Vol. II, Issue #2 - March 2014

** Interview with Brian McRae **

(Wolfman Shapiro talks with ex-MLB player Brian McRae about his experiences in Baseball
and what it was like for him to be the son of the hitting star and his father, Hal McRae.)

(Notes from the Wolfman: I met Mr. McRae on the social media network called Linkedin. Actually the same thing happened with Jeff Montgomery, who is our other ex-Major Leaguer interview for this issue. It turns out that both of these players know each other and are very close friends. Mr. McRae was very friendly in the exchanges I had with him via email and as you will read in my notes at the end of the interview, he is quiet a busy man who is very involved with the Kansas City community.)

Wolfman:  Today we have the honor and privilege to interview another interesting and successful ex-MLB ball player, Brian McRae, who is now an assistant baseball coach at Park University in Missouri as well as an on air baseball analyst linked to the KC Royals. I am sure many of our members who have been with Strat-o-Matic baseball for some time, and have played with teams from the 1990's, will recognize Mr. McRae or you will remember his father Hal McRae, who was a star for the Reds and the Royals.

We want to welcome you Mr. McRae to the Ultimate Strat Baseball Newsletter

So Brian, I read in your profile on Linkedin that your father, Hal McRae was involved with baseball for many years, not only as a player, but a coach and manager. He even was your manager when you played for the Kansas City Royals, who originally drafted you. What can you share with us about what it was like when you were younger and your father was having his success in Major League Baseball?

Brian McRae: (Note: To answer this question, Brian offered this article printed in the Utica Observer Dispatch where he discusses a bit about his father, who of course all of us recognize as a MLB hitting star. Feel free to read:

http://www.uticaod.com/article/20130601/BLOGS/306019967/0/SEARCH )

Wolfman: While growing up, besides admiring your father as a major leaguer, were there other baseball players you admired or respected, that you wished you could be like? Which teams did you root for when you were young?

Brian McRae:  I was a Reds fan until 1973 when my dad was traded to the Royals.

(note -- in the article mentioned above, Mr. McRae notes that two of his favorite players when he was younger was Johnny Bench and Pete Rose of the Reds)

Wolfman:  Did you go to games that you father played in? Did you have contact with other major leaguers when your father was a player? What was it like to be a son of a professional ball player - did you see much of your father during this time?

Brian McRae:  I would go to a few games when I was young but with all the night games and being in school I didn't get to do much until the summers. I would spend a lot of time around the team during spring break and would be a bat boy for some of the games.

Wolfman:   What happened when you father began to be a coach and manager? Did you still have contact with him and did he expose you to more aspects of the game.

Brian McRae:  My dad retired in 1987 and I was in my 3rd season in the minors. Since he was coaching he didn't get to see me play much in the minors.

Wolfman:  So to develop your baseball skills, did you go the normal route of most players - little league, high school and college? I remember your main position in the major leagues was in the outfield - was this your best position when you were young or did you play other positions?

Brian McRae:  I was a better football player in high school but didn't start playing baseball until 9th grade (although really) I was a baseball player first. I didn't think I would get drafted out of high school. Anyway, I was around the game from a young age so I had a better understanding of how much work you needed to put in and how hard the game (really) is.

(Note: Brian was drafted by the Kansas City Royals when he was 17 and still in college, which was not normally done at that time. He was drafted in the 1st round, the #17 pick.)

Wolfman:   Now can you tell us what happened when you were drafted by Kansas City? I read you didn't finish College. How did you feel when you knew you might have a chance to play major league baseball?

Brian McRae:  I didn't start college until 1984 at the University of Kansas. I had two plus year left and I wanted to be a head coach (of a baseball team) at the college level. The idea of playing in the majors didn't really enter my mind until 1990 when I had a good year in AA ball and made the all-star team while playing in Memphis. Once I got called up I was told I'd be there for 2-3 weeks and 10 years later I was still around.

(Note: While Brian was in college he studied broadcast journalism. After he retired from Baseball, he worked with WGN-TV and the Sportschannel as an in-studio analyst. Later, he worked at MLB.com radio as well as worked on ESPN's Baseball Tonight as a commentator and baseball analyst.)

Wolfman:   So you were in the minors for about 5 years before, in 1990, you had a chance to play for Royals - what positions did you play in the minors?

