00:00:06
Speaker 1: Hello, everybody, and welcome to another edition of Cardinal Territory. Jim Hayes with you, and we have a special guest, one of my favorites. Now, the Cardinals are hosting the 20-year reunion for the 2006 World Championship team. My buddy Gary Bennett was part of that, so Big Benny joins us now. Hi, Big Benny. How are you?
00:00:27
Speaker 2: Good morning. I'm great. Great to be here.
00:00:30
Speaker 1: It's great to have you. I wanted to ask you about that ball club because... I think as time passes and maybe some of the older fans move on and the younger fans don't know the story of the 06 team. Like, I think everyone knows, well, they had two eight-game losing streaks. They had a seven-game losing streak. And they had a terrible record and sort of coughed their way into the postseason. That team was loaded. But you guys had a ton of injuries to get past. And once you did, you rolled. Tell me what stands out to you about the 06 team.
00:01:06
Speaker 2: Well, there's a couple things. And just to piggyback on what you just said, you know, that comes up every now and then. I'll see former players, a couple of them live in the community here. And they always talk, yeah, 83 games. Like, yeah, we did win 83 games. But, yeah, remember, this is a team coming off two consecutive 100-win seasons. Obviously, I wasn't there for those. But then to your point, I think in April– And someone might have to look this up, but I thought in April we had maybe the best start in Cardinal history for an April. And Cardinals have quite a history in case you don't know. So and then I think Albert pulled an oblique. Jimmy had a concussion. I think Eck went down at one time. Scotty went down. And these were all different times. So the first time. Is he got hurt? Is he too?
00:01:55
Speaker 1: Huge.
00:01:55
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:01:56
Speaker 2: Is he going down as well? And then, um, so you factor all that in. And like I said, it was at different times, all these stars took, you know, week off two weeks, three weeks for injury at different times throughout the season, which didn't help us. And then once we hit the playoffs, we roll into San Diego and obviously minus Izzy, which was a big loss, everybody was healthy. And it was the first time since April, everybody was healthy. And then We just rolled through the playoffs, man. Played great, and the rest is history. But thinking back to that 06 team, the winter of 05, so after the season ends, I got a call from Scott Rowland, and he asked if I would be interested to join the Cardinals, sign with the Cardinals. And I about jumped through the phone and basically told him yes. But I also told them, hey, whoever you talk to in the Cardinals, say, yeah, I'd consider it because, you know, then they'd have to talk to my agent and hopefully I'd get a few more dollars if I didn't sound so eager. But first of all, I had got a chance to play against them regularly in 04. I was with the Brewers, obviously, and then a fair amount with all the other organizations I was with. So storied history, a team that you had to play perfect against to compete against, just so fundamentally sound, the way they went about the game, the Cardinal way, if you will, So it was the first time, and this is no disrespect to any other team or organization I was with, you know, spring training, every team has hope. You go in the first day of spring, we could do this. Yeah, we could do this. Where the Cardinal locker room, when I walked in spring training, there wasn't hope. It was expected. And that was different for me. You know, and obviously coming off 04 and 05, they were right on the verge of doing, winning the World Series. So for me, it was the first time walking in and the expectation was sky high. And I was so excited to be a part of it. And I just can't say how fortunate I was that they gave me a chance to wear that uniform and be a part of the organization.
00:03:55
Speaker 1: So Roland is your buddy. And I love him too. Gave me a lot of grief over the years. But he's one of those guys too that there's certain guys like Holiday is my boy, but he didn't love the media. Roland didn't love the media. Great guy. but just didn't love talking about himself. Didn't like having, you know, the camera in his face. Tell me about that guy. What was, what's Scott, what's Scott Rowland like, you know, just in the clubhouse or when you're out, I don't know, shooting quails or whatever guys like you do.
00:04:28
Speaker 2: I don't know what he's like shooting quail, but I can go. So Scott and I got a chance to play together, came up through the Philly organization together in the Meyer leagues. Then for a couple of years, a part of a couple of years in Philadelphia. So, so to your point, he's a, not a very vocal guy, uh, despises talking about himself. So with a camera in front of him, people asking him questions about himself, you know, how uncomfortable he is. He just, it's not his gig, but, uh, as far as a teammate and, and, uh, a leader by example, you know, not very boisterous guy. Uh, I can't say I've had a better teammate, you know, and obviously we go way back and I like to consider him a close friend. I think he considers me a friend. Um, But as far as a teammate and what he's going to give you day in and day out on the field, there's nobody better.
00:05:18
Speaker 1: What a defensive player and his offensive numbers. Look him up. I mean, through the roof. And on top of that, yeah, no doubt.
00:05:27
Speaker 2: But on top of that, Jim, as you know, he's got a wicked sense of humor. He doesn't let too many people see that, but he's a funny fella.
