What's the difference in the two ball clubs as far as playing for the clubs?

Well, I s- I, I've always said that if it wasn't for Toronto, I wouldn't be here today, and the way I mean that is, uh, they gave me three years of experience up there.

I was platooned my first two years, and then last year I played 140 ball games.

But up there you can play, you can relax, and learn the game, uh, get the experience without being under the, the fire, without being under the pressure of winning every day.

You know, the expansion team, they stay with you a lot longer.

Uh, last year I was struggling up until July.

I was hitting 190, and they stayed with me.

What kind of pressure is it playing in your backyard? You're from the Garden State.

Uh-huh

... and that included Steinbrenner, um, and Billy Martin.

But me and Coach Sheppard, we...

You know what? After I got out of there I appreciated h- he made me tougher.

My, I, I'll tell you a quick story.

My first game playing for them we flew down to Florida, first time I was ever on a plane, and we played a bunch of teams in the Fort Lauderdale/Miami are- area.

In my first game I must have mouthed off and I, I, I, I don't know, I answered him back.

People don't know the story