Brian McRae:  I was drafted as a shotstop and played 4 years in the minors at second base.

Wolfman:   While in the minors, did you have a chance to meet any well known players? Either playing there due to injuries or coming to the end of their career?

Brian McRae:  We didn't have too many big name major leaguers come down while I was in the minors. Most of the guys who came down were pitchers getting some innings before getting called back up.

Wolfman:  How did it feel when you had your first moment to play in MLB? Do you remember that game?

Brian McRae:  We were playing in Huntsvillle, Alabama when I got the call. I packed my bags and got on a 8am flight through Atlanta and was in Kansas City in time for the game that night. I was in the lineup and the whole day was a (total) blur.

(Note: in 1990, Brian was called up to the major because starting center fielder Bob Jackson, who was having the best season of his career went on the disabled list with a shoulder injury. The two veteran outfielders on the team at that time just couldn't fill the spot left by Jackson so Kansas City gave Brian his chance.)

Wolfman:  What does it feel like to play in the major leagues? Is this a good or easy job? Does the large amount of games take a toll on you? Were you happy with your life - did receiving a great salary effect or change you?

Brian McRae:  The travel, money and perks were all fun but it's not a normal life and the stress of trying to compete at a high level takes a toll on you. It's a full-time job.

Wolfman:  Can you share with our members what was it like for you in the day of the life as a major leaguer, on the days when you knew you would be or could be in the game that day?

Brian McRae:  My game day was up around 11am...eat breakfast and go to the ballpark around 2pm if a home game or 3pm on the road. (Then I would) watch film, hit in the indoor cages, go over scouting reports and nap before regular batting practice. I'd stay an hour after the game to workout and get a treatment. Most players spend 8-10 hours a day at the ballpark.

Wolfman:  According to the statistical records I found on the internet, you were teammates with Jeff Montgomery at KC during the time you were there. We just happened to interview for this issue as well. What was it like to play with Jeff? He seems a very kind and open person .. from my brief contact with him.

Brian McRae:  Jeff Montgomey and I are business partners with a sports radio station here in Kansas City. We played together for 5 years and hung out quite a bit.

Wolfman:  They say in the 90's many players began to use enhancing drugs. Did you see any of this while you were in the major leagues?

Brian McRae:  As far as playing in the late 80's and through 2000 I didn't really know much about the use of PED's from the teams I played on. It really wasn't t discussed.

Wolfman:  Do you still have some good friends from your playing days that you keep track of?

Brian McRae:  I still talk to quite a few of the guys I played with and against. A group of 25 or so live in the Kansas City area so we do a lot of charity events (together).

Wolfman:  What would you say was one of the most special experiences or games you had; one which you will never forget?

Brian McRae:  The biggest thrill for me was getting called up from AA in Memphis and playing the same night in Kansas City.

Wolfman:  What do you miss from Baseball since you retired in 2000? Why did you retire after only playing 10 ML seasons (you were only 32 or 33)?

Brian McRae:  I retired after 10 years because I didn't want to be a bench player after playing everyday for my whole career.

Wolfman:  Have you ever heard of any of the simulated baseball games that have been sold that use the actual performance of the major league players to give fans a chance to be a manager of the players, to replay seasons or to use for a form of fantasy baseball?

Brian McRae:  I have never played any fantasy baseball and don't have the slightest idea how it all works?

Wolfman:  How did you feel after you retired from the game?

Brian McRae:  I don't miss playing. I had 15 years of pro ball and was happy to get out at a young age and leave healthy.

Wolfman:  And now you are a baseball coach at a university - what role do you play as a coach? How is being a coach different from a player?

Brian McRae:  As a coach, I want to make sure the kids understand how to prepare for the season and the work that needs to be put in during the off-season. I try to keep things simple and stress the basic things that good players need to do day in and day out.

Wolfman:  Thank you Mr. McRae for taking time in your busy schedule to answer our questions and to help to enhance the knowledge of baseball and what it is like to play the game as a MLB player.

(Final Comments from the Wolfman: I found out some other interesting information from wikipedia linked to Brian McRae -- He was always a good base stealer, in the minors and the majors. His best year was in 1996 when he stole 37 bases and scored 111 runs with the Chicago Cubs. He played for the Royals from 1990-1994; the Cubs 1995-1997; and the Mets from 1997-1999. His best game was on July 14th, 1991 with his father as the manager of the Royals, as he had two homers from the leadoff spot (one a grand slam) with six RBIs as the Royals destroyed the Detroit Tigers 18-4.

