I'll miss Paul Molitor for many reasons, the foremost of which was that he created so many great moments for me as a baseball writer.
This is why I'll miss Paul Molitor
I'll miss Paul Molitor for many reasons, the foremost of which was that he created so many great moments for me as a baseball writer.
October 4, 2018 at 2:12PM
He was the MVP of the first World Series I covered, in 1993.
He was the smartest player I ever covered, and I still remember minor-league players telling me about Molitor predicting the next pitch the opposing pitcher would throw.
As a beat writer in the '90s, I found him to be the most thoughtful interview subject I had encountered. I still remember asking him questions, worrying that I might have offended him, then realizing he was taking extra time to formulate an incisive answer.
Watching him produce his 3,000th hit, an opposite-field triple in Kansas City that ended with a face-first slide into third base, was one of my career highlights.
And as a manager, I found him - here's that word again - thoughtful. He treated all players well. He handled his public and media obligations with grace.
Even if I thought he deserved to be fired, and I don't, I'd miss having him around.
You can find my podcasts, including a discussion about Molitor and Joe Mauer with Roy Smalley, at TalkNorth.com
Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson, the brash speedster who shattered stolen base records and redefined baseball's leadoff position, has died. He was 65.