00:05:34
Speaker 1: Okay, I'm going to tell a story. Now, on this show, when we have a former Cardinal or a former professional athlete on, I ask them questions. They talk. I have a Scott Rowland story. I've never told it before. All right. I'm going to tell him and I'm not going to use the actual word he used. So I'm going to shorten it. But anyway, so Rowland goes to the Reds. Cardinals are in Cincinnati and I want to catch up with him. So he's like, yeah, he go and he's there early. He's one of those guys early. He goes, I'll meet you out on the field. In like five minutes. So I set up two stools, got a camera guy waiting everything. Anyway, and it's early. So there's just some guys in the clubhouse, no fans in the stands or anything. And he plops down and we're like, hey, how you doing? Because we got along good. He's a great guy. Anyway, so I start and I go, you know, great to catch up with our old friend Scott Rowland, who's now a member of the Cincinnati Reds. Scott, how are you? And he screams at the top of his lungs. And again, I'll shorten it. He screams, F you, Jim. So you can't laugh at me because I've been at it a while. So I go, take two. All right, great. Catch up with the great Scott Rowland. Scotty, how are you? F you, Jim. This, I mean, so loud. It's like bellowing throughout the stadium. Like you can hear the echo. It's loud. So at this point, all the Reds teammates that are there run to the field because they could hear some all the way in the back. And they're all looking. I tried a third time. Third time. What a treat to catch up with my buddy Scott Rowland. Louder than ever. And the teammates are dying. Everyone's laughing. So I go, take four. And I go, hello, everybody. Welcome, blah, blah, blah. great to catch up with Scott Roland. He goes, great to see you, Jim. And we did the normal interview. Screaming at the top of it. Like, like Pete, like the cleaning crew was like looking out the window, the other broadcaster show looking at everything's okay. That's just Scotty Rowan. Okay. That's my wife. I want to, I want to ask you about Yadi. I think you played in 60 games with the Cardinals that year. And we're going to talk about that week in August that I still remember. And I know you remember. You know, I'm talking about Bambino. I'm talking about Babe Bennett. Okay. But let's talk about Yachty. Because back then, everyone talked about how good Yachty was going to be, how good he was becoming. But he wasn't full Yachty yet. What did you see in that guy?
00:08:15
Speaker 2: Well, First thing I tell people, because I get asked about Yachty a lot, and rightfully so, but as good of a player as he was, Hall of Fame player, no doubt about it, he's an even better person. And one of the most selfless teammates I've ever played with. But his focus and his attention to the small things in his preparation, things that not a lot of people outside the clubhouse, and actually not a lot of people outside the pitching staff and other catchers would notice. He took such pride and helping or trying to do his best to help our pitchers be as successful as they could. So, you know, and I would kind of a analogy would be like an offensive lineman. You know, when you do your best job, the quarterback and the running back shine and the offensive lineman goes unnoticed. And that's kind of the approach he took behind the plate is, you know, and obviously with his arm and being a weapon behind the plate, throwing guys out, he'd certainly help there. But when things were running smooth, you didn't even notice him. But it was because of him things were running so smoothly. So you could tell early on the talent was there. The ability was off the charts. It certainly didn't help to have Benji and Jose, his older brothers in the big leagues, outstanding players as well. So he could pick their brain. I'm sure they were schooling him, teaching him. And, you know, through the ups and downs, giving him mistakes they've made to avoid some of those pit holes. So from that standpoint, you knew early on that the sky was the limit. And then you saw the preparation and work ethic he had. You knew it was only a matter of time.
00:09:52
Speaker 1: Great stuff. Another guy we kind of got introduced to a little bit. We met Uncle Charlie, Adam Wainwright. became the closer when Izzy went down and Izzy was such an important part of that ball club from a leadership standpoint as well. But then we got to see Adam Wainwright. What do you remember about Waino at that point in his career?
00:10:15
Speaker 2: So, uh, again, the first thing I'll say is, and this was, I could, this is going to be something like, you know, echo, uh, that clubhouse, they talk about culture. They talk about, uh, chemistry camaraderie, and it was once some very, very talented dudes, you know, like you said, loaded, uh, three hall of famers, uh, may potentially five. I mean, one outfield, Jimmy, if you put his stats up against other guys in the hall right now, they, I don't know how you don't make a case he should be in as well, and we'll see what happens with Ueno. So from that standpoint, incredibly talented, but also just first-class human beings and guys with very, very strong work ethics. So my introduction to Ueno, you know, pitchers and catchers get down there early, and then the pitchers will start throwing to hitters, which is some position players outside of catchers that show up early and then to catchers. So one of the first days, you jump in, you take some live pitches off pitchers, And I think Waino was second or third. I didn't know who he was. And I jump in. He throws me a fastball, pretty lively. He throws me another fastball. Then he throws me a curveball. And I know it's coming, and it buckles me. And I turn, and Dunk is behind the screen. I go, who the hell is this? And Dunk just smiled. He goes, yeah, he'll be with us this season. So that was my introduction to Waino. He buckled me. His curveball buckled me when I knew it was coming just in live batting practice. So that's, that's how I got to know him. But, but then from, again, you know, just the work ethic, the attention to detail, you had Chris Carpenter, Mark, Mark Mulder, Jason Isringhausen, you know, some, some Jeff Supan, Jason Marquis, some, some very established veteran pitchers that he got to lean on as a very young guy and, and show him the way, how to become a professional, what it means to be a professional. And, you know, he, He was just latched to their hip and took it all in and ran with it, obviously. So incredible dude, incredible competitor. Again, his attention to detail and his preparation is just a hard, hard worker.
00:12:16
Speaker 1: All right, we're going to take a break. Before we do that, let me say this because you brought it up. Jim Edmonds should be in the Hall of Fame. The fact that Jim Edmonds is not in the Hall is a crime. It's a disgrace to the sport of baseball. All right, we're going to take a break more with our buddy Gary Bennett. You're watching Cardinal Territory on the Foul Territory Network.
