Conversations with Clayton: Jim Sundberg

In this week’s “Conversations with Clayton,” I chat with three-time All Star and six-time Gold Glove winning catcher Jim Sundberg.

Sundberg played 16 major league seasons for the Texas Rangers (1974-1983, 1988-1989), Milwaukee Brewers (1984), Kansas City Royals (1985-1986) and Chicago Cubs (1987-1988). Sundberg was a key member of the 1985 Kansas City Royals World Championship team and has been inducted into the Texas Rangers franchise Hall of Fame.

In this interview, Sundberg and I discuss several aspects of his Major League career.

Clayton Trutor (CT): What aspect of your career are you the most proud of?

Jim Sundberg (JS): The 1985 World Series championship.

CT: Can you describe the experience of playing for Billy Martin as a rookie?

JS: Difficult.

CT: In 1974, you joined a Rangers team that had recently relocated from Washington. How did the franchise change during your tenure with the team?

JS: A move to new location is just a branding element. The economics of baseball is what changes over time.

CT: What were your favorite and least stadiums to play in during your career?

JS: Oakland was my least favorite stadium and city. New York, Boston, KC and Seattle were my favorite stadiums and cities.

CT: After spending the first 13 years of your career in the American League, you were traded to the Cubs. What was the most surprising aspect of moving over to the National League?

JS: The double switch changed the way the game is played.

CT: How has Major League Baseball changed since your retirement?

JS: More money. More reliance of fastball versus location for pitchers.

CT: When you hear the word “Cincinnati,” you think of ___________.

JS: My son and his family who live there. Great sports town.

Follow Jim Sundberg on Twitter: @backstop10

For more of the same, follow me on Twitter too: @ClaytonTrutor