Speaker 1 00:00:11 Hello, this is Paul Saul and tropical Wichita state university strategic communications. You're listening to the roundhouse podcast today. We're going to talk about the 1982 shocker baseball team in advance of the first pitch banquet that is coming up later. This month, we have Brian . Brian was a pitcher on that team. He pitched at Wichita state from 1980 to 82 part of one of the best rotations in college baseball. Brian went 18 and two in 1982, his junior season helping the shockers to the college world series. He earned NCAA pitcher of the year honors, and he was the fourth pick by the Minnesota twins in the 1982 draft, Brian that he was a left-hander from St. Louis. He was born in Spain in the 1982 college world series. He beat Cal state Fullerton seven oh and the opener, and then eliminated Texas eight to four. The shockers finished second in Omaha losing to Miami. So Brian, let's start out with the beginnings of baseball. How did you end up being a baseball guy out of all the sports that were possible as a youngster?
Speaker 2 00:01:12 Uh, well, Paul, thank you. And, and a scrape to have this opera college world series team. Uh, for me, you know, baseball, uh, I started when I was six and just was very interested in from the beginning and stuck to it. I've always loved the game. As I said, started when I was six and growing up through all those different years, uh, getting to that point, I actually played, I think every position on the field, I was a left-handed catcher in, uh, 11 to 14 or 15. Um, I had a duo that a guy with a right-handed pitcher would catch me and then we turn around and I'd catch him. So I, like I said, I played on the field, loved at all. I, um, I thought myself as a good hitter, but as I started progressing in the pitcher, my coaches kind of took me out of that part of the game and had me focused on, uh, um, so I've always loved the game. Always been a part of it and other sport. Uh, I did, I did, I wrestled, uh, in, I think ninth grade, I kinda interfered with my baseball because I, I actually worked out baseball all year long when inside and at, at the high schools and middle schools and play and practice inside while I wasn't able to get outside.
Speaker 1 00:02:33 So I didn't realize until I was doing the preparation for this, that you were born in Spain. Tell us a little bit about that part of your life. Yeah,
Speaker 2 00:02:39 I get, I get that question all well, you know, how were you born in Spain? And because it's one of the things that comes up is I was actually the first person born in playing the major league. And so that's why that question comes up for me. But my dad was in the military served 22 years, I believe in four. So I was born, uh, in Zara. GOSA Spain. Uh, my dad family was there for about, uh, I think he was there about three years. I was there and stayed about a year and a half. Uh, I always ask if I know good speak Spanish, but no, I was going to remember much of it, uh, and then came home. So that's how I had that, uh, opportunity.
Speaker 1 00:03:17 I'm sure baseball recruiting has evolved a lot over the years. What was it like being a baseball recruit in, I guess 19 79, 19 80. And how did you end up choosing Wichita state?
Speaker 2 00:03:29 It's interesting. I had, uh, you know, my goal was actually to go to Missouri, Missouri friends that I grew up with. In fact, I've these friends I've had for 50 plus years. I've known him since I was seven years old. They all going to Missoula and that's where I really would want to have gone. I had a couple of other schools, SIU Edwardsville, another one has some full rides and then a dairy jolly from Wichita state came and they saw me pitch and recruiting me, um, in between that I went back to Mizzou and said, listen, I'm first to go play other schools, but Missouri is where I want to go. And they actually want me to, well, I've already got full ride scholarships, other places I can't walk on, but, you know, can you help me in some way they, they weren't interested in. So you'd go up to Wichita state, uh, met with Brent. Kemnitz spent a lot of time with the, uh, walk me through, uh, Wichita state and their plans and, and what they thought I would fit in. And yeah, I was taken with the opportunity that as a freshmen, I mean, to be a part of their starting rotation, which, uh, you know, I thought that was a great opportunity from that perspective because of that. Uh, I decided,
Speaker 1 00:04:50 Yeah, it was a new program just restarted up in 1978. What was the recruiting pitch to get you to come to a program that at that point had, you know, little, little history?
