** Interview with Don August **

Wolfman:  Now Mr. August (or can I call you Don?), when you were very young, did you have an interest in baseball?　 How did this start?　 Did you play in little league first?

Don August:  Yes you can call me Don.

I was pretty young when I developed my interest and love for the game of baseball. My first recollections of baseball was when I was about 4 or 5 years old. My dad had a plastic bat and balls and we practiced in the yard. He made bases out of old carpet. I was playing all of the time with him, and then my younger brothers, the kids on my street, and then later, little league came right in there too. My parents got me signed up and I played little league at Tri-Park Little League in Lawndale, California. I loved the game, I couldn’t get enough of it. Always getting a bunch of kids together to play and going to the park, or the school, the front yard, wherever, we could, we played a lot.

Wolfman:  I understand you grew up in Southern California -- is this where you lived when you began to play baseball or did your family move around.　 I am asking this question to explore a bit more when you were younger, who was your favorite major league baseball team and did you have any favorite players you followed?

Don August:  I grew up in Southern California, outside of LAX in the Los Angeles area. My parents got divorced when I was 13, a couple of years later me, my mom, and my 3 brothers moved an hour south to Mission Viejo in Orange County. I finished my last two years of high school at Capistrano Valley High School.

My favorite teams were both the Dodgers and Angels. People would ask me how I could like both and not just one. My answer was easy for me because the Dodgers were in the National League and the Angels were in the American League. I wanted to see a freeway World Series. My favorite players were all of the players that played for those two teams. Steve Garvey, Bill Russell, Ron Cey, Davey lopes, Steve Yeager, Dusty Baker, Reggie Smith, Don Sutton, Bob Welch, Doug Rau, Jim Fergosi, Bobby Grich, Rod Carew, Doug DeCinces, Brian Downing, Fred Lynn, Nolan Ryan, Frank Tanana ……Besides Angel and Dodger players I liked Carl Yastrzemski and Pete Rose.

Wolfman:  Did you know you would eventually become a major league player?　Was this your dream? Did you really believe you would do it?

Don August:  Yes I did believe it. When I was about 11 or 12 I decided I wanted to be a professional baseball player. I pretty much kept it to myself because I didn’t want to hear people tell me it would be impossible. I knew it was a long shot, but I just wanted to play in little league, then I thought about playing high school, then I hoped to play college, and so on. I just enjoyed the moment of where I was, and only thought about making it to the next level. I just believed that was what I was going to do, and since it was a long way down the road at first, I didn’t worry about it. The next level just kept coming one step at a time. I think that since I always had it in my mind I would achieve this, then the dots just connected and it happened.

Wolfman:  How did you decide to become a pitcher - when you played in (little league, high school or college) did you play other positions?　 Did you have a lot of success as a pitcher during these times? Did any of your school teams reach the level of state champions?

Don August:  I never pitched in little league, I wanted to try it for fun but there were always other guys on the team who pitched. That was fine because I was happy being an infielder. My first favorite position was second base. Then when I moved up to Senior Division (13-15 year olds) I wanted to be the guy with the strong arm, so I moved on and played shortstop. Then I began to pitch some there. I needed to have a breaking ball so I taught myself how to throw a curveball. Since I had no one to show me, I developed a somewhat unorthodox grip. This pitch would develop into a big sharp curveball in the years to come.

My last year of Senior Division and my freshman year of high school I pitched a lot, and my curveball was my out pitch. During my sophomore year in high school I only pitched in two games, one start was in a tournament where we needed another starter, and I pitched one game in relief because we were short of pitchers one game. I was our shortstop, which was my position. As I mentioned earlier, my parents got divorced and we moved to Orange County. If I stayed at my original high school I was going to be the starting shortstop as a junior, so I didn’t want to move.

When I got to Capistrano Valley H.S. I was worried about what if I don’t make the team, there could be other players that already have my position and the coaches don’t know me. What if I have an unlucky try out? So at the try out meeting we had to fill out a sheet with our name and what positions do we play. I of course circled shortstop as my number one position, and then I thought I should put down that I can also pitch. I figured this would make me more versatile and valuable and I could have a better chance of making the team. I ended up making the team. I was one of four pitchers who pitched on the varsity and I did pretty well. I didn’t play shortstop though as there was another kid on the team who was also a junior and he was the varsity shortstop as a freshman, so I pitched and played outfield.