00:12:36
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00:13:38
Speaker 1: We're talking 2006 Cardinal Baseball. They won the World Series that year. We're talking other stuff as well. Our guest is Gary Bennett, who's a member of that team. In 06, Gary, there was a week in August where Gary Bennett became Babe Bennett. You had four homers in the span of one week. including, I think, a game-winning homer, which was a grand slam, against the Cubs. And I just remember how much fun the team was having with it. Your teammates loved you. They were having a ball with it. What do you remember about that stretch where suddenly you were pool holes?
00:14:18
Speaker 2: Yeah, well, it was neat to feel what those guys, what the superstars feel like. It was only a week, but it was neat to kind of get a glimpse of what they feel like on a regular basis, which is pretty damn cool. Um, so I think we were in Chicago the week before the week before the series before that week, um, started. And I think Yachty's shoulder was, was a little sore. He needed a little downtime. So let me, let me go back. So the one thing, um, all the great managers do and, you know, great coaching staffs and organizations is they put players in a position to be successful. And, and one of the early conversations Tony had with me when I came in as a spring training goes, look, here's what we expect to you. We've played against you enough. You've been in the league however many years now, so we've got a pretty good idea of what you're capable of. We don't want you to do any more. Just do what you do day in and day out. Catch your ass off. When Yachty needs a breather, make sure there's no lull defensively, although I couldn't do what he could defensively, but I tried my damnedest to keep it as close as it was. And then, you know, put together competitive at-bats. And if you've got to move runners, if you've got to get a bunt down, if you've got to get a sacrifice fly– Make sure you execute, but don't try to be Babe Bennett, as you say, which is comical. So Yachty goes down, sore shoulder, and Tony calls me and said, we're going to give Yachty a breather. You're going to be a chance to run out there. Hopefully it's four days. If it's five, if it's six, hopefully no longer, but we're going to give him a break. No problem. And at that point, I think we were playing either playing the Reds, or I forget exactly what we were playing, but it was a tight race. And I was in the cage early, just taking a few swings off the tee, thinking, you know, this could go one of two ways. I could, you know, hold my own back here and we stay in the pennant race, or I could screw this up and, you know, be the dog. So, you know, mentally, a lot of people thought, you know, talk about failure and doubt and, you know, this organization, what they expected that year, missing Yachty for five or six days. If I don't go back there and hold my own, it could have been disastrous. So going into it, my only thought was catch my ass off, try to not let there be a lull defensively. And if I get competitive at bats or chance to move guys over, ground ball right side to get an RBI, do that. Well, I can't explain it, and I don't know why. Maybe it's more of the pitchers just hit my barrel for that week than anything I was doing. quite frankly, but I started to square some balls up and find some gaps and drive some runs in, and three or four of those left the park. And I have no rhyme or reason why it happened, but I'm awful damn glad it did.
00:17:01
Speaker 1: It was big fun. And like I said, your teammates enjoyed it for you as well. I just remember Aaron was having a good time with it. You mentioned the manager, Tony La Russa. What was it like playing for him? Because, let's be honest... Tony is a Hall of Fame manager, but he has some unique characteristics. I know Roland used to make fun, as a lot of the players did. Just your, give me some fun stuff about La Russa, if you haven't. What was it like playing for him?
00:17:34
Speaker 2: So I was very fortunate, or unfortunate, depends how you want to look at it. So I played for eight major league teams, a lot of managers. And I was very fortunate, the manager I played for, you know, Bruce Bochy, obviously Tony, Ned Yost, Frank Robinson, Fregosi, Boa, Francona. I finished with Joe Torre, but I was on the disabled list pretty much the whole year. So I didn't, I didn't get a chance to play for how much, but got to see the way they all go about their business and, and a lot of similarities in what they do. And then some differences, you know, and like I said earlier, the one thing Tony did with me, I'm sure I wasn't unique in this is, you know, spelled out exactly what he expected from you and held you to a standard and, and, And day in, day out, expected you to do it. The one thing about Tony is kind of a joke. You see him before the game, hey, Tony, how's it going? He goes, ah, I'll let you know in three and a half or four hours, whenever the game was going to be over. But his relentless drive, day in and day out, attention to detail, preparation, I mean, no one did it better. And obviously his record shows. But he was great to me, and I have nothing but great things to say about him. But certainly, like I said, they all have their different ways, their different personalities. But the way they communicate, set expectations, hold you to standards, and I think that's what all the great ones do.
00:19:00
Speaker 1: One of the best managers in the history of the game, no question about it. No doubt about it. Said he didn't eat meat. Said he didn't eat meat. And then you'd see him eating a piece of a hamburger. Okay, but that's all. What about Yachty? Now, Yachty is in the camera well with me when I still– get to do sidelines. I'm in the camera while Yachty's back as an advisor with the team, has already expressed interest in managing. And Yachty was such a fiery player. I was wondering, can he temper it and everything? And now I watch the way he interacts with the young players and the way he works with them and just his demeanor now. I think he can do it. Do you think Yachty would? And it also takes some seasoning because I think it's hard to jump in from player to managing I know Yachty has some international experience managing. I think he'd be a good one. Just your thoughts about Yachty potentially managing in the big leagues at some point.
