slider. And my two-seam fastball had big-time run and sink.<\/p>\n

Sometimes, though, I could get wild with it. Sometimes I threw a slider for a strike on 3-0 because my fastball moved too much.<\/p>\n

You signed with the Rangers as an undrafted free agent in the summer of 1973.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I had been an All-American, and I threw a one-hitter against Arkansas — the best offensive team in the country. I thought for sure I would get drafted. I threw hard. Then I don\u2019t get drafted and I\u2019m at home, crying.<\/p>\n

I knew Joe Macko \u2013 the Rangers\u2019 clubhouse guy \u2013 and he said, \u2018I\u2019ll get you a tryout with the Rangers.\u2019<\/p>\n

I don’t get drafted, and I’m at home, crying. \u00a0<\/span> \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 — Mike Bacsik, on being a free agent<\/em><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So I went to Arlington Stadium to throw for them. At the end of batting practice, [manager] Whitey Herzog said, \u2018Come on over.\u2019 I threw about five pitches to him, and then he got another catcher.<\/p>\n

I only threw about 15 pitches, and he said, \u2018let\u2019s go into my office.\u2019<\/p>\n

He said, \u2018I want to sign you and send you to Pittsfield.\u2019 It was absolutely the best day of my life.<\/p>\n

But it wasn\u2019t all cut-and-dried \u2013 and there was some risk in it for you.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The next day, the Rangers called me. Hal Keller, the farm director said, \u2018we want to fly you to Sarasota and throw for Bill Haywood, the manager. If he likes you, you made the team.\u2019<\/p>\n

But I had a full scholarship to Trinity, so I would be giving that up if I signed. But it was something I had wanted to do since I was five or six years old. I threw a bullpen and they said, \u2018we want you.\u2019<\/p>\n

Maybe the third game I pitched was against a Reds farm team. They said, \u2018who is this guy? We have two scouts in Texas.\u2019 They had been told that I didn\u2019t want to sign. Actually, I had been asked if I was coming back to Trinity, and I said yes, but it was to finish my degree — after<\/em> I signed.<\/p>\n

You found out quickly that it made a difference whether or not you were a draft pick.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I was relieving, and I asked if I could start some games. The manager said, \u2018I have no doubt you are better [than other starting pitchers], but the lineup comes from the farm director. You will not start. I will give you a chance to finish some games.\u2019<\/p>\n

You finished 1973 2-0 with six saves in 23 innings pitched, all in relief. But in 1974 in A ball, you were used exclusively as a starter, going 15-5. Was that a springboard year for you?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Oh yeah. After rookie ball was over, I completed my degree and I went to A ball and went 15-5 — and led league in sacrifice bunts, too. I made $550 a month and got a $50 raise toward the end of the year, because I was leading the league in wins.<\/p>\n

In 1975, you jumped all the way to AAA, and then the majors. But it was not a smooth ride. What happened?<\/strong><\/p>\n

They sent me a contract for $600 a month. I said, \u2018I\u2019m not sure I did the right thing \"Bacsik[by signing to play pro ball].\u2019 I had gotten married, and already had a job with E-Systems\u2014a pretty good job. \u00a0They said, \u2018you might have to repeat A ball.\u2019 So I didn\u2019t sign my contract.<\/p>\n

My manager, Rich Donnelly, said, \u2018what\u2019s the deal?\u2019 I told him, \u2018they don\u2019t think I can pitch. I can\u2019t live on $600 a month for five months.\u2019 Then I got an invite to big-league camp. I went 3-0 with three saves, which I couldn\u2019t believe. Billy Martin loved that I threw a hard slider and hard sinker. I got a lot of ground balls.<\/p>\n

But you did not break camp with Texas, and you ended up in AAA.<\/strong><\/p>\n

With about a week to go, Billy said, \u2018you made the team, but you didn\u2019t<\/em> make the team. I\u2019m not gonna take you north over Jim Merritt, but if someone gets hurt, you\u2019ll be the first guy called up.\u2019 So I go down to AAA and pitch a month or six weeks, and Billy called me up.<\/p>\n

Your major-league debut was June 15, 1975 \u2013 the old trading deadline. Was that a factor in you getting called to the big leagues?<\/strong><\/p>\n

We were in Sacramento, and the manager, Del Wilber, said, \u2018you can\u2019t pitch. We\u2019re working on a trade with Cleveland. Billy doesn\u2019t want you to pitch.\u2019 I got called up and threw a bullpen in Arlington.<\/p>\n

What do you remember about your debut?<\/strong><\/p>\n

It was all a blur. I flew in from California, and got into a game that night, which I didn\u2019t expect. I pitched a couple innings against Cleveland and gave up one hit.<\/p>\n

I was the first Dallasite to pitch for the Rangers, which was a big deal then. And I got to do it in my home park. How great was that?<\/span> — Bacsik, on his MLB debut<\/em><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So I go out there and pitch and get a couple guys out, and I was really, really happy. Almost a fantasy. Nobody could be this lucky, for this to happen to them.<\/p>\n