My senior year I just went off, everything just worked, but I wasn’t supposed to play that season. In October of my senior year I ruptured my disc in my back between the 4^th and 5^th lumbar. My leg was numb and lost strength, the ruptured disc went into my sciatic nerve. I had to have surgery to remove the disc, decompress the nerve, and fuse the 4^th and 5^th lumbar together. I was young and determined and I healed quickly and worked out hard for my recovery. I ended up playing and I was our team MVP, Conference MVP, played in the Orange County High School All Star game, made the Southern California All Star team, and made the California All Star team that played a 3 game series against the Oklahoma High School All Stars. I had three division 1 schools interested in me, but they all didn’t come through, and I ended up going to a division 2 school at Chapman College in Orange, California as a pitcher. So I did make it to the next level of my journey.

Wolfman:  How well did you perform as a pitcher for your college team?

Don August:  The main reason I went to Chapman College was because they showed me their schedule and it was against a lot of the top division 1 schools, such as USC, UCLA, Cal State Fullerton, UC Santa Barbara, Univ. of San Diego, Arizona State, Univ. of Arizona, Wichita State, UC Irvine, etc etc and the coaches told me I would get 100 innings as a freshman. They kept their promise, I pitched 98 innings my first year. It was good experience early for me.

Then Chapman had me play in the Alaska Summer League after my freshman year. I did very well there, I was the pitcher of the year. By my junior year I really developed. My last year, in this junior year, I beat Cal State Fullerton two times that year and they would end up being the Division 1 College World Series National Champions. I ended up with a 16-4 record with a 1.81 ERA, I set a number of school pitching records, was the team MVP, Conference MVP, and an All American. I was able to get a try out for the U.S. Olympic team, which I ended up making that team.

Wolfman:  For what sport did you participate in the 1984 Olympics? Do you think being an Olympian, had something to do with being picked in the 1st round of MLB draft of college players in 1984?　 Were you happy to be drafted by the Houston Astros? Were there other teams who had scouts watching your performance in College?

Don August:  In the Olympics I was on the baseball team. It was a demonstration sport with hopes of making it into a full on medal sport. In 1984 I had such a great season that I got a lot of attention by the Major League scouts. At all of my games there were many scouts there watching me. When it got close to the June Draft they were all contacting me asking if I was going to go back to school for my senior season or was I thinking about going pro. A number of scouts told me if I was still available in the first round they were going to draft me. The Houston Astros scout named Reggie Waller called me too. He asked me how much money would I be asking for if the Houston Astros would draft me in the second round. I told him that wouldn’t happen because I was already told by other clubs I would go in the first round. The Astros had the 17th pick in the draft in 1984, they did pick me in the first round. I made it to the next level.

My success got me noticed and drafted in the 1^st round, and it also got me the attention of the USA Baseball Federation to give me a try out for the Olympic team. I was very happy to be drafted by the Astros, they were giving me my chance to play Major League baseball. They also had Nolan Ryan on their team, how awesome was that. I unfortunately never played for the Astros in the Major Leagues, as they would trade me to the Milwaukee Brewers in 1986 while I was in AAA in the minors, but I did go to two major league spring trainings with the Astros.

Wolfman:  Can you describe what happened and how you felt when you knew you were going to be a MLB player?

Don August:  While you are in the minors you never know if you are going to make it to the Majors. You could be having success in the minors but sometimes you have to wait your turn, that happened to me, and then if you struggle you have to wait more until you re-prove yourself, so there are a lot of things that can happen. You never know until you get the call saying they are taking you, and there have been stories that guys were on the plane going to the Majors and there was a last second change, so you never know until you got that uniform on and you are on the field. Then, there is the next thing, how long will you stay. Are you just up for a week until another player comes back, or if you don’t do good immediately they could send you right back down, could there another young player right behind you to take your spot, etc, etc. But when you are a Major League baseball player it is great every day you are there, you are a fool if you ever take it for granted.

Wolfman:  What type of pitches did you develop in your repertoire? Which pitch was your best or most powerful?

Don August:  When I made it to the Majors I threw four pitches: fastball, curveball, slider, and change up.

