"A story of pure determination. Of never giving up. Even when faced with adversity."

MAKING THE CLUB. NEVER GIVE UP

From as far back as I can remember, the thought of making the big leagues or "the show" was always a passion of mine. It drove me day in and day out. It consumed my thoughts. I guess it started from when I was a little kid listening to L.A. Dodger games on the radio and my imagination running wild. Little did I know that I would overcome the odds and finally have that chance someday.

I knew in Little League that I had something special. I would hear other parents comment on my ability and how hard I could throw the ball. I remember my Little League coach telling my parents that I had a future in professional ball someday. Hearing these things drove me to be the best.

I went on to play junior college baseball at Fullerton j.c. in southern California and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the tenth round. I was not offered much money and accepted instead a full scholarship at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. At Pepperdine I earned league honors and was elected mvp of my team. I was also drafted by the Oakland A's in the 7th round and this time I accepted and signed my first contract.I was on my way! Litte did I know the setbacks I was to encounter.

My first full season was in double A ball and I was moving up quickly. That first season saw our team win the championship and me earning more accolades and being rated the 7th best major league prospect in the league. The next season I was in triple A, just one level away from my dream. I could taste it. Little did I know that I would have to wait another 4 years to finally realize my dream.

That first year in triple A in Tacoma, Washington of the pacific coast league, I was having a great season and in July, on a play at the plate, I broke my foot. I played on it for the next 2 weeks in excruciating pain. But I was determined. They were ready to call me up to the show but wanted my foot looked at first. Needless to say, my season was over and I would have to wait another year.

The next year I had an average year and did not earn a late season call up. The following year they decided to platoon me with another high prospect. I didn't take this well as I had always been a full time player and because I developed a bad attitude over this, I didn't respond well and had a sub par season.

I continued to watch as they called player after player up to the big leagues ahead of me. It was frustrating and I was now having doubts if I would ever get my chance.

In professional baseball, every winter you get a notice of where you are going to report. Either to major league camp or miner league camp. If you were invited to big league camp, it meant that you had a chance to showcase your talents and you had a chance to maybe make the team. If you were given a notice to report to miner league camp, it meant that you were starting for sure in the miner leagues with no chance to make the big league club out of spring training. Miner league camp always started later than big league camp.

With this in mind, every winter I would always get an invite to big league camp and to report the third week of February with the pitchers and catchers. It was a magical time of year for me and it meant another year of opportunity. In the winter of 1985 after my third season in triple A, I was doing my usual winter jobs to make ends meet. I was a forman on a grout crew that worked 16 hour days, 6 days a week. During this time I would bust my fanny.

I would run with the grout hose to build up my legs. I would run up scaffeling with the hose on my shoulder. I made this time the chance to improve myself both physically and mentally. When the winter was almost done, I got the biggest disappointing piece of mail I had ever received in the mail. It was a notice to report to miner league camp in April. I was crushed. I had worked so hard this winter. And it also meant that they had lost faith in me.

Now was a time of self examining of where my career was headed and what I was doing. I had a family and this was truly disappointing. After receiving this notice, three days later, the head of our miner leagues called me and asked if I could come down early to Phoenix so he could take a better look at me up close, one on one. I agreed. Big league camp was already going on and I thought coming down early was no big deal.

I came down early, and had the chance to work out with him for the next few days. Needless to say, he was so impressed with me, that he made the recommendation for me to return to big league camp even though I wasn't on the big league roster. This was good news! The next day I found myself once again in big league camp.

What transpired after this is truly miraculous. I started out in big league camp just warming pitchers up in the bullpen and wasn't getting any playing time. I watched as other catchers played ahead of me, time and time again. Within a day, 3 catchers ahead of me got hurt. What this did for me, was give me the opportunity to play. The manager called me into his office and said I would start every other game and let's just see what happens. Little did he know, I would go on a terror and shake up the cactus league!

I proceeded to have the best spring training ever. I was getting 3 and 4 hits every game. I was calling great games behind the plate. Suddenly there was a buzz about me! This non roster invitee was now in the running for making the club. Well, as fate would have it, I continued my assault on the league. I think one of the final games that helped me was against the Chicago Cubs.

I had 2 hits off Dennis Eckersley, one of them a home run, and also a 2 run double of then great, Lee Smith. Their closer at the time. The media was now talking to me on a regular basis afer games. My manager kept telling me don't get too excited yet as there was the possibility they would trade for an experienced catcher such as Rick Cerrone.

It came down to the last three days in spring training. The A's had traded away my competing catcher to the Brewers and that left me alone in front. I was weary and knew how baseball was and didn't get my hopes up. I was a non roster invitee and wasn't even supposed to be there. Everyday I prayed I would get my chance. Three days left and I was shagging balls in the outfield when I noticed our manager poke his head out of the dugout. He was scanning the field obviously looking for someone until he spotted me and than made a long, slow, laborious walk in my direction in left field.

By the way he was walking I knew that something had happend. That my dream was over. He held his head down as if he just lost his best friend. I remember thinking, oh God, no. Please, no. He walked right up in front of me, face to face. Only, his face was looking down. This is what he said, " Bill, you know how things go in baseball." At this point, I could feel tears welling up and my dream being crushed. He continued, "You know how things go and I am really sorry. I don't know how to tell you this but, but, congratulations, you made the team!" And then he looked up into my eyes. I couldn't believe what I just heard. I screamed, "I made the team!" He gave me hug, and I realized my dream. I had goosebumps that must have stood a foot off my body. I threw my glove into the air in celebration and stood there in shock. All the years of hard work, all the years of wondering, all the years of telling everyone not this year. I never gave up in the face of adversity and just when things were at their worst, I succeeded.

Never give up on your dreams.

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