00:19:59
Speaker 2: Oh, I think he'd be phenomenal. There's no doubt about it. And we've seen, like you said, you need some seasoning or, or He's done a little bit internationally, but we've seen guys jump in. A couple jumped in from coaching Little League to becoming managers. So that's not unprecedented. But like I said, the thing about Yachty is the track record playing, but also he's just a better human being. And the way he would pass on knowledge and wisdom and experience, he basically managed the game when he was playing back there. So from that standpoint, he's done it. and studied and prepared every part of the game. So I, without question, think he'd be phenomenal. No doubt about it.
00:20:39
Speaker 1: All right, we're going to take our last break of the program. You're watching Cardinal Territory on the Found Territory Network.
00:20:48
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00:21:47
Speaker 1: So the 2006 World Series Champion Reunion is coming up. Gary Bennett, you were part of that. We've seen these before. The Cardinals periodically bring some of you guys back. And I watch from afar because I wasn't part of it, but I know all you guys. And it's almost like when I see you, it's like you guys have not been apart. Like, is that bond always there? Like once you do something like win a World Series? It is. It is.
00:22:14
Speaker 2: And, you know, everyone I've talked to, not only with the 0-16, but whether it's Super Bowl or NBA championships, you know, or obviously World Series, any championship. It's such a tight bond. You know what you went through, how difficult it is to achieve that. And just the stories and things that happen throughout the season in the clubhouse when you're together. You spend so much time together, the ups and downs. Like you said, the two, eight, eight game losing streaks, a seven game losing streak. You know, some of the bickering in the clubhouse that makes you tighter and There's just such a unique bond that, that, that goes along with that. And it's to your point, anytime I got to see Jason Marquis a few weeks ago, he was in Chicago passing through. So I went and had a cup of coffee with him. And it's, it's like yesterday it happened. Obviously it didn't, it was 20 years ago, but you fall right back into, to where you were when we were in that clubhouse. And it, it doesn't seem long ago. And it's, it's, it's, I'm looking so forward to seeing many of these guys. A lot of them I've had a chance to see with some of the, uh, Cardinal charity events, or some of the times I've come to town, some of the fantasy camps, but there's quite a few I haven't seen in 20 years, and I'm really looking forward to seeing them and catching up with them.
00:23:24
Speaker 1: That's great. You know, the Cardinal fan base, and look, I'm a New Yorker. That's where I was born. I've been here 25 years, and I'll say it. I think Cardinal fans are the best in baseball, but whether or not you believe it, one thing is true about this fan base. Cardinal fans never forget, because It could be grandpa, grandpa. They pass it down to their grandkids, son or daughter. And it's just part of the fiber of St. Louis. Just what was your experience? You played, what, 13 years in the big leagues? Tell me something about the Cardinal fan base that you picked up in your time with the Cardinals.
00:24:01
Speaker 2: So a few things stick out. I want to say 2002. I hope I got my dates and teams right. The Rockies opened up in St. Louis opening day. And Been part of a lot of opening days. Nothing comes close to opening day in St.
00:24:17
Speaker 5: Louis.
00:24:17
Speaker 2: And I think we were staying at the Hilton, and my view, my window, looked right into the stadium there. I didn't know what I was in for, but up early, have a cup of coffee. I pulled the blinds back, and the amount of people that were out there, and I think there were blow-up houses, and everything I saw was red. Streets were already crowded, 8.30, 9 in the morning, and it just floored me. I'm like, what in the world is going on here? So get down, walk to the stadium, obviously bump into a few fans, get in there. And then you see the pomp and circumstance that goes along with, with opening day, the Clydesdales, the hall of famers, the place is packed so much earlier than, than first pitch, which is not common with other opening days. And that was my real first experience with Cardinal nation. Now I played in St. Louis before, I guess that, that was, I shouldn't say first real experience. That was, It was awe-inspiring, you know, because I would come in as a visiting player in years prior, and I'd seen Cardinal fans clap for a play made by the visiting team, which kind of floored me a little bit, to appreciate good baseball, are knowledgeable, and appreciate if the other team does some things well. So from that standpoint, that was before I got to wear that uniform. Those are my earliest memories of it. And like I said, as soon as Scottie called me and said, what would you be signed with the Cardinals? I about jumped through the phone, you know, and it's story tradition growing up, just North of Chicago, you know, Cubs, Cardinals, Mets. It seemed like those were the only games on TV when I was a kid. That's all I remember watching. So, you know, Tommy, her, and I can go on and on Ted Simmons, uh, the amount of players that I just appreciate what Willie McGee and watching Ozzie and, um, the opportunity to wear that same uniform, um, But then you get here and it's the way the fan base treats you. And, you know, if things aren't going well, they'll let you know. But it'll be a casual, nice way of letting you know, hey, step it up a little bit, would you? So whereas, you know, in New York, it might be a little different. So from that standpoint, I said it earlier, I was so fortunate and grateful. And that won't ever leave me now. I'm so fortunate, so grateful, one, for my major league career, but two, to get a chance to wear that uniform. and to win a world series in St. Louis. I mean, it's wrap up every holiday, every snow day, every birthday and wrap it all into one. And that's, that'd be about as close as trying to describe what that felt like.
00:26:51
Speaker 1: One of the true good guys in baseball, Gary Bennett, Gary, thanks for coming on. I look forward to seeing you at the reunion. And once again, thanks for jumping on with us.
00:27:01
Speaker 2: We appreciate it. Thank you for having me look forward to seeing you as well, man. I can't wait.
00:27:06
Speaker 1: That's going to do it for this edition of Cardinal Territory. We'll see you next time. Hopefully that episode won't sell.