Speaker 2 00:05:00 Yeah. So, so the, uh, you know, I remember going in and they talked about the program of new, my opportunity coming into that new program, being a part, you know, early on, I was, I was brought into the, met with the, uh, the, uh, athletic director and they, the plans of the stadium that, uh, I would see during my timeframe, you know, I knew, I knew going in what, what, uh, I was getting into with re you know, being in a new program and, you know, not a whole lot else there, but, uh, I did see the plan, uh, the, the timeframe, you know, look, I told them what I saw that I would be, uh, uh, be there when that was happening was a great opportunity as well. Uh, you know, as we know, as years went by that didn't, that didn't happen. But, uh, to be honest, we, I don't think that was a big factor in me of, of choosing which I'll stay to go, because I thought this big belt, um, it was, it was about the baseball and that opportunity to play
Speaker 1 00:06:05 The stories from the early days of the program, or are pretty well known players dressing in cars. Uh, there was real limited seating at the on-campus ballpark practiced off campus, all those kinds of things. What are your memories? What was, what was it like playing for the shockers in the earliest?
Speaker 2 00:06:20 Yeah, it's a, it's a great question. And, and for me, simple life growing up and, you know, what I, what I was doing at Wichita state was what I home. I go to the ballpark. I played in little ballparks that, uh, had a kind of fence and played on a field. And, and that's what I did. So while, uh, rotations of, of maybe, and even insight into what may programs look like, right. So I didn't have that comparison. Uh, to me, it was like, it was like every other day when I played, I got to go out on the field and, and, and so those surroundings just weren't. And with regards to the stadium and facilities, they were just normal to me. That's what I, whether I was in high school or growing up in literally is carried over. So I really didn't have that comparison go to Arizona state and see them civilization, Cal state, Fullerton, all these other big names in baseball. Uh, it just seemed like any other day to me.
Speaker 1 00:07:24 So gene Stevenson starts the program. They immediately start winning, uh, they get to the NCAA regional for the first time in 1980, uh, go back in 1981, didn't have a whole lot of success in the, in the regionals, in those two years. How did those experiences shape that 1982 team then?
Speaker 2 00:07:42 Yeah, I think so much credit has to go to our staff because, you know, they made believers out of us, uh, taking a team of, you know, how say ma maybe even people may or may not have wanted, or just weren't aware of what the AFA believe was of those individuals. Um, and so I just think it was so much that, that, that coaching staff put into the players, right. I mean, into, and it, wasn't just about baseball with them holding us into good human beings and, and good people and out of integrity. And I, you know, that, that to me, just all rolled together to, I believe in what we can do both on and off the field.
Speaker 1 00:08:34 Yeah. So you have this new program, uh, it's in a part of the country where college baseball is, you know, is not a big deal. How did they go about convincing that team that you could do big things that you could get to Omaha that you could really be a factor among the, you know, the Texas' the Arizona states and so forth.
Speaker 2 00:08:52 Yeah, I, I think it, it goes to the, um, the way it's a game. And again, going back to the coaches and how they did that, but, you know, the commitment on the field, how we practice, how hard we practice. I mean, it, it was, I mean, we, we did a lot of work. Um, I think people would be surprised of how much time we spent or the season and continuing to prepare and, and maintaining throughout the year, the days where, you know, you're on the field four and five hours a day. Uh, you're in the weight room on once a week, uh, especially in the off season. Uh, so there was a, there were, uh, to build that kind of team, uh, in birds. I mean, it was a lot of the action that each and every player took on the field off.
Speaker 2 00:09:47 I was in two hour days, we were spending a lot of time honing skills and build balloons to own the team, uh, to get to that place that ultimately we were, it was, you know, you go back and look at it. I still go back and look at it today. And I just think about the kind of numbers that, that brought to the table were just unheard of. It's just unbelievable. And I don't, you know, I don't, when you're in the middle of it, right. You're just so focused on playing and you go, you don't reel at team really was in the kind of numbers that they brought to the table going to the cup series. You know, it was truly amazing.
Speaker 1 00:10:23 No question that team went 73 and 14, just one of the many and the offensive numbers, the pitching numbers, just, uh, a lot of played, a lot of baseball, won a lot of games and set a lot of records. Uh, when I, when I do these, uh, stories or interviews with athletes talking about the past, a lot of times, you know, the, the wins, the losses, all that kind of stuff, kind of recede in the memory, but what they really enjoy was, you know, the, the bus ride or the times in the locker rooms with their, with their friends, those are kind of the memories that stick with a lot of people. What was that like for you? How do you describe kind of the, the personality, the atmosphere around that team off the baseball field?
