GaryMrMets
06-16-2002, 01:38 PM
http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/hou/news/hou_news.jsp?ymd=20020611&content_id=50482&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp
06/11/2002 8:21 pm ET
Father's Day: Biggio feels blessed
Astros star says baseball life is hard on families
By Alyson Footer / MLB.com
Seven-time All-Star Craig Biggio has plenty of reasons to count his blessings. Not only has he enjoyed a successful Major League career spanning 15 years and counting, but he also is surrounded by a supportive family -- wife Patty, sons Conor (age 9), Cavan (7) and daughter Quinn (2 1/2). In celebration of Father's Day, Biggio reflects upon how being a dad has affected his life, both on the diamond and away from the ballpark.
MLB.com: To most fans, life as a ballplayer seems to be very glamorous. But what kinds of sacrifices do the families of Major Leaguers have to make?
Biggio: There are a lot of sacrifices. I love my job, and I love what I do, but the biggest price that we pay as a family is through the kids. Our schedule is one that's a tough schedule. It's hard on them. You miss out on a lot of different things. You miss out on a lot of their games. I think I saw one of Cavan's (Little League) games this year and three of Conor's games this year. That's hard on them, because the other dads are there all the time and their dad's never there.
But it's understood, too, that it's just the way of life. They pay the biggest price, the overall price. The reason we had them so young is because I wanted to survive (in baseball) long enough so that they could see what I did. We've definitely been able to do that, and they're able to see what it's like here day in and day out.
MLB.com: Now that your two sons are old enough, they're able to accompany you on family road trips during the season. That must be nice to have them with you during those long six- or nine-game treks.
Biggio: It's been nice for them. They're not getting in anybody's way, they're respectful of what's going on and stay out of the players' way. But, they get to watch guys take batting practice and hit the field day in and day out, and they get to do a little of it themselves. It's nice. It's nice to be able to bring them out a little bit and show them what it's all about and spend some time with them.
MLB.com: Do they give you baseball advice?
Biggio: We went out to dinner the other night and we tried to figure out some things about my stance. My one boy had a tough year this year and the other hits everything, so we had a little meeting, a little roundtable discussion with a 9 year old and a 7 year old. We drew the same conclusions that everyone comes up with. It's easier said than done. That's the thing about baseball -- when you watch it on TV or watch it from the side, it appears to be very, very easy. But the minute you step in the batter's box it's one of the hardest things that you're ever going to do.
MLB.com: Are they critical of you when you have a bad game?
Biggio: They understand things now. It's funny -- they'll say things like "You guys aren't playing very well right now." Or "Dad, you didn't have a very good night" or "The team looked good tonight." It's fun to be able to talk about it with them -- things like Billy Wagner coming in and striking out the side. Just whatever they want to talk about. Hopefully they'll remember a couple things that went well and try to teach them how to be respectful of the game and hard the game really is.
MLB.com: Do they want to grow up to be baseball players?
Biggio: They do. They love the game. I just tell them they've got to work hard. Everybody that's here is here for a reason. Nothing's going to come easy to them. You try to instill those things into them. They're good kids, they listen well and they're respectful of the guys around them.
MLB.com: After having two sons, your life changed a lot when your daughter, Quinn, was born. How has that been different for you as a father?
Biggio: It's different. Now you've got little dresses running around, but you would never know by the way that she plays. She plays like the boys do right now. She likes to get out there and have fun with them, but yet she has that softer side to her. She's sweet and soft and beautiful and loves her dad. It's great. I'm glad that in God's way, I was able to have two boys and then a girl. She's got two brothers to beat up any boyfriends and a retired father by that time, too.
MLB.com: You and your wife, Patty, seem to be successful in keeping your kids grounded throughout the chaos of being a baseball family. What's your secret?
Biggio: We just try to be there for each other, whether we're having a good day or a bad day and try to be understanding about that. We have open communication and are able to talk amongst each other and understand that not every day is going to be the greatest and not every day is going to be the worst.
MLB.com: How has being a father helped you in your professional life?
Biggio: The one thing that my family taught me is that the minute you leave that clubhouse, you leave that game there. If it takes a little longer to sit in that clubhouse that day because you did something bad and it's really bothering you, the minute you walk out those doors your kids really don't care. They're just happy that their dad's home.