Speaker 1: Hello, everybody, and welcome to another edition of Cardinal Territory. Jim Hayes with you, and we have a special guest, one of my favorites. Now, the Cardinals are hosting the 20-year reunion for the 2006 World Championship team. My buddy Gary Bennett was part of that, so Big Benny joins us now. Hi, Big Benny. How are you?
00:00:27
Speaker 2: Good morning. I'm great. Great to be here.
00:00:30
Speaker 1: It's great to have you. I wanted to ask you about that ball club because... I think as time passes and maybe some of the older fans move on and the younger fans don't know the story of the 06 team. Like, I think everyone knows, well, they had two eight-game losing streaks. They had a seven-game losing streak. And they had a terrible record and sort of coughed their way into the postseason. That team was loaded. But you guys had a ton of injuries to get past. And once you did, you rolled. Tell me what stands out to you about the 06 team.
00:01:06
Speaker 2: Well, there's a couple things. And just to piggyback on what you just said, you know, that comes up every now and then. I'll see former players, a couple of them live in the community here. And they always talk, yeah, 83 games. Like, yeah, we did win 83 games. But, yeah, remember, this is a team coming off two consecutive 100-win seasons. Obviously, I wasn't there for those. But then to your point, I think in April– And someone might have to look this up, but I thought in April we had maybe the best start in Cardinal history for an April. And Cardinals have quite a history in case you don't know. So and then I think Albert pulled an oblique. Jimmy had a concussion. I think Eck went down at one time. Scotty went down. And these were all different times. So the first time. Is he got hurt? Is he too?
00:01:55
Speaker 1: Huge.
00:01:55
Speaker 3: Yeah.
00:01:56
Speaker 2: Is he going down as well? And then, um, so you factor all that in. And like I said, it was at different times, all these stars took, you know, week off two weeks, three weeks for injury at different times throughout the season, which didn't help us. And then once we hit the playoffs, we roll into San Diego and obviously minus Izzy, which was a big loss, everybody was healthy. And it was the first time since April, everybody was healthy. And then We just rolled through the playoffs, man. Played great, and the rest is history. But thinking back to that 06 team, the winter of 05, so after the season ends, I got a call from Scott Rowland, and he asked if I would be interested to join the Cardinals, sign with the Cardinals. And I about jumped through the phone and basically told him yes. But I also told them, hey, whoever you talk to in the Cardinals, say, yeah, I'd consider it because, you know, then they'd have to talk to my agent and hopefully I'd get a few more dollars if I didn't sound so eager. But first of all, I had got a chance to play against them regularly in 04. I was with the Brewers, obviously, and then a fair amount with all the other organizations I was with. So storied history, a team that you had to play perfect against to compete against, just so fundamentally sound, the way they went about the game, the Cardinal way, if you will, So it was the first time, and this is no disrespect to any other team or organization I was with, you know, spring training, every team has hope. You go in the first day of spring, we could do this. Yeah, we could do this. Where the Cardinal locker room, when I walked in spring training, there wasn't hope. It was expected. And that was different for me. You know, and obviously coming off 04 and 05, they were right on the verge of doing, winning the World Series. So for me, it was the first time walking in and the expectation was sky high. And I was so excited to be a part of it. And I just can't say how fortunate I was that they gave me a chance to wear that uniform and be a part of the organization.
00:03:55
Speaker 1: So Roland is your buddy. And I love him too. Gave me a lot of grief over the years. But he's one of those guys too that there's certain guys like Holiday is my boy, but he didn't love the media. Roland didn't love the media. Great guy. but just didn't love talking about himself. Didn't like having, you know, the camera in his face. Tell me about that guy. What was, what's Scott, what's Scott Rowland like, you know, just in the clubhouse or when you're out, I don't know, shooting quails or whatever guys like you do.
00:04:28
Speaker 2: I don't know what he's like shooting quail, but I can go. So Scott and I got a chance to play together, came up through the Philly organization together in the Meyer leagues. Then for a couple of years, a part of a couple of years in Philadelphia. So, so to your point, he's a, not a very vocal guy, uh, despises talking about himself. So with a camera in front of him, people asking him questions about himself, you know, how uncomfortable he is. He just, it's not his gig, but, uh, as far as a teammate and, and, uh, a leader by example, you know, not very boisterous guy. Uh, I can't say I've had a better teammate, you know, and obviously we go way back and I like to consider him a close friend. I think he considers me a friend. Um, But as far as a teammate and what he's going to give you day in and day out on the field, there's nobody better.
00:05:18
Speaker 1: What a defensive player and his offensive numbers. Look him up. I mean, through the roof. And on top of that, yeah, no doubt.
00:05:27
Speaker 2: But on top of that, Jim, as you know, he's got a wicked sense of humor. He doesn't let too many people see that, but he's a funny fella.