My curveball was my out pitch, my bread and butter. I had a decent fastball, not over powering, but I had good control and movement. I was told on a number of occasions that I had a good curveball like Bert Blyleven, which was a great compliment.

Wolfman:  Via our interviews with Billy Sample, who played about the same time as yourself, he said that the salaries of this era of baseball were more modest and not as elaborate and high as today - can you comment about this from your experience?

Don August:  Definitely the salaries were different back then compared to today. But back then everyone was telling us our salaries were outrageous. The old-timers told us they had to have off season jobs and so on. Now we are looking at these players and their salaries and we are thinking the same thing, but that’s the way it is. When I played we were making the big time money at that time, nobody was complaining.

Wolfman:  So the Astros drafted you #17 in the first round in 1984 but then you and another player were traded to Milwaukee for Danny Darwin two years later in 1986.  So did you play in the minors that year for both teams? What was it like to play in the minor leagues? Did you meet any famous or soon to become famous players while in the minors?　 Was there any memorable game you pitched in the minors that you performed quite well and will never forget?

Don August:  I was very happy to have been drafted in the 1^st round by the Astros, it was my start. When I was traded to the Brewers I was at the AAA level at the time and I was sad to go, but I felt like I was being traded to a team who wanted me, they gave up a veteran Major League pitcher to have me. So I did play almost two years in the minors with the Astros when they traded me. I would go on and play almost two more years in the minors with the Brewers before I would get called up to the Majors.

Some of my memorable moments in the minors would be my first year in the minors when I went right to AA, as I skipped Rookie Ball and A ball. My first game I ever pitched as a pro at AA was where I pitched a complete game shut out. I remember pitching other good games here and there, and pitching in minor league playoff games too.

Wolfman:  Then, in a relatively short time, in the early part of 1988, the Brewers called you up to the majors. Can you describe how this happened and what you felt at that time. I also saw on the 1988 Brewer team, two future hall of fame players Paul Molitor and Robin Yount were members, did you get to know them, what were they like?

Don August:  I felt it was about time that I finally got called up. I had a lot of success in the minors, I was a 1^st round pick, went right to AA and was second in the ERA title in the Southern League, my second year. I was second again in the ERA title in AAA in the Pacific Coast League, I was traded for a Veteran Major League player, etc. I started the 1988 season in the minor leagues again, but I wasn’t too happy about that. When I was sent down they told me I would be the first pitcher called up. Circumstances happened again, as I was pitching great. My first 10 games that I pitched in AAA Denver, I was leading the American Association in strike outs, my record was 4-1, my one loss was a complete game with 0 earned runs, and I had 5 no decisions, where in all five of these games I left late in the games with leads, which the relievers blew including two games with a 4 run lead going in the 9th inning, a 3 run lead going into the 9th inning, plus two others.

Then they called up two other pitchers ahead of me because of the timing where they needed a rested pitcher and I may have pitched the day before but they needed someone that day. Then with a starting pitcher hurt, the Brewers let the long relief pitcher spot start a game instead of calling me up to pitch. The guy took a no hitter into the 9th inning against Cleveland. I watched it on TV and thought I will never get a chance. That’s why you never know what’s going to happen in this game and can never take anything for granted. But three days later the Brewers gave me the call. I was so happy, as I was finally getting my chance.

Yes there were two future Hall of Famers on my Brewer teams, Robin Yount and Paul Molitor. At this time I had already been to two Major League spring trainings with the Brewers. Over the next four years playing with the Brewers they were my teammates. They were incredible players to watch every day. Not only were they great and talented players, but they were also true professionals, they played the game hard and the right way. It was great for me to have those two guys to look up to on how to be a Major League baseball player. Over those four years I did do things with them during the season and in the off seasons. Over the past 25 years since I played with those guys I have run into them at Brewer or other Major League Baseball functions, it is always great to talk with them and catch up on things in our lives.

Wolfman:  Did you have any idea during spring training in 1988, you might get a chance to go to the majors?

Don August:  As I mentioned before, I felt like I should have already been in the Majors, and when I was sent down to start the 1988 season in the minors I didn’t know if I would ever make it. Plus the Brewers AAA team was in Denver, an extremely hard place to pitch, the thin air, and that does have big effect on your numbers.

Wolfman:  How did you feel playing for the Brewers for four years and not having a chance to reclaim the glory of their 1982 World Championship?