Additionally from his bio on linkedin - he is an owner and on-line personality with two AM radio stations (one he works with Jeff Montgomery) and also is a part-time Coach, GM and Director of Operations for KC Sluggers Baseball, which is a non-profit organization that helps high school kids who want to play College Baseball. Four of their kids have made it to the big leagues.)

To Read More about Brian McRae

If you would like to read more about Brian McRae, check out his listing on linked-in at:
https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=8725524  or go to wikipedia at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_McRae

 

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Contained inside this exciting issue of Ultimate Strat Baseball Newsletter:
(to view the various interviews, articles, columns and special sections click on the links {underlined} and this will take you to the appropriate webpage)
 

♦  RETURN TO NEWSLETTER MAIN PAGE

♦  INTERVIEW  with JEFF MONTGOMERY, ex-MLB player with the Royals.

♦  SOM BASEBALL WORLD NEWS, a new page to share interesting news related to
Strat-o-matic Baseball.

♦  ARTICLE with JOSEPH BOTTOM & ALAN DAVISON, two SOM Baseball Fanatics
(Joseph & Alan) give permission for us to share with our members their article called "Numbering the Days - Memories of SOM Baseball", published in the Weekly Standard, Sept. 2013.

♦  ARTICLE with HANK SMITH, former Star Tournaments Commissioner and Ambassador
Hank was one of the most beloved individuals in the SOM Baseball World and a key for the success of the Star Tournaments. In this report, Hank discusses how he won the 2007 Worlds Tournament held by Star to find their champion. This is the beginning of a new direction by Wolfman Shapiro for his Conventions Column and to honor Hank who passed away in 2013.

♦  EARLY SOM CONVENTIONS COLUMN with WOLFMAN SHAPIRO -- editor of
"The Ultimate Strat Newsletter" and 2012 CBA Champion, Wolfman takes us back in
this article to the ninth national Strat-o-matic Convention in 1980, held in Evanston, IL, at Northwestern University, as the Wolfman and his buddies organize their seventh and final convention via their Chicagoland SOM Club. Unfortunately, due to personal changes in the Wolfman's life at that time, a report of what took place at the convention was not sent to the SOM review. This article will transition us to other types of tournaments that have been offered after 1980 and to honor Hank Smith. Also we hope this column will inspire our readers to help us create a SOM On-line Baseball Convention in the near future.

♦  COMMISSIONER's CORNER with MARC WASSERMAN -- commissioner of the Cyber Baseball Association (CBA) continues his column about what it is like to be a League Commissioner. In this article, he turns his focus to discuss how the start of the CBA began
with its Canadian roots and once again is being strongly influence by our Canadian members.

♦  RECOMMEND ON-LINE SOM RESOURCES -- On-line Strat-o-matic and Baseball related websites that offer amazing information, special tools and products to improve your game play that we strongly recommend. In most cases, we have had personal contact with these sources who agree with the principle to work together and help promote each other.

♦  BOOK REVIEW with WOLFMAN SHAPIRO Wolfman takes a peek at the "Baseball Prospectus 2014 Guide" created by Baseball Prospectus and over 20 contributing writers. This guide features predictions for over 2,100 players who will or could be a part of the upcoming 2014 season.  CEO, Joe Hamhari, helped us to get this book. He is an avid SOM baseball gamer who we interviewed in the August 2013 issue of the newsletter.

♦  BOOKS TO DIE FOR and Become a BASEBALL GURU -- This page is specifically about special books we are finding that either will expand your insights about the game of Baseball, help you in the creation of your current league teams or with your replays and learn more about the Strat-o-matic Base Game and Game Company's history.  We have a special arrangement with Acta Sports, who is a publisher of a number of great baseball books (including Bill James Handbooks) to offer for our members a 10% discount. We will continue to add more books to this page in the future as we uncover other gems our members should know about.

 

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Contact Us for Questions or Submissions:

Wolfman Shapiro
Founder/Editor, the Ultimate Strat Baseball Newsletter

email: wolfman@ultimatestratbaseball.com
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