00:05:34
Speaker 1: Okay, I'm going to tell a story. Now, on this show, when we have a former Cardinal or a former professional athlete on, I ask them questions. They talk. I have a Scott Rowland story. I've never told it before. All right. I'm going to tell him and I'm not going to use the actual word he used. So I'm going to shorten it. But anyway, so Rowland goes to the Reds. Cardinals are in Cincinnati and I want to catch up with him. So he's like, yeah, he go and he's there early. He's one of those guys early. He goes, I'll meet you out on the field. In like five minutes. So I set up two stools, got a camera guy waiting everything. Anyway, and it's early. So there's just some guys in the clubhouse, no fans in the stands or anything. And he plops down and we're like, hey, how you doing? Because we got along good. He's a great guy. Anyway, so I start and I go, you know, great to catch up with our old friend Scott Rowland, who's now a member of the Cincinnati Reds. Scott, how are you? And he screams at the top of his lungs. And again, I'll shorten it. He screams, F you, Jim. So you can't laugh at me because I've been at it a while. So I go, take two. All right, great. Catch up with the great Scott Rowland. Scotty, how are you? F you, Jim. This, I mean, so loud. It's like bellowing throughout the stadium. Like you can hear the echo. It's loud. So at this point, all the Reds teammates that are there run to the field because they could hear some all the way in the back. And they're all looking. I tried a third time. Third time. What a treat to catch up with my buddy Scott Rowland. Louder than ever. And the teammates are dying. Everyone's laughing. So I go, take four. And I go, hello, everybody. Welcome, blah, blah, blah. great to catch up with Scott Roland. He goes, great to see you, Jim. And we did the normal interview. Screaming at the top of it. Like, like Pete, like the cleaning crew was like looking out the window, the other broadcaster show looking at everything's okay. That's just Scotty Rowan. Okay. That's my wife. I want to, I want to ask you about Yadi. I think you played in 60 games with the Cardinals that year. And we're going to talk about that week in August that I still remember. And I know you remember. You know, I'm talking about Bambino. I'm talking about Babe Bennett. Okay. But let's talk about Yachty. Because back then, everyone talked about how good Yachty was going to be, how good he was becoming. But he wasn't full Yachty yet. What did you see in that guy?
00:08:15
Speaker 2: Well, First thing I tell people, because I get asked about Yachty a lot, and rightfully so, but as good of a player as he was, Hall of Fame player, no doubt about it, he's an even better person. And one of the most selfless teammates I've ever played with. But his focus and his attention to the small things in his preparation, things that not a lot of people outside the clubhouse, and actually not a lot of people outside the pitching staff and other catchers would notice. He took such pride and helping or trying to do his best to help our pitchers be as successful as they could. So, you know, and I would kind of a analogy would be like an offensive lineman. You know, when you do your best job, the quarterback and the running back shine and the offensive lineman goes unnoticed. And that's kind of the approach he took behind the plate is, you know, and obviously with his arm and being a weapon behind the plate, throwing guys out, he'd certainly help there. But when things were running smooth, you didn't even notice him. But it was because of him things were running so smoothly. So you could tell early on the talent was there. The ability was off the charts. It certainly didn't help to have Benji and Jose, his older brothers in the big leagues, outstanding players as well. So he could pick their brain. I'm sure they were schooling him, teaching him. And, you know, through the ups and downs, giving him mistakes they've made to avoid some of those pit holes. So from that standpoint, you knew early on that the sky was the limit. And then you saw the preparation and work ethic he had. You knew it was only a matter of time.
00:09:52
Speaker 1: Great stuff. Another guy we kind of got introduced to a little bit. We met Uncle Charlie, Adam Wainwright. became the closer when Izzy went down and Izzy was such an important part of that ball club from a leadership standpoint as well. But then we got to see Adam Wainwright. What do you remember about Waino at that point in his career?
00:10:15
Speaker 2: So, uh, again, the first thing I'll say is, and this was, I could, this is going to be something like, you know, echo, uh, that clubhouse, they talk about culture. They talk about, uh, chemistry camaraderie, and it was once some very, very talented dudes, you know, like you said, loaded, uh, three hall of famers, uh, may potentially five. I mean, one outfield, Jimmy, if you put his stats up against other guys in the hall right now, they, I don't know how you don't make a case he should be in as well, and we'll see what happens with Ueno. So from that standpoint, incredibly talented, but also just first-class human beings and guys with very, very strong work ethics. So my introduction to Ueno, you know, pitchers and catchers get down there early, and then the pitchers will start throwing to hitters, which is some position players outside of catchers that show up early and then to catchers. So one of the first days, you jump in, you take some live pitches off pitchers, And I think Waino was second or third. I didn't know who he was. And I jump in. He throws me a fastball, pretty lively. He throws me another fastball. Then he throws me a curveball. And I know it's coming, and it buckles me. And I turn, and Dunk is behind the screen. I go, who the hell is this? And Dunk just smiled. He goes, yeah, he'll be with us this season. So that was my introduction to Waino. He buckled me. His curveball buckled me when I knew it was coming just in live batting practice. So that's, that's how I got to know him. But, but then from, again, you know, just the work ethic, the attention to detail, you had Chris Carpenter, Mark, Mark Mulder, Jason Isringhausen, you know, some, some Jeff Supan, Jason Marquis, some, some very established veteran pitchers that he got to lean on as a very young guy and, and show him the way, how to become a professional, what it means to be a professional. And, you know, he, He was just latched to their hip and took it all in and ran with it, obviously. So incredible dude, incredible competitor. Again, his attention to detail and his preparation is just a hard, hard worker.
00:12:16
Speaker 1: All right, we're going to take a break. Before we do that, let me say this because you brought it up. Jim Edmonds should be in the Hall of Fame. The fact that Jim Edmonds is not in the Hall is a crime. It's a disgrace to the sport of baseball. All right, we're going to take a break more with our buddy Gary Bennett. You're watching Cardinal Territory on the Foul Territory Network.