Don August:  It is always every team’s goal to make it to the World Series and win it. The few guys left on my teams with the Brewers who played in the 1982 World Series wanted to get back badly. We tried hard, but only two teams make it to the World Series and only one team gets to win it. My first year in 1988 we came close to making it to the playoffs. In late August of that season we were about 12 games out of first place. Back in 1988 there were only two divisions in both the National and American Leagues, so you had to come in first place in your division to make the playoffs.

So during that last month of the season we got hot, we just kept winning, and we continued to make up games and inched our way up to the top. We would be the last team to be eliminated from the playoffs. We went into Oakland with the last 3 games of the season to play and we were 3 games behind the Boston Red Sox for first place, so we had to sweep Oakland while Boston would have to be swept in their last 3 games. It didn’t work out, but it was very fun and exciting for those last 5 weeks of the season.

Wolfman:  How was playing in the majors, different from playing in the minors?

Don August:  It’s like night and day playing in the Majors compared to the minors. Everything is great in the Majors, such as the pay, playing in Major League stadiums, Major League crowds, every game being televised, Five star hotels compared to smaller hotels or motels, chartered planes compared to early morning commercial flights with layovers, or busses that take many hours, you never touch your own luggage in the Majors. All you think about in the minors is making it to the big leagues. Lastly the game is better and faster in the Majors, everybody can hit, run, throw, pitch, and the defense was what stood out even more to me. The defensive plays the Major league player did every day was incredible.

Wolfman:  Can you tell us about the Milwaukee Brewers you played with in 1988-1991　 - what was the clubhouse like? What about your manager? Was this an enjoyable experience or was it hard work?

Don August:  The teams I played on from 1988 to 1991 were good teams. We never made the playoffs, it was hard because there were always other teams that had great players and great teams too. The great thing about baseball, and particularly with Major League Baseball it’s hard, it’s supposed to be hard. We mostly had a younger team, we were having fun playing together.

The clubhouse was a good place, we had our team leaders, such as Yount and Molitor. During my four years there we had a couple of veteran pranksters and jokesters come in 1989, they were Terry Francona and Jerry Reusse. They pulled a lot of funny pranks on everyone. Those kinds of things were funny at the time, it kept people loose and having fun, and they made for some great memories.

The manager the entire time I was in Milwaukee was Tom Trebelhorn. I really enjoyed playing for him. He was always very energetic. During spring training I remember him on the field talking about how he wanted us to do the run down, finally he asked for someone to give him their glove, he took it and got into position and was running down the base runner showing us exactly how he wanted it done. He was also very enthusiastic and positive. I felt like I was always able to talk to him, even if I disagreed with him.

Major League Baseball was definitely an enjoyable experience, but it was also hard work. You needed to have fun and enjoy it while it lasted, nobody ever knows how long it will last. If you want to stay, you have to continue to get better. I think staying in the Majors is tougher than making it to the Majors. You also have to always keep adjusting. As the batters start to adjust to your pitches and tendencies you must adjust back, and this will go on and on until you can’t do it fast enough, or if you were lucky enough to get too old to do it anymore. It goes too fast In professional baseball they start telling you are old in your late 20’s and early 30’s.

Wolfman:  What would you say was your most remarkable game in your MLB career (like a 1 hit shutout, or no hitter etc ..)?

Don August:  I don’t think I had just one remarkable game to pick. I would say my first day in the Majors I came in relief and got the win, my three Major League shutouts, or when I came in the 15th inning against the Chicago White Sox and pitched 5 innings in relief after getting hit in the head on a come backer by Ozzie Guillen in that first inning of relief, and I had pitched 6 1/3 innings two days before in Baltimore, and we ended up winning the game in 19 innings.

Wolfman:  What are you the most proud about during your career?

Don August:  That I made it to the Majors and I lasted more than a cup of coffee. That I had a lot of good games and made good contributions to my teams. But mainly that I wore a Major League uniform and my name is in the books forever.

Wolfman:  Now I noticed you retired after only 4 years in the majors?

Don August:  Yes, I only played 4 years. I had the dreams of playing a long career, but it didn’t work out that way.

Wolfman:  Was there a reason you ended your MLB career so early.