Speaker 2 00:11:01 Yeah, I guess I would sum this up. I get asked a lot, this question about my what's. My most memorable is playing baseball. My answer is always the same. It's college baseball. You only turn pro things kind of change. You, you get, you get involved, you know, it's a job. So you put your food on the table. Uh, it's just a different experience. I think there's a lot more politics in it than, than people would imagine there are, but in the game was about winning. It was about the players. How can I help this guy? How can this guy, uh, and that comradery you had in that clubhouse, and it was a fantastic experience to go through you. And I think that shapes us. I me, I'll talk about myself that, that whole shaped the me of how I go about living the rest of my life. I, you know, those are cliches and things like that, but there it's honest. I mean, how we live together and played together really formed, I would be in the future.
Speaker 1 00:12:11 So you were a big part of that. 1982 college world series team, uh, had a great junior season, but we probably can't talk about the junior season without talking about the sophomore season, uh, which has struggled yet a 6.83 era. You had as many walks as strikeouts. What changed in between 1981 and 1982?
Speaker 2 00:12:29 Yeah. So it's funny. Cause I remember, um, I remember after the first I pitched in 82, which is that we're going up to Jean and asking him, where did you get this buyer? And he said, well, this picture was on our team last year. And they're like, no, he wasn't, this, this isn't the same. Who is this guy? And he said, no, it's funny because you know, I spent my sophomore year, I spent so much time being on bail, throw harder. And the harder I tried to throw harder, the slower through, I re on the pitching mound with Brent cabinets behind me with this, it was me, it gets her in him and I'm increasing my speed and I'm, he's got me on the radar gun. And the harder I tried to throw that was like 81 that was like, and it just was blowing my mind.
Speaker 2 00:13:15 And so, you know, I went through that year, as you said, struggled, trying to figure myself out. And I go off and play in Alaska, I think in one of those leagues. Uh, and, and I, I, because I didn't feel like I could get the type of work I needed. I wanted to go, I could work on my, what I need to work on, uh, in my delivery without having to worry about giving up pants or how many blocks I had or any, I literally can't my buddies in a Bierly that year. And I went out and I pitched and again, because I wanted it to be able to not have to worry about any tech and just work on emotion, work better. And so I did that and as I did that, I could start seeing things started to change. And I started pressing so hard with myself and some things take over and working on some specific things that I knew working with Brennan, I had to work on and not having the pressures behind all that.
Speaker 2 00:14:16 Some are doing that and then came back in the, in the winter, uh, in the fall. And we started playing the winter and that's when things really started to change for me. And I remember pitching in one of the old, uh, high schools or elementary schools. I can't remember what the name of it was and through, off of, and, and now I'm, you know, throwing in the nineties blues as a deck to change from, you know, just less than a year ago. And it kind of surprised everybody, but really it was because of that opportunity that I had to take all that pressure away and foe in my delivery, not have to worry about letting the team down and trying to do things I wasn't ready to do. And that kind of changed my mental approach to the game as well. So I, that was the big, that was the big
Speaker 1 00:15:07 Brent has a story. He told me, uh, and he wasn't sure if he had told you this or not. Uh, he said you were throwing a bullpen session after practice during the fall, before that 1982 season. And he had a buddy of his who just happened to run the college gym. That's not really important to the story other than the fact that, you know, that's a great 1980s reference to the college. And so this guy was holding the radar gun while you were pitching. And Brent would, when he felt it was necessary, he would ask, he would give the guy a thumbs up, which meant you say the, you say the pitch is three miles an hour faster than it really is. And he did that with you in order to get your mind off the velocity boost your confidence, just kind of give you these fake radar gun readings so that you would feel, I guess this is working, I'm throwing harder and I'm doing the right things, whether you were really throwing harder or not. Do you remember, do you remember that? No,
Speaker 2 00:16:01 That's great to hear that. I, it doesn't surprise. I don't believe he ever told me that story, but what a, what a great story. And, uh, that's a Brent, that's a Brent chem. That's all the way. Absolutely.
Speaker 1 00:16:14 Yeah. That's the, the, the mental things that he likes to talk about it is, it is interesting how much the radar gun can control, uh, a pitcher. You know, you just hear all kinds of stories about how important that is. And oftentimes as you said, it's not, you know, it can be deceiving or it's not the best way to get good people
Speaker 2 00:16:32 Out. Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 1 00:16:35 Uh, you through to Charlie O'Brien who had a great college career, a great professional career, just a fabulous reputation as a defensive catcher. What, what was it like working with Charlie O'Brien?