It didn\u2019t take long for you to feel accepted by your teammates. That doesn\u2019t always happen!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Billy got me in so many games in spring training, and [relief pitcher] Steve Foucault treated me like a brother; if he\u2019s not the nicest guy in baseball, I don\u2019t know who is. But [outfielder] Tom Grieve gave me a yellow Izod golf shirt he got from being named the Star of the Game. To this day, I still remember that \u2013 how special it was, to make me feel like I was part of the team.<\/p>\n

You were 1-2 with a 3.71 ERA for Texas in 1975, but you ended up back in AAA. Why?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The day I got sent down was the day Billy got fired [July 20, 1975] and I think it was because Billy liked me, and they were going [get rid of] anyone who Billy liked. How many times do you get sent down with a 3.7 ERA?<\/p>\n

How was it to play for Billy Martin? He seemed to have a polarizing effect on players.<\/strong><\/p>\n

You were in the castle or the outhouse with Billy [laughs].<\/em><\/p>\n

If you played the game right, and hard — I would have died for Billy, and he knew that. I would do anything for him. There were guys who were crybabies, and they just didn\u2019t like him — but guys like Toby Harrah loved him. There were a few guys who didn\u2019t, and that ruined it.<\/p>\n

Billy basically got fired because of the players.<\/p>\n

So were there \u201cBilly guys\u201d and \u201cnot Billy guys\u201d?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sometimes there are personality conflicts, and people don\u2019t get along. Bump Wills, Lenny Randle, Toby, Roy Howell \u2013 everyone got traded. And when Jeff Burroughs was traded to Atlanta, that was a rake job.<\/p>\n

I think if they would have left that team together, we would have done something.<\/p>\n

You pitched in 23 games for Texas in 1976, all in relief.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I could go a couple innings. My biggest problem was I needed a changeup. I threw sinker-slider and I had a curve and forkball, but they were not major-league pitches.<\/p>\n

Was it hard for you to adjust to relieving?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yes. Vey difficult. I didn\u2019t know how to prepare to go into a game. Fookie once told me, \u2018make it one for three.\u2019 I had no idea what he was talking about. He had to tell me, \u2018you\u2019re just trying to stay loose. For every three<\/em> pitches he throws, you throw one<\/em>.\u2019<\/p>\n

Being from Texas, did you feel you knew how to handle pitching in the heat better than other pitchers?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yes, but in Minnesota [where he pitched in 1979 and 1980] I wasn\u2019t used to the cold<\/em> [laughs].<\/em> It was so cold in 1979 that the relievers didn\u2019t go to the bullpen. So I sat on the bench in the dugout, and I got to hear Gene Mauch talk about the game, and hitters talk about the cold. I realized that they hated hitting in the cold worse than I did pitching in it.\u00a0 They especially hated sinker-slider guys like me.<\/p>\n

So I thought, \u201cthis ain\u2019t so bad, pitching in the cold weather.\u201d<\/p>\n

How bad was the Arlington Stadium infield in the summer?<\/strong><\/p>\n

It was horrible. I felt bad for the infielders. There were times when you didn\u2019t feel like your spikes would go through the crust. It was like a frying pan.<\/p>\n

In 1977 you were 4-8\/7.51 in AAA, and your two appearances with the Rangers were disasters: a 19.29 ERA.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I pitched horrible.<\/p>\n

I went to big-league spring training thinking I would make the team, but I did not get into one A game all spring, and only had two innings pitched in B games.<\/p>\n

Eddie Robinson was the general manager, and he brings over his guys — we got the Atlanta roster, their extras \u2013 for Jeff [Burroughs]. It’s business. But it killed me.<\/p>\n

I was somewhat bitter. I said, \u2018you guys obviously don\u2019t think that much of me.\u2019 And I started to have shoulder problems.<\/p>\n

You were 5-8\/5.35 in 18 games in AAA in 1978 \u2013 though 16 of those were starts.<\/strong><\/p>\n

After 1978, I thought I was retiring. Came home midyear from Tucson, and it was not good \u2013 career over.<\/p>\n

But you weren\u2019t done, after all.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I was working out, and Roger Staubach was there. I told him what had happened, and he said, \u2018you might have an impingement. Hit some tennis balls and golf balls to get that loose.\u2019 \u00a0So I did, mostly hitting golf balls. I went to a chiropractor, and he got me well.<\/p>\n

At the 1978 winter meetings, I got traded to Minnesota. I had already taken a job \"Bacsikwith Vought in cost-accounting. But I went to spring training, and had a good camp. At one point, [pitcher] Jerry Koosman said, \u2018how the hell did we get you for nothing<\/em>?\u2019<\/p>\n

Your teammate Mike Marshall helped too, with his expertise in kinesiology.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mike gave me some Frank Jobe exercises \u2013 we called them ‘Jobes’ — and he had me do 3-4 sets a day with three-pound dumbbells. The last two years, they kept me relatively healthy.<\/p>\n

