Originally a 22nd-round pick by the Indians in 1995, Glavine currently works as an assistant baseball coach at Northeastern University, where he is a member of the school’s Hall of Fame. A native of Billerica, Massachusetts, he is also the co-owner of Future Stars, a baseball training facility in Dracut.
RSN: Which was bigger: your first big league at-bat, or your one base hit?
MG: Definitely the hit, because of the way it shook down. At the time I was 0-for-6, and there were two out in the ninth inning of the last game of the year. I knew there weren’t going to be any more chances. Standing there on the on-deck circle, I was thinking that I didn’t want to make the last out of the season.
RSN: At the time, did you consider that it might be your last at-bat in the big leagues?
MG: Oh yeah. I thought that it could be. It had taken me nine years to get there, and I knew there were no guarantees I’d be back. I didn’t have a hit yet, so I hadn’t exactly impressed anyone in the short time I’d been there. I was definitely putting pressure on myself to get a hit, and fortunately I did. I hit a fastball off Braden Looper with two strikes on me. The count was either 1-2 or 2-2.
RSN: How about your first at-bat. Did you know you’d be getting an opportunity that game?
MG: I knew at the beginning of the inning, when my manager (Art Howe) told me I’d be up third. I didn’t know before that. I was ready, though. As the game goes on, you start to do some stretching and get some swings in the tunnel, just in case.
RSN: You pinch-hit for your brother. What were your thoughts on that?
MG: To be honest, I probably would have preferred it had been for someone else. I didn’t want people to make it out like it was a sideshow; that I was only hitting because it was for my brother.
RSN: What did Tom say to you at the time?
MG: He said, “Get a hit.” That was about it. When he’s pitching, he’s really focused on the game. He just wanted me on base so we could score some runs.
RSN: What was the at-bat like? Did you go after the first pitch?
MG: Yeah, I actually did. It was a good pitch to swing at, though. It was a fastball, right there. Zach Day was pitching, and I had faced him before. I knew he threw a good sinking fastball, and I wanted to go after the first good pitch to hit. I hit it hard; a one-hopper to the second baseman. I just wish I’d have got a little air under it.
DL: Looking back, what did seven big league at-bats feel like?
RSN: Kind of surreal, really. I always had a routine where I stepped in with my left foot first, and dug in with my left foot. I dug a little hole to get comfortable. Then I tapped my bat once on the inside corner of the plate, and then once on the outside corner. But it’s funny – I don’t really remember doing that in those at-bats. I’m sure I did, but those at-bats were like a blur. I wasn’t nervous, but they still kind of flew by.
RSN: When you were drafted, did you expect to make it to the major leagues?
MG: Yes, for all kinds of reasons. Maybe part of it was me being naïve, but I knew I had some talent and figured I’ll outwork everyone. Obviously my brother had made it, which probably influenced my thinking. But by no means did I think it would easy. I thought I knew what it took, but I really didn’t. It’s a lot of work and a long, hard climb. Still, I wasn’t signing on the dotted line to just play in the minor leagues. I honestly expected to make it.
RSN: Did you ever think about the obstacles in front of you?
MG: I’ll never forget the first time I looked at Baseball America. I was sitting in the clubhouse my first year, soon after I was drafted, checking out the other first basemen in the system. Our number one-pick that year, David Miller, was a first baseman. So was our second-round pick, Sean Casey. Jim Thome, Richie Sexson and Russell Branyan were all in the system. I remember sitting there, looking at their numbers and wondering how I’d ever make it.
RSN: You had been drafted after your junior year at Northeastern, but went back to finish school instead of signing. Why?
MG: I was drafted by the Astros, but not until the 93rd round. Their scout called and said they had drafted me, but didn’t plan to sign me. He said that I should go play in the Cape Cod League, and maybe they’d talk to me later. I ended up having a good summer there, leading the Cape League in home runs. I made it to the finals of the home run derby, too. I beat Darren Erstad in the semi-finals, but then lost to Todd Helton. Needless to say, both of those guys have gone on to have pretty good careers. I didn’t have the same success, but I made it. For a few weeks, anyway.
RSN: Looking at your career, do you have any regrets?
MG: I guess I wish that I had played for the Red Sox. I was at an invite-only tryout before the draft in ’95, and was definitely hoping the Red Sox would take me. It just didn’t work out that way. I’ve always been a huge Sox fan. I still am.