Don August:  It wasn’t my choice, I tried hard. It’s hard to stay in the Majors. You have to always keep performing, adjusting, and there’s always another young guy right behind you to take your job.

Wolfman:  Also statistically viewing your baseball record it seems after the 1988 season, you had a harder time be able to perform at a high level - were injuries linked to this or the competitive nature of the game?

Don August:  I never had injuries, that wasn’t the reason I didn’t stay longer in the Majors. I believe it was the competitive nature of the game.

Wolfman:   After your experiences in MLB, would you recommend this as a career for others and for young people?

Don August:  I definitely would recommend it as a career. I would also say to have a backup plan, but baseball is the greatest game in the world.

Wolfman:   Was all the traveling you have to do as a major leaguer a problem for you?

Don August:  No the traveling wasn’t a problem for me. It was a part of the game, as I mentioned earlier we traveled first class, chartered flights and top notch hotels. I actually felt the traveling was fun, I liked looking around the cities we played in.

Wolfman:  Since you were mostly a starting pitcher (pitching every 3-4 days or so) was it hard to not be involved directly in so many games and waiting around?

Don August:  No, I enjoyed being a starting pitcher. It wasn’t like you pitched a game and then did nothing for 3-4 days. There was work you had to do in between starts. After you started a game your arm was hanging for about 4 days, the first day your arm felt good again it was time for your next start.

Wolfman:  Now, I remember in an interview with an ex-cub player (Grandville) he spoke about each year having to look over his shoulder at the new young players coming up. That keeping your job in baseball is very difficult.　 Was this your experience as well?

Don August:  I agree with Grandville’s statement, but I think it has always been that way. As I think about it, that is what makes Major League Baseball great. You just can’t make it and then think you never have to improve or work hard anymore. After my last season with the Brewers they wanted to take me off of the 40 man roster, which would make me a free agent. I decided to leave and look for other teams, a lot to do with it was because there were some prospect pitchers that were right there with the Brewers.

Wolfman:  Are you sad that you no longer play baseball, do you miss the game?

Don August:  I do miss the game. I still play baseball in a local baseball league where I live in Wisconsin. I continue to play because I still, and will always love the game. I do miss the professional game. You only get such a small window as a pro, and then it’s over. Depends on how long you got to play, that you get to have more of those good memories. The things you miss you probably have already heard before, but is true, missing the competition, the guys, and all of the fun that you pretty much can have as a young man.

Wolfman:  What did you do after your Baseball career ended?

Don August:  My last year in the Majors was 1991 was with the Brewers. I tried to make it back to the Majors. I played in the minors again, and then I started playing professional baseball internationally. I went to Mexico, Taiwan, and Italy because I had Major League experience. My final season was in 2000.

Wolfman:  What are you doing now for your career?

Don August:  Right now I have my teaching license in Wisconsin where I am a teacher, and I am a high school baseball coach. I am the JV coach at Menomonee Falls High School and I assist with the Varsity team. A big thrill we had last season was that our varsity baseball team was the Wisconsin State Champions.

Wolfman:  Do you still have any connections with the Milwaukee Brewers?  Have you ever participated in some type of public event, like at a baseball card convention or an event linked with the Brewers when they bring players from the past?
 

Here we see Don, as he appears today - doing a broadcast on local Wisconsin TV
sharing a status on the Milwaukee Brewers from Mill Park.

Don August:  Yes, I still have contact with the Brewers. Throughout the year the Brewers will send me off to different groups or events. I go as a former Milwaukee Brewers player and I will talk about baseball. I have gone to card shows where I signed autographs. I do Brewers special events, such as Brewers Arctic Fest, Brewers On Deck, I will throw batting practice to their season ticket holders at Miller Park, TV news interviews about the team, etc.

Wolfman:  Mr. August, have you ever been exposed or seen any of the baseball simulation games that have been created over the past 50 years, that give the fan and enthusiast a chance to play with the major league hitters - have you heard of Strat-o-matic before?  Any thoughts on how you see such games?

Don August:  I have seen some of the different simulation games. I have heard of Strat-o-matic. I think these are fun games for a group of baseball fans, particularly the baseball card collector. I think anything that has to do with baseball, and the history of baseball is a good thing for baseball and its fans.

Wolfman:  If any of our members would like to personally contact you or had questions what would be the best way to do so.