Alyson Footer covers the Astros for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/2002/05/09/MNstWb8n.jpg
Craig Biggio enjoys being a dad. (Alan Diaz/AP)
06/11/2002 8:21 pm ET
Father's Day: Biggio feels blessed
Astros star says baseball life is hard on families
By Alyson Footer / MLB.com
Seven-time All-Star Craig Biggio has plenty of reasons to count his blessings. Not only has he enjoyed a successful Major League career spanning 15 years and counting, but he also is surrounded by a supportive family -- wife Patty, sons Conor (age 9), Cavan (7) and daughter Quinn (2 1/2). In celebration of Father's Day, Biggio reflects upon how being a dad has affected his life, both on the diamond and away from the ballpark.
MLB.com: To most fans, life as a ballplayer seems to be very glamorous. But what kinds of sacrifices do the families of Major Leaguers have to make?
Biggio: There are a lot of sacrifices. I love my job, and I love what I do, but the biggest price that we pay as a family is through the kids. Our schedule is one that's a tough schedule. It's hard on them. You miss out on a lot of different things. You miss out on a lot of their games. I think I saw one of Cavan's (Little League) games this year and three of Conor's games this year. That's hard on them, because the other dads are there all the time and their dad's never there.
But it's understood, too, that it's just the way of life. They pay the biggest price, the overall price. The reason we had them so young is because I wanted to survive (in baseball) long enough so that they could see what I did. We've definitely been able to do that, and they're able to see what it's like here day in and day out.
MLB.com: Now that your two sons are old enough, they're able to accompany you on family road trips during the season. That must be nice to have them with you during those long six- or nine-game treks.
Biggio: It's been nice for them. They're not getting in anybody's way, they're respectful of what's going on and stay out of the players' way. But, they get to watch guys take batting practice and hit the field day in and day out, and they get to do a little of it themselves. It's nice. It's nice to be able to bring them out a little bit and show them what it's all about and spend some time with them.
MLB.com: Do they give you baseball advice?
Biggio: We went out to dinner the other night and we tried to figure out some things about my stance. My one boy had a tough year this year and the other hits everything, so we had a little meeting, a little roundtable discussion with a 9 year old and a 7 year old. We drew the same conclusions that everyone comes up with. It's easier said than done. That's the thing about baseball -- when you watch it on TV or watch it from the side, it appears to be very, very easy. But the minute you step in the batter's box it's one of the hardest things that you're ever going to do.
MLB.com: Are they critical of you when you have a bad game?
Biggio: They understand things now. It's funny -- they'll say things like "You guys aren't playing very well right now." Or "Dad, you didn't have a very good night" or "The team looked good tonight." It's fun to be able to talk about it with them -- things like Billy Wagner coming in and striking out the side. Just whatever they want to talk about. Hopefully they'll remember a couple things that went well and try to teach them how to be respectful of the game and hard the game really is.
MLB.com: Do they want to grow up to be baseball players?
Biggio: They do. They love the game. I just tell them they've got to work hard. Everybody that's here is here for a reason. Nothing's going to come easy to them. You try to instill those things into them. They're good kids, they listen well and they're respectful of the guys around them.
MLB.com: After having two sons, your life changed a lot when your daughter, Quinn, was born. How has that been different for you as a father?
Biggio: It's different. Now you've got little dresses running around, but you would never know by the way that she plays. She plays like the boys do right now. She likes to get out there and have fun with them, but yet she has that softer side to her. She's sweet and soft and beautiful and loves her dad. It's great. I'm glad that in God's way, I was able to have two boys and then a girl. She's got two brothers to beat up any boyfriends and a retired father by that time, too.
MLB.com: You and your wife, Patty, seem to be successful in keeping your kids grounded throughout the chaos of being a baseball family. What's your secret?
Biggio: We just try to be there for each other, whether we're having a good day or a bad day and try to be understanding about that. We have open communication and are able to talk amongst each other and understand that not every day is going to be the greatest and not every day is going to be the worst.
MLB.com: How has being a father helped you in your professional life?
Biggio: The one thing that my family taught me is that the minute you leave that clubhouse, you leave that game there. If it takes a little longer to sit in that clubhouse that day because you did something bad and it's really bothering you, the minute you walk out those doors your kids really don't care. They're just happy that their dad's home.
Alyson Footer covers the Astros for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/2002/05/09/MNstWb8n.jpg
Craig Biggio enjoys being a dad. (Alan Diaz/AP)