00:12:36
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00:13:38
Speaker 1: We're talking 2006 Cardinal Baseball. They won the World Series that year. We're talking other stuff as well. Our guest is Gary Bennett, who's a member of that team. In 06, Gary, there was a week in August where Gary Bennett became Babe Bennett. You had four homers in the span of one week. including, I think, a game-winning homer, which was a grand slam, against the Cubs. And I just remember how much fun the team was having with it. Your teammates loved you. They were having a ball with it. What do you remember about that stretch where suddenly you were pool holes?
00:14:18
Speaker 2: Yeah, well, it was neat to feel what those guys, what the superstars feel like. It was only a week, but it was neat to kind of get a glimpse of what they feel like on a regular basis, which is pretty damn cool. Um, so I think we were in Chicago the week before the week before the series before that week, um, started. And I think Yachty's shoulder was, was a little sore. He needed a little downtime. So let me, let me go back. So the one thing, um, all the great managers do and, you know, great coaching staffs and organizations is they put players in a position to be successful. And, and one of the early conversations Tony had with me when I came in as a spring training goes, look, here's what we expect to you. We've played against you enough. You've been in the league however many years now, so we've got a pretty good idea of what you're capable of. We don't want you to do any more. Just do what you do day in and day out. Catch your ass off. When Yachty needs a breather, make sure there's no lull defensively, although I couldn't do what he could defensively, but I tried my damnedest to keep it as close as it was. And then, you know, put together competitive at-bats. And if you've got to move runners, if you've got to get a bunt down, if you've got to get a sacrifice fly– Make sure you execute, but don't try to be Babe Bennett, as you say, which is comical. So Yachty goes down, sore shoulder, and Tony calls me and said, we're going to give Yachty a breather. You're going to be a chance to run out there. Hopefully it's four days. If it's five, if it's six, hopefully no longer, but we're going to give him a break. No problem. And at that point, I think we were playing either playing the Reds, or I forget exactly what we were playing, but it was a tight race. And I was in the cage early, just taking a few swings off the tee, thinking, you know, this could go one of two ways. I could, you know, hold my own back here and we stay in the pennant race, or I could screw this up and, you know, be the dog. So, you know, mentally, a lot of people thought, you know, talk about failure and doubt and, you know, this organization, what they expected that year, missing Yachty for five or six days. If I don't go back there and hold my own, it could have been disastrous. So going into it, my only thought was catch my ass off, try to not let there be a lull defensively. And if I get competitive at bats or chance to move guys over, ground ball right side to get an RBI, do that. Well, I can't explain it, and I don't know why. Maybe it's more of the pitchers just hit my barrel for that week than anything I was doing. quite frankly, but I started to square some balls up and find some gaps and drive some runs in, and three or four of those left the park. And I have no rhyme or reason why it happened, but I'm awful damn glad it did.
00:17:01
Speaker 1: It was big fun. And like I said, your teammates enjoyed it for you as well. I just remember Aaron was having a good time with it. You mentioned the manager, Tony La Russa. What was it like playing for him? Because, let's be honest... Tony is a Hall of Fame manager, but he has some unique characteristics. I know Roland used to make fun, as a lot of the players did. Just your, give me some fun stuff about La Russa, if you haven't. What was it like playing for him?
00:17:34
Speaker 2: So I was very fortunate, or unfortunate, depends how you want to look at it. So I played for eight major league teams, a lot of managers. And I was very fortunate, the manager I played for, you know, Bruce Bochy, obviously Tony, Ned Yost, Frank Robinson, Fregosi, Boa, Francona. I finished with Joe Torre, but I was on the disabled list pretty much the whole year. So I didn't, I didn't get a chance to play for how much, but got to see the way they all go about their business and, and a lot of similarities in what they do. And then some differences, you know, and like I said earlier, the one thing Tony did with me, I'm sure I wasn't unique in this is, you know, spelled out exactly what he expected from you and held you to a standard and, and, And day in, day out, expected you to do it. The one thing about Tony is kind of a joke. You see him before the game, hey, Tony, how's it going? He goes, ah, I'll let you know in three and a half or four hours, whenever the game was going to be over. But his relentless drive, day in and day out, attention to detail, preparation, I mean, no one did it better. And obviously his record shows. But he was great to me, and I have nothing but great things to say about him. But certainly, like I said, they all have their different ways, their different personalities. But the way they communicate, set expectations, hold you to standards, and I think that's what all the great ones do.
00:19:00
Speaker 1: One of the best managers in the history of the game, no question about it. No doubt about it. Said he didn't eat meat. Said he didn't eat meat. And then you'd see him eating a piece of a hamburger. Okay, but that's all. What about Yachty? Now, Yachty is in the camera well with me when I still– get to do sidelines. I'm in the camera while Yachty's back as an advisor with the team, has already expressed interest in managing. And Yachty was such a fiery player. I was wondering, can he temper it and everything? And now I watch the way he interacts with the young players and the way he works with them and just his demeanor now. I think he can do it. Do you think Yachty would? And it also takes some seasoning because I think it's hard to jump in from player to managing I know Yachty has some international experience managing. I think he'd be a good one. Just your thoughts about Yachty potentially managing in the big leagues at some point.