Speaker 2 00:16:45 Well, I think all the things you said, right? I mean, Charlie was a great guy, uh, in college for one year. Uh, so that was a great experience. So, so, you know, I'd, I'd be able to go down and visit with his family, have some dinner, uh, do some things, so I'd go down there. Uh, but Charlie was a great, great guy. Um, you know, as the, the, of the game, uh, that was certainly a part of, um, Charlie's expertise and, and right. And why you as, um, you know, a funny story, you were talking about some of the things, you know, Brendan done, and this is a true story. I was pitching in. I want to say Texas was one of my first starts. I think it was my first start in 1980 and Charlie, it was like the third inning. And I was pitching really well, Charlie, it just stops.
Speaker 2 00:17:32 It just walks out in the middle of the game, calls them out, walks out, falling, puts it in my glove. He says, you know, you're going to be a first round pick this year. That's all he said to me. And he just turned around and he walked back and we started playing the game again and I guard, but it's interesting. You talk about insight and knowledge of the game to go from where I was my sophomore year to the very first start I have to walk out and, and, you know, I don't have any clue about his motive of that or why, but it was interesting for me to hear that from, and also, you know, what that does for a person in their confidence and be able to, and do and continue, continue that year. But, um, I just think it's such an interesting story. Uh, Charlie brought to the game. I know there's a reason for it. I've never had a conversation when there was a reason for it.
Speaker 1 00:18:30 So the regional and new Orleans, uh, has to stand out as one of the, one of the programs highlights, uh, three games, the pitching staff allowed one run in those three games to get the shockers to Omaha for the first time. Uh, your part in that was a two hitter against new Orleans and the winners bracket game. You struck out nine w what was it like being part of that rotation? Uh, Eric Somberg and Don Heinkel being the other two members of that starting rotation.
Speaker 2 00:18:54 Uh, you know, um, to me, going back to whole baseball, it's so much about the team, right? And so much about, you know, three guys that from a pitching staff, a lot of other good guys in that pitching staff, without them, we don't do what we did from those starters. I mean, you can pick any of those starters out of the hat and have that same confidence of them going out and winning the, so it just was just a great experience of being a part of that team apart patient, and then just, uh, uh, how we went about, you know, doing what we do.
Speaker 1 00:19:36 I think people are very familiar with Omaha now, you know, the shockers went so many times it's become a big ESPN, a big TV thing. What was the Omaha experience like in 1982?
Speaker 2 00:19:47 So, so I would say it's another great question for you, man. I think that, so you compare 1982 to today and how that coverage and everything that goes on, it's clearly way different. Right? When I look back on my experience, when I look back on my, um, again, I, I came from a simple place in baseball, right? Like Midwest, you go out, you, you play your game, you're behind a chain link fence, and you do all this stuff being going to play in the college world that time. And there was coverage and the hoopla around it. I mean, it was, it was the bubble in my eyes. Now there may be others that have, that have had those experience in different baseball forms. I was not one of those. So for me, um, it was just a wonderful experience. And it's interesting. One of the things I remember, um, and I remember them during the college world series.
Speaker 2 00:20:42 So we showed up as a team. And I remember we were all played sack. I don't know if you remember the game hacky sack, a little ball, and you kind of kicked it around while we were playing all the time or it's waiting just wherever we were. So we were at the college world series and there was a big group of us. There's 12 guys from the team playing this hacky sack. And they were riding the next day talking about how relaxed we seem to be. So you're a bunch of guys out there, um, in the college world series to play probably the most important games, they're life, but we're out there all just goofing around Hackensack where they didn't see that maybe from the other team. But I think that says a lot about, and how we approach the game, the comradery we had, uh, during that time.
Speaker 1 00:21:31 All right, Brian ochres thank you very much for your time. Brian is a member of the 1982 shocker baseball team. They will be honored at the first bit banquet, which is coming up January 29th here in Koch arena. Brian, thank you very much. Appreciate it.
Speaker 3 00:21:58 Thank you for listening to the roundhouse podcast, courtesy of Wichita state university, strategic communications. We appreciate your time. We encourage you to rate review, subscribe, wherever you get your podcasts, such as on iTunes or Google play. You can find more roundhouse
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Speaker 4 00:22:20 And they let him pass it up court. And then it gets picked off a long three by Pancoast. No good. One second. It's over. It is over and what your task has beaten. The number one team in the nation to go to the sweet 16 go crazy Wichita.
