The ShowGirl

  (1:57 PM)

Welcome to The Show! Gaylord Perry will be here any minute. Send in those questions now!

The ShowGirl

  (2:06 PM)

Here we go!

Gaylord Perry

  (2:07 PM)

Hello. Nice to be with you. Hope you enjoy this chat, I look forward to telling you some good stories.

Sean (Akron)

Hey, great talking to you, out of all the cities with sports teams to you agree, that Cleveland is the most deprived sports city when it comes to championships?

Gaylord Perry

  (2:08 PM)

Well, they've had their problems. We didn't have a very good team when I was there. In 1954 when we lost four in a row to the Giants, it was like a nightmare to me. Very tough.

Hank (NYC)

Mr. Perry, Congrats on a stellar career. As a former player who is your favorite pitcher and position player to watch today? Thank you

Gaylord Perry

  (2:09 PM)

Thanks Hank. I have a lot of favorites, Randy Johnson, Roger Clemens, the Jones -- Andrew and Chipper. I have lot of players I love to watch in Ohio, and otherwise.

Joe (seattle)

Saw you in Tacoma. Did you ever envision your career would turn out like it did?

Gaylord Perry

  (2:10 PM)

In Tacoma we had some great players. We won in 1961 and I was so fortunate to be a part of such a great organization. At that point, I was just trying to get the big leagues. You start out and you say to yourself, I just want five years in ... and then you hope for ten and so on. I was just lucky enough to make it.

parky22 (harlan,ia)

hey gaylord, iwas wondering if you could discuss the george brett pine tar game and what went down after you took the bat.thanks!

Gaylord Perry

  (2:13 PM)

Well, that game was in NYC, and in the 8th inning or something, one run down a runner ahead of you and you can hit an HR and put your team ahead and stand out. And George Brett did that. We knew he had a lot of tar on the bat, and Billy Martin knew it too. Their batboy got to it before ours did and then Billy Martin came out and challenged it. Then George Brett charged the ump like a madman, then Rocky grabbed the ump, I grabbed the bat and wiped the pine tar off. George Steinbrenner saw all of this going on and called the league president. I actually got fined $250 dollars for that incident .... and I'm still waiting for that check reimbursement from George Brett.

Ken (PALO ALTO, CA)

Gaylord you had like a 20 year pitching career and pitche over 300 innings 4 or 5 times and in the high 200's several more times. These days, pitchers are workhorses if they reach 200 innings. Do you think they are too coddled? Should the 4 man rotation make a comeback?

Gaylord Perry

  (2:14 PM)

No, I don't think a 4-man rotation will make a comeback. There are great bullpens nowadays, that's why pitchers don't go as long anymore. It works.

Mike (Morgantown, WV)

Who is the toughest out you ever had to face during your career?

Gaylord Perry

  (2:15 PM)

There were a lot of tough outs, among them are Billy Williams, Mike Schmidt, Henry Aaron, George Brett ...

Dave (Anaheim)

Mr. Perry, Pitching today seems far different than it was many years ago. What are the biggest changes you've seen in terms of pitchers and how they approach the game.

Gaylord Perry

  (2:16 PM)

Well, as we just said, pitchers today aren't expected to finish the game, so that certainly changes your approach when you take the mound.

Justin (Sebring, FL)

Have you been to Sebring, FL lately? I grew up with your nephew and met you when I was younger. Just wondering if you've been back? Thanks

Gaylord Perry

  (2:17 PM)

Yes, I go back to Sebring -- I have a daughter who lives there with her family. I'm going back there in November ... and I hope the fish is good!

John, AKron

I was reading where Kevin Millwood of Cleveland who is leading league in ERA at 3.03 yet has a record of 8-11. In his 11 loses Cleveland has scored a total of 15 Runs. How does a pitcher handle the mental aspect of pitching great game after game yet coming away with a loss or no decision?

Gaylord Perry

  (2:18 PM)

Well, you say to yourself that if the other pitcher doesn't give up any runs, you shouldn't either. You have to look at it that way, you can't say 'my guy never gives me the run support."

nat (boston)

Not that anyone's entertaining the notion of wiping out steroid users' records from the books, but as you know it has been followed that all "cheaters" should be as well. You're the man they name when they refer to spitballers... What do you have to say to this indirect accusation?

Jack (Newport, RI)

What is your opinion on the steroid situation in baseball today? And how do you feel about people comparing taking steroids to throwing doctored balls?

Gaylord Perry

  (2:19 PM)

Well, I definitely don't approve or agree with steroid use. Baseball is workign to clean that up and the people that use them can and should get penalized. I have nothing to do with that, though.

Gaylord Perry

  (2:20 PM)

Alright folks, unfortunately, that's all the time I have for today. Thanks for your support and for all the questions today. Take care.

ian (ct)

nice guy