00:19:59
Speaker 2: Oh, I think he'd be phenomenal. There's no doubt about it. And we've seen, like you said, you need some seasoning or, or He's done a little bit internationally, but we've seen guys jump in. A couple jumped in from coaching Little League to becoming managers. So that's not unprecedented. But like I said, the thing about Yachty is the track record playing, but also he's just a better human being. And the way he would pass on knowledge and wisdom and experience, he basically managed the game when he was playing back there. So from that standpoint, he's done it. and studied and prepared every part of the game. So I, without question, think he'd be phenomenal. No doubt about it.
00:20:39
Speaker 1: All right, we're going to take our last break of the program. You're watching Cardinal Territory on the Found Territory Network.
00:20:48
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00:21:47
Speaker 1: So the 2006 World Series Champion Reunion is coming up. Gary Bennett, you were part of that. We've seen these before. The Cardinals periodically bring some of you guys back. And I watch from afar because I wasn't part of it, but I know all you guys. And it's almost like when I see you, it's like you guys have not been apart. Like, is that bond always there? Like once you do something like win a World Series? It is. It is.
00:22:14
Speaker 2: And, you know, everyone I've talked to, not only with the 0-16, but whether it's Super Bowl or NBA championships, you know, or obviously World Series, any championship. It's such a tight bond. You know what you went through, how difficult it is to achieve that. And just the stories and things that happen throughout the season in the clubhouse when you're together. You spend so much time together, the ups and downs. Like you said, the two, eight, eight game losing streaks, a seven game losing streak. You know, some of the bickering in the clubhouse that makes you tighter and There's just such a unique bond that, that, that goes along with that. And it's to your point, anytime I got to see Jason Marquis a few weeks ago, he was in Chicago passing through. So I went and had a cup of coffee with him. And it's, it's like yesterday it happened. Obviously it didn't, it was 20 years ago, but you fall right back into, to where you were when we were in that clubhouse. And it, it doesn't seem long ago. And it's, it's, it's, I'm looking so forward to seeing many of these guys. A lot of them I've had a chance to see with some of the, uh, Cardinal charity events, or some of the times I've come to town, some of the fantasy camps, but there's quite a few I haven't seen in 20 years, and I'm really looking forward to seeing them and catching up with them.
00:23:24
Speaker 1: That's great. You know, the Cardinal fan base, and look, I'm a New Yorker. That's where I was born. I've been here 25 years, and I'll say it. I think Cardinal fans are the best in baseball, but whether or not you believe it, one thing is true about this fan base. Cardinal fans never forget, because It could be grandpa, grandpa. They pass it down to their grandkids, son or daughter. And it's just part of the fiber of St. Louis. Just what was your experience? You played, what, 13 years in the big leagues? Tell me something about the Cardinal fan base that you picked up in your time with the Cardinals.
00:24:01
Speaker 2: So a few things stick out. I want to say 2002. I hope I got my dates and teams right. The Rockies opened up in St. Louis opening day. And Been part of a lot of opening days. Nothing comes close to opening day in St.
00:24:17
Speaker 5: Louis.
00:24:17
Speaker 2: And I think we were staying at the Hilton, and my view, my window, looked right into the stadium there. I didn't know what I was in for, but up early, have a cup of coffee. I pulled the blinds back, and the amount of people that were out there, and I think there were blow-up houses, and everything I saw was red. Streets were already crowded, 8.30, 9 in the morning, and it just floored me. I'm like, what in the world is going on here? So get down, walk to the stadium, obviously bump into a few fans, get in there. And then you see the pomp and circumstance that goes along with, with opening day, the Clydesdales, the hall of famers, the place is packed so much earlier than, than first pitch, which is not common with other opening days. And that was my real first experience with Cardinal nation. Now I played in St. Louis before, I guess that, that was, I shouldn't say first real experience. That was, It was awe-inspiring, you know, because I would come in as a visiting player in years prior, and I'd seen Cardinal fans clap for a play made by the visiting team, which kind of floored me a little bit, to appreciate good baseball, are knowledgeable, and appreciate if the other team does some things well. So from that standpoint, that was before I got to wear that uniform. Those are my earliest memories of it. And like I said, as soon as Scottie called me and said, what would you be signed with the Cardinals? I about jumped through the phone, you know, and it's story tradition growing up, just North of Chicago, you know, Cubs, Cardinals, Mets. It seemed like those were the only games on TV when I was a kid. That's all I remember watching. So, you know, Tommy, her, and I can go on and on Ted Simmons, uh, the amount of players that I just appreciate what Willie McGee and watching Ozzie and, um, the opportunity to wear that same uniform, um, But then you get here and it's the way the fan base treats you. And, you know, if things aren't going well, they'll let you know. But it'll be a casual, nice way of letting you know, hey, step it up a little bit, would you? So whereas, you know, in New York, it might be a little different. So from that standpoint, I said it earlier, I was so fortunate and grateful. And that won't ever leave me now. I'm so fortunate, so grateful, one, for my major league career, but two, to get a chance to wear that uniform. and to win a world series in St. Louis. I mean, it's wrap up every holiday, every snow day, every birthday and wrap it all into one. And that's, that'd be about as close as trying to describe what that felt like.
00:26:51
Speaker 1: One of the true good guys in baseball, Gary Bennett, Gary, thanks for coming on. I look forward to seeing you at the reunion. And once again, thanks for jumping on with us.
00:27:01
Speaker 2: We appreciate it. Thank you for having me look forward to seeing you as well, man. I can't wait.
00:27:06
Speaker 1: That's going to do it for this edition of Cardinal Territory. We'll see you next time. Hopefully that episode won't sell.