But you didn\u2019t break camp with the Twins in 1979.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gene Mauch heard that I wasn\u2019t going to AAA \u2013 I had a split contract, and was making no money. He said, \u2018we\u2019ll call you up after a month or so.\u2019 So I went to Toledo and spent seven weeks there.<\/p>\n

At Toledo you were 1-1\/1.29.<\/strong><\/p>\n

At that point I knew I could get major-league hitters out. I got called up and spent the rest of the year in Minnesota. I finally felt somewhat established<\/p>\n

It’s just baseball. You go out there and try to get guys out.<\/span> \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span> \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 — Bacsik, on pitching in the big leagues<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

But in 1980, you again split the season between AAA and the big leagues.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I went to spring training in 1980 thinking I would make the team. But in Lakeland, it was damp, and my left ribs were killing me. The doctor said I had a stress fracture in the ribs and would have to do nothing. So they sent me down \u2013 no disabled list.<\/p>\n

I was sent down, and that\u2019s tough for that to happen to you.<\/p>\n

Did you feel like you were getting a reputation as a AAAA player?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Absolutely, yes. I wasn\u2019t an early draft pick, so they didn\u2019t have a bunch of money in you. At one camp, I was an undrafted free agent trying to make a team with Len Barker, David Clyde, and Jim Gideon.<\/p>\n

Spring training in 1981 was the end for you.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I got traded to Seattle. Maury Wills was the manager. They were really young, and at 30 years old, I thought I had a good chance to make it. But the GM said, \u2018we don\u2019t want Bacsik. We want a younger staff. We are sending you to AAA.\u2019<\/p>\n

I said, \u2018if I can\u2019t make this team, let me go.\u2019 And they did. I was released and went to Oakland\u2019s camp in Phoenix. Art Fowler was pitching coach. At the end of spring training, they said, \u2018we can\u2019t use you now, and it will be two months before we can<\/em> use you.\u2019<\/p>\n

And I thought, \u2018this is a good time to start my second career.\u2019 I already had two kids, and that\u2019s a difficult life for a woman \u2013 we have been married 43 years, and she loves baseball.<\/p>\n

Any regrets? Do you think you got all you could out of your arm?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I don\u2019t regret it. My stats aren\u2019t great, but it is what it is. I had my degree, and I worked at Vought Aircraft for 25 years.<\/p>\n

Could I have gotten more time in the big leagues? Yeah, but I don\u2019t regret it. I got a pension form Vought and one from MLB, so I\u2019m really happy.<\/p>\n

And now you give private pitching lessons from your home. How did that come about?<\/strong><\/p>\n

First it was my son [Mike, who played in MLB for five seasons as a left-handed pitcher]. Then other people came. Twelve guys I\u2019ve worked with have made it to the big leagues.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m having fun with the kids. The biggest satisfaction is to see a kid sign a college scholarship.<\/p>\n

Is that more rewarding than your own pitching?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Well, the most<\/em> rewarding thing was watching my son pitch in the big leagues. It\u2019s 100 times harder to watch your son pitch than to do it yourself — you sit on the edge of your seat. I feel like the luckiest man alive.<\/p>\n

What did your son take from you as a pitcher? Did he resist your coaching?<\/strong><\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t throw like me; I was hard and wild, and he threw soft and precise [laughs]. <\/em>My wife\u2019s left-handed, and so is my son. His game is the control part; that was not my strong suit.<\/p>\n

Yes, he took a lot from me, but we had a great relationship. And I told him when he was little that it was more important to be a big-league person than to be a big-league ballplayer.<\/p>\n

My \u201clittle boy\u201d is 40 now. At one point in time, he asked how many times I made the All-Star team. I told him none — that I wasn\u2019t really close. He said, \u2018you must not have been very good.\u2019 I told him, \u2018if you make it in baseball, and make the major leagues, you\u2019re going to laugh at what you just asked me.\u2019<\/p>\n

You pitched to Hank Aaron when he had 755 home runs \u2013 his final total. Mike gave up #756 to Barry Bonds.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mike said, \u2018if my dad had been gracious enough to give up 756 to Aaron, we wouldn\u2019t have to be going through this.\u2019 But it\u2019s just baseball. You go out there and try to get guys out.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Pitcher Mike Bacsik was one of the early Texas Rangers players who helped me learn the pro game. He wasn’t a big star, but that didn’t (and doesn’t) matter. He played and competed hard — […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-254","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-interviews"},"aioseo_notices":[],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/haughtcorner.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/254","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/haughtcorner.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/haughtcorner.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/haughtcorner.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/haughtcorner.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=254"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/haughtcorner.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/254\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4178,"href":"https:\/\/haughtcorner.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/254\/revisions\/4178"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/haughtcorner.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=254"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/haughtcorner.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=254"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/haughtcorner.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=254"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}