Steve Blass

Uh, he caught my eye early because he's so approachable.

Uh,

And it never changed.

He never, ever changed.

I remember saying, Bill, when I first met him and being interviewed, listening to an interview he did, all I ever wanted to do was play baseball.

And boy, did he play it.

Boy, did he ever play it.

And one, you know, he also had a sense of humor.

He was such a good guy in so many aspects.

And the only thing that ever really got him down that he didn't like was when a pirate pitcher was getting beat up and Danny Murtaugh would kind of signal out of the dugout,

You know, go over, Maz, and go over to talk to the pitcher while we get somebody warmed up buying time.

He hated to do that because he respected everybody's position.

So I'm out there one night as a rookie, and I'm getting my face ripped off.

And apparently Murtaugh gave him the signal because here comes Maz.

He had that little kind of easy walk coming over.

And he says, you know, I don't want to be here.

It's not my idea.

They made me do this.

But you know what?

You are getting your